Driving Differences: Malaysia vs United Arab Emirates
The driving landscapes of Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates showcase notable contrasts that every traveler should understand. From left-hand versus right-hand driving to varying speed limits and alcohol regulations, these distinctions are crucial for ensuring a safe and compliant journey. Explore the essential driving guidelines to navigate each country's roads confidently.
Lanes
| Malaysia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions. | Marks the left edge on some roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | 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. | Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled and usually marked by road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks. |
| 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. |
Driving Side
malaysia:
Left
united arab emirates:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
united arab emirates:
Marks the left edge on some roads.
Overtaking: On Left
malaysia:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malaysia:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
malaysia:
List length: 4
united arab emirates:
List length: 6
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
united arab emirates:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
malaysia:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Bus Lanes: Usage
malaysia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
united arab emirates:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas.
Bus Lanes: Markings
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
united arab emirates:
Labeled and usually marked by road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
malaysia:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
malaysia:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
malaysia:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
malaysia:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malaysia:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways.
Speeds Limits
| Malaysia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-60 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80-100 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 | 90-110 km/h | 100-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 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 | Less common; fines can be issued electronically |
Urban Areas: Standard
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
united arab emirates:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
malaysia:
30 km/h
united arab emirates:
25-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
united arab emirates:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
malaysia:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malaysia:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
malaysia:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Less common; fines can be issued electronically
Signals
| Malaysia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Malaysia | 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 | Malay and English; 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
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
united arab emirates:
Not used in UAE
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
malaysia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
united arab emirates:
Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas
Traffic Signs: Language
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
united arab emirates:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
united arab emirates:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Malaysia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
malaysia:
Not allowed
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Malaysia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required yearly for roadworthiness | 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
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
united arab emirates:
Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
united arab emirates:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
united arab emirates:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malaysia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | 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 |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
malaysia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
united arab emirates:
Moderate use, not excessively
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
united arab emirates:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malaysia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used nationwide | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
malaysia:
0.08%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Professional Drivers
malaysia:
0.04%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Underage Drivers
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
united arab emirates:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
united arab emirates:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
malaysia:
Substantial fines
united arab emirates:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Malaysia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
united arab emirates:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malaysia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services | Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
malaysia:
999
united arab emirates:
Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
united arab emirates:
Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malaysia:
Recommended
united arab emirates:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Malaysia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; RM150 and above | 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 | RM300, points on license | AED 400, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | RM300, points on license | AED 800, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; fines and points on license | AED 1000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations | Not typical; fines usually notified electronically |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
united arab emirates:
Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
malaysia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
united arab emirates:
Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
united arab emirates:
AED 400, 4 black points
Common Fines: Phone Use
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
united arab emirates:
AED 800, 4 black points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
united arab emirates:
AED 1000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
united arab emirates:
Not typical; fines usually notified electronically
Payment: Deadline
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
united arab emirates:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay