Driving in Maldives vs. Qatar: Key Differences to Know
Explore the intriguing contrasts between the Maldives and Qatar as we delve into their unique driving regulations and road etiquette. From lane usage and speed limits to the requirements for foreign driver’s licenses, understanding these distinctions can greatly enhance your travel experience and ensure safer journeys abroad. Discover what sets these two nations apart on the road!
Lanes
| Maldives | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used in certain situations, traditionally marks the center of the road where crossing is prohibited. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Often used on the edge of the road or for other specific purposes in the Maldives. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, when safe and legal. | Allowed only in designated situations, like when vehicles ahead are turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved primarily for buses; check local regulations. | Reserved for buses and authorized vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May be designated with road signs or markings. | Labeled with appropriate road signs or pavement markings. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Minimal | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Cyclists generally use the main road where space permits. | Shared with vehicles, as dedicated lanes are rare. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Usually not specifically marked in many areas. | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
maldives:
Left
qatar:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
maldives:
Used in certain situations, traditionally marks the center of the road where crossing is prohibited.
qatar:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
maldives:
Often used on the edge of the road or for other specific purposes in the Maldives.
qatar:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
maldives:
No
qatar:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
maldives:
Yes, when safe and legal.
qatar:
Allowed only in designated situations, like when vehicles ahead are turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
maldives:
Use leftmost lane.
qatar:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
maldives:
Limited
qatar:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
maldives:
Reserved primarily for buses; check local regulations.
qatar:
Reserved for buses and authorized vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
maldives:
May be designated with road signs or markings.
qatar:
Labeled with appropriate road signs or pavement markings.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
maldives:
Minimal
qatar:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
maldives:
Cyclists generally use the main road where space permits.
qatar:
Shared with vehicles, as dedicated lanes are rare.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
maldives:
Usually not specifically marked in many areas.
qatar:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
maldives:
No
qatar:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
maldives:
Not applicable
qatar:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Maldives | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Not applicable | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Not applicable | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Not applicable | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
maldives:
30 km/h
qatar:
60-80 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
maldives:
25 km/h
qatar:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
maldives:
80 km/h
qatar:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
maldives:
80 km/h
qatar:
100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
maldives:
Not applicable
qatar:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
maldives:
Not applicable
qatar:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
maldives:
Not applicable
qatar:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
maldives:
No
qatar:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
maldives:
Not applicable
qatar:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
maldives:
Common
qatar:
Yes
Signals
| Maldives | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used in Maldives | Not used in Qatar |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Allowed, but discouraged for non-emergencies | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dhivehi and English; symbols are standard | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Country-specific shapes and colors | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
maldives:
Not commonly used in Maldives
qatar:
Not used in Qatar
Horn Usage: Allowed
maldives:
Allowed, but discouraged for non-emergencies
qatar:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Traffic Signs: Language
maldives:
Dhivehi and English; symbols are standard
qatar:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
maldives:
Country-specific shapes and colors
qatar:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Maldives | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless signed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Typically allowed unless otherwise indicated | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
| Special Turn Lanes | Limited, mainly at main intersections | Yes, marked with arrows |
Right Turn On Red
maldives:
Not allowed unless signed
qatar:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
maldives:
Typically allowed unless otherwise indicated
qatar:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
Special Turn Lanes
maldives:
Limited, mainly at main intersections
qatar:
Yes, marked with arrows
Documentation
| Maldives | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Periodic checks required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Usually displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on the windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
maldives:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
qatar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
maldives:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
qatar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
maldives:
Periodic checks required
qatar:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
maldives:
Usually displayed on the vehicle
qatar:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| Maldives | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
maldives:
Common practice
qatar:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
maldives:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
qatar:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Maldives | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Fines can be substantial | Can be substantial; penalties are severe |
Enforcement: Random Checks
maldives:
Less common
qatar:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
maldives:
Fines can be substantial
qatar:
Can be substantial; penalties are severe
Roundabouts
| Maldives | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Usage: Right | Appropriate lanes as per signage | Use for first exit or straight |
| Lane Usage: Left | Appropriate lanes as per signage | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Lane Usage: Right
maldives:
Appropriate lanes as per signage
qatar:
Use for first exit or straight
Lane Usage: Left
maldives:
Appropriate lanes as per signage
qatar:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Maldives | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local police for traffic issues | 999 or local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or contact private services |
Contact: General Emergency
maldives:
119
qatar:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
maldives:
Contact local police for traffic issues
qatar:
999 or local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
maldives:
Check with your insurance provider
qatar:
Check with your insurance provider or contact private services
Penalties And Fines
| Maldives | Qatar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines start from MVR 750 | Varies; can be substantial, point system applies |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties including license suspension | Severe penalties; fines and imprisonment possible |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-compliance | Minimum 500 QR |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for use without hands-free | Minimum 500 QR, point system applies |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines | Minimum 6000 QR, point system applies |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for minor offenses | Yes, or online payment options |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a specified time | Payments should be timely to avoid additional penalties |
Common Fines: Speeding
maldives:
Varies; fines start from MVR 750
qatar:
Varies; can be substantial, point system applies
Common Fines: Alcohol
maldives:
Severe penalties including license suspension
qatar:
Severe penalties; fines and imprisonment possible
Common Fines: Seat Belts
maldives:
Fines apply for non-compliance
qatar:
Minimum 500 QR
Common Fines: Phone Use
maldives:
Fines for use without hands-free
qatar:
Minimum 500 QR, point system applies
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
maldives:
Substantial fines
qatar:
Minimum 6000 QR, point system applies
Payment: On The Spot
maldives:
Possible for minor offenses
qatar:
Yes, or online payment options
Payment: Deadline
maldives:
Varies; typically within a specified time
qatar:
Payments should be timely to avoid additional penalties