Driving in Myanmar vs. United Arab Emirates: Key Differences
When exploring the varied realms of road regulations, understanding the contrasts between Myanmar and the United Arab Emirates is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Key differences include lane usage, speed limits, and alcohol restrictions, with Myanmar allowing right-side overtaking, while the UAE enforces strict zero alcohol tolerance. Drive informed, drive safe!
Lanes
| Myanmar | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on some roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No, overtaking is on the right. | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed as this is the side of overtaking. | 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 | Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis. | Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage. | Labeled and usually marked by road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | 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
myanmar:
Marks the edge on divided roads.
united arab emirates:
Marks the left edge on some roads.
Overtaking: On Left
myanmar:
No, overtaking is on the right.
united arab emirates:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
myanmar:
Allowed as this is the side of overtaking.
united arab emirates:
Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
myanmar:
List length: 5
united arab emirates:
List length: 6
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
myanmar:
Use leftmost lane.
united arab emirates:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
myanmar:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Bus Lanes: Usage
myanmar:
Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis.
united arab emirates:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas.
Bus Lanes: Markings
myanmar:
Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage.
united arab emirates:
Labeled and usually marked by road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
myanmar:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
myanmar:
Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles.
united arab emirates:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
myanmar:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
myanmar:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
myanmar:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
myanmar:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
myanmar:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways.
Speeds Limits
| Myanmar | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 70 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
myanmar:
30-40 km/h
united arab emirates:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
myanmar:
30 km/h
united arab emirates:
25-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
myanmar:
80 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
myanmar:
60 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
myanmar:
50 km/h
united arab emirates:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
myanmar:
100 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
myanmar:
80 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
myanmar:
70 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
myanmar:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
myanmar:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
myanmar:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Less common; fines can be issued electronically
Signals
| Myanmar | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Myanmar | 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 | Burmese; symbols are standard | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
myanmar:
Not used in Myanmar
united arab emirates:
Not used in UAE
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
myanmar:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
united arab emirates:
Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas
Traffic Signs: Language
myanmar:
Burmese; symbols are standard
united arab emirates:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
myanmar:
Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds
united arab emirates:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Myanmar | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless permitted by a sign | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless permitted by signs | Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by a sign
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by signs
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Myanmar | 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 | Yes, periodic inspection required | Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
myanmar:
Yes, periodic inspection required
united arab emirates:
Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
myanmar:
Displayed on the windshield
united arab emirates:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
myanmar:
Recommended
united arab emirates:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Myanmar | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use, more common in cities | Moderate use, not excessively |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
myanmar:
Moderate use, more common in cities
united arab emirates:
Moderate use, not excessively
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
myanmar:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
united arab emirates:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Myanmar | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.07% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.03% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; often during festivals | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can lead to arrest and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
myanmar:
0.07%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Professional Drivers
myanmar:
0.03%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Underage Drivers
myanmar:
0.00%
united arab emirates:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
myanmar:
Less common; often during festivals
united arab emirates:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
myanmar:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
united arab emirates:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
myanmar:
Can lead to arrest and fines
united arab emirates:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Myanmar | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 199 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local police | Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Available through some insurance providers | Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
myanmar:
199
united arab emirates:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
myanmar:
Contact local police
united arab emirates:
Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency
Contact: Roadside Assistance
myanmar:
Available through some insurance providers
united arab emirates:
Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
myanmar:
Recommended
united arab emirates:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Myanmar | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; small fines for minor overshoots | 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 | Fine enforced; mandatory use | AED 400, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for usage while driving | AED 800, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applied for violations | AED 1000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; else must be paid at office | Not typical; fines usually notified electronically |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
myanmar:
Varies; small fines for minor overshoots
united arab emirates:
Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
myanmar:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
united arab emirates:
Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
myanmar:
Fine enforced; mandatory use
united arab emirates:
AED 400, 4 black points
Common Fines: Phone Use
myanmar:
Fines for usage while driving
united arab emirates:
AED 800, 4 black points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
myanmar:
Fines applied for violations
united arab emirates:
AED 1000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
myanmar:
Possible; else must be paid at office
united arab emirates:
Not typical; fines usually notified electronically
Payment: Deadline
myanmar:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
united arab emirates:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay