Driving Differences: Nepal vs. United Arab Emirates
Driving in Nepal and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) presents notable contrasts that every traveler should understand. From the side of the road you navigate to speed limits and traffic regulations, these disparities significantly impact roadway safety. Discover how to adapt to local norms and enhance your journey in these diverse countries.
Lanes
| Nepal | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge of the road. | Marks the left edge on some roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, with caution. | 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 | Keep left. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled and usually marked by road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | 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. |
Driving Side
nepal:
Left
united arab emirates:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
united arab emirates:
Marks the left edge on some roads.
Overtaking: On Left
nepal:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
united arab emirates:
Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
nepal:
List length: 5
united arab emirates:
List length: 6
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
nepal:
Keep left.
united arab emirates:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Bus Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas.
Bus Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Labeled and usually marked by road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
nepal:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
nepal:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways.
Speeds Limits
| Nepal | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 50-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Less common; fines can be issued electronically |
Urban Areas: Standard
nepal:
20-40 km/h
united arab emirates:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
nepal:
20-30 km/h
united arab emirates:
25-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
50-80 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
nepal:
40-60 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
40-60 km/h
united arab emirates:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
80 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
nepal:
60 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
60 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
nepal:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
nepal:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
nepal:
Yes, common practice
united arab emirates:
Less common; fines can be issued electronically
Signals
| Nepal | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Nepal | 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 | Nepali and English | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
nepal:
Yellow
united arab emirates:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
united arab emirates:
Not used in UAE
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
nepal:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
united arab emirates:
Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas
Traffic Signs: Language
nepal:
Nepali and English
united arab emirates:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
united arab emirates:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Nepal | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
nepal:
Not allowed
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Nepal | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | 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 | Mandatory; proof required | Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
united arab emirates:
Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
united arab emirates:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
nepal:
Not mandatory
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Nepal | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | 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
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
united arab emirates:
Moderate use, not excessively
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
united arab emirates:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Nepal | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
nepal:
0.05%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Professional Drivers
nepal:
0.00%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Underage Drivers
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
united arab emirates:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
united arab emirates:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
nepal:
Can be substantial
united arab emirates:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Nepal | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
nepal:
Signal left when preparing to exit
united arab emirates:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
united arab emirates:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Nepal | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
nepal:
100
united arab emirates:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
nepal:
100
united arab emirates:
Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency
Contact: Roadside Assistance
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
united arab emirates:
Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
nepal:
Not mandatory, but recommended
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Nepal | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 | 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 | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 | AED 400, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 | AED 800, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 | AED 1000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, common practice | Not typical; fines usually notified electronically |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
united arab emirates:
Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
nepal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
united arab emirates:
Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
united arab emirates:
AED 400, 4 black points
Common Fines: Phone Use
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
united arab emirates:
AED 800, 4 black points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
united arab emirates:
AED 1000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
nepal:
Yes, common practice
united arab emirates:
Not typical; fines usually notified electronically
Payment: Deadline
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
united arab emirates:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay