Driving in Japan vs. United Arab Emirates: Key Differences
When navigating the intricate roads of Japan and the United Arab Emirates, understanding key distinctions in regulations and practices is vital for a secure driving experience. From lane usage to speed limits, each nation presents unique rules, such as Japan's left-side driving and the UAE's emphasis on stringent alcohol limits. Stay informed for a safer journey!
Lanes
| Japan | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on some roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. | Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 6 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. | Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. | Labeled and usually marked by road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes, in some areas |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways. |
Driving Side
japan:
Left
united arab emirates:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
united arab emirates:
Marks the left edge on some roads.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
united arab emirates:
Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
japan:
List length: 5
united arab emirates:
List length: 6
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
united arab emirates:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
japan:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
united arab emirates:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
united arab emirates:
Labeled and usually marked by road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
japan:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
united arab emirates:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
united arab emirates:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
japan:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
japan:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways.
Speeds Limits
| Japan | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Less common; fines can be issued electronically |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
united arab emirates:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
japan:
30 km/h
united arab emirates:
25-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
united arab emirates:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
80 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
united arab emirates:
Less common; fines can be issued electronically
Signals
| Japan | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not used in UAE |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
united arab emirates:
Not used in UAE
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
japan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
united arab emirates:
Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
united arab emirates:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
united arab emirates:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Japan | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
japan:
Not allowed
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Japan | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required along with national license | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required along with national license | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
united arab emirates:
Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
united arab emirates:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
united arab emirates:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Not mandatory
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Japan | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Generally used sparingly | Moderate use, not excessively |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
japan:
To warn of hazards
united arab emirates:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
united arab emirates:
Moderate use, not excessively
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
united arab emirates:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Prohibited; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints may be set up | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Professional Drivers
japan:
0.00%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
united arab emirates:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
united arab emirates:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
united arab emirates:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Japan | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
united arab emirates:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
united arab emirates:
Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
united arab emirates:
Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
united arab emirates:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | AED 400, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | AED 800, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | AED 1000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Not typical; fines usually notified electronically |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
united arab emirates:
Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
united arab emirates:
Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
united arab emirates:
AED 400, 4 black points
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
united arab emirates:
AED 800, 4 black points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
united arab emirates:
AED 1000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
united arab emirates:
Not typical; fines usually notified electronically
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
united arab emirates:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay