Driving Differences: Jordan vs. United Arab Emirates
Traveling abroad requires understanding local road rules, and this comparison highlights the distinct driving regulations in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. Key differences include speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol restrictions, underscoring the importance of being informed for a safe and enjoyable journey in these diverse countries.
Lanes
| Jordan | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge of the roadway. | Marks the left edge on some roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only on multi-lane urban roads. | Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 6 |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No specific bus lanes | Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Buses share lanes with other vehicles. | Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled and usually marked by road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited; primarily in urban areas. | Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with vehicular traffic. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Cycle symbols where applicable. | 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
jordan:
Marks the edge of the roadway.
united arab emirates:
Marks the left edge on some roads.
Overtaking: On Right
jordan:
Allowed only on multi-lane urban roads.
united arab emirates:
Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
jordan:
List length: 5
united arab emirates:
List length: 6
Bus Lanes: Presence
jordan:
No specific bus lanes
united arab emirates:
Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Bus Lanes: Usage
jordan:
Buses share lanes with other vehicles.
united arab emirates:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas.
Bus Lanes: Markings
jordan:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Labeled and usually marked by road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
jordan:
Limited; primarily in urban areas.
united arab emirates:
Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
jordan:
Shared with vehicular traffic.
united arab emirates:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
jordan:
Cycle symbols where applicable.
united arab emirates:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
jordan:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
jordan:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
jordan:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
jordan:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways.
Speeds Limits
| Jordan | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50-60 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; common. | Less common; fines can be issued electronically |
Urban Areas: Standard
jordan:
50-60 km/h
united arab emirates:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
jordan:
40 km/h
united arab emirates:
25-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
jordan:
70-90 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
jordan:
70-90 km/h
united arab emirates:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
jordan:
100-120 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
jordan:
80-100 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-120 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
jordan:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
jordan:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
jordan:
Yes; common.
united arab emirates:
Less common; fines can be issued electronically
Signals
| Jordan | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not typically used | Not used in UAE |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | To avoid accidents | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; fines may apply for misuse | Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
jordan:
Not typically used
united arab emirates:
Not used in UAE
Horn Usage: Allowed
jordan:
To avoid accidents
united arab emirates:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
jordan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; fines may apply for misuse
united arab emirates:
Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas
Traffic Signs: Warning
jordan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
united arab emirates:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Jordan | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign |
U- Turns Allowed
jordan:
Varies by location; check for signs
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Jordan | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspections required | Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
jordan:
International Driving Permit recommended
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
jordan:
International Driving Permit required
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
jordan:
Annual inspections required
united arab emirates:
Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
jordan:
Displayed on windshield
united arab emirates:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
jordan:
Recommended
united arab emirates:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Jordan | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use is common | Moderate use, not excessively |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
jordan:
Moderate use is common
united arab emirates:
Moderate use, not excessively
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
jordan:
Pull over and stop if necessary
united arab emirates:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Jordan | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common at checkpoints | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
jordan:
0.05%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Professional Drivers
jordan:
0.00%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Underage Drivers
jordan:
0.00%
united arab emirates:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
jordan:
Common at checkpoints
united arab emirates:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
jordan:
Can be substantial
united arab emirates:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Jordan | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
jordan:
911
united arab emirates:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
jordan:
911
united arab emirates:
Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency
Contact: Roadside Assistance
jordan:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
united arab emirates:
Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
jordan:
Recommended
united arab emirates:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Jordan | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial | Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | AED 400, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | AED 800, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | AED 1000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, occasionally | Not typical; fines usually notified electronically |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
jordan:
Varies; fines can be substantial
united arab emirates:
Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
jordan:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
united arab emirates:
Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
jordan:
Fines apply
united arab emirates:
AED 400, 4 black points
Common Fines: Phone Use
jordan:
Fines apply
united arab emirates:
AED 800, 4 black points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
jordan:
Fines apply
united arab emirates:
AED 1000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
jordan:
Yes, occasionally
united arab emirates:
Not typical; fines usually notified electronically
Payment: Deadline
jordan:
Typically 30 days to pay
united arab emirates:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay