Kuwait vs Saudi Arabia: Key Driving Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, understanding their distinct driving regulations is essential for ensuring a safe journey. Key contrasts include lane usage, speed limits, and enforcement of penalties, which can significantly impact your travel experience. Familiarizing yourself with these disparities can enhance your safety while navigating these countries.
Lanes
| Kuwait | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Not commonly practiced. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
kuwait:
Not commonly practiced.
saudi arabia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
kuwait:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
kuwait:
Reserved for buses.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
kuwait:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Usage
kuwait:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
kuwait:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
kuwait:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
kuwait:
N/A
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kuwait:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Kuwait | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 45-60 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 45 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Standard
kuwait:
45-60 km/h
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
kuwait:
45 km/h
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
kuwait:
80-120 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
kuwait:
80-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
kuwait:
70-90 km/h
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
kuwait:
120 km/h
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
kuwait:
100 km/h
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
kuwait:
80-90 km/h
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kuwait:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
kuwait:
Yes
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Kuwait | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic | Arabic; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
kuwait:
Not used
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Traffic Signs: Language
kuwait:
Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
kuwait:
Triangular-shaped with red border
saudi arabia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Kuwait | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless signs allow | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
kuwait:
Prohibited unless signs allow
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
kuwait:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Kuwait | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
kuwait:
Annual inspection required
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
kuwait:
Displayed on the vehicle
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
kuwait:
Not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kuwait:
Not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Kuwait | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use for communication on the road |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
kuwait:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Alcohol
| Kuwait | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common | Common, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Significant fines and legal consequences | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Enforcement: Random Checks
kuwait:
Less common
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
kuwait:
Significant fines and legal consequences
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
kuwait:
Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
kuwait:
Can result in license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Emergency Services
| Kuwait | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 993 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
kuwait:
112
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
kuwait:
112
saudi arabia:
993
Contact: Roadside Assistance
kuwait:
Check with your insurance provider
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
kuwait:
Not mandatory, but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kuwait:
Not mandatory, but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Kuwait | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may include points on license | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Very severe penalties for any alcohol | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, possible | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
kuwait:
Varies; may include points on license
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
kuwait:
Very severe penalties for any alcohol
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
kuwait:
Fines applicable
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
kuwait:
Fines applicable
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
kuwait:
Fines and points on license
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
kuwait:
Yes, possible
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
kuwait:
Varies; typically within 30 days
saudi arabia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay