Driving in Norway vs. United Arab Emirates: Key Differences
Welcome to our comprehensive comparison of road regulations between Norway and the United Arab Emirates. Discover key distinctions in traffic rules, speed limits, and enforcement practices, ensuring you navigate each country's unique driving landscape safely. From lane markings to alcohol limits, understanding these variations is essential for a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Norway | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. | Marks the left edge on some roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not standard in Norway. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn. | Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 6 |
| 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 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; 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 | Yes | Yes, in some areas |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
united arab emirates:
Marks the left edge on some roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
united arab emirates:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
norway:
Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
united arab emirates:
Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
norway:
List length: 5
united arab emirates:
List length: 6
Bus Lanes: Presence
norway:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Bus Lanes: Usage
norway:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
united arab emirates:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas.
Bus Lanes: Markings
norway:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
united arab emirates:
Labeled and usually marked by road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
norway:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
norway:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
united arab emirates:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits.
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways.
Speeds Limits
| Norway | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 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 | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-110 km/h | 100-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Less common; fines can be issued electronically |
Urban Areas: Standard
norway:
30-50 km/h
united arab emirates:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
norway:
30 km/h
united arab emirates:
25-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
norway:
80 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
norway:
80 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
norway:
80 km/h
united arab emirates:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
norway:
90-110 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
norway:
90-100 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
norway:
80 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
norway:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Less common; fines can be issued electronically
Signals
| Norway | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Norway | 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 | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
norway:
Not used in Norway
united arab emirates:
Not used in UAE
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
norway:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
united arab emirates:
Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas
Traffic Signs: Language
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
united arab emirates:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
united arab emirates:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Norway | 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
norway:
Not allowed
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
norway:
Varies by locality; check for signs
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Norway | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with a national driving license | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | 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 | None | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
norway:
International Driving Permit recommended
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
norway:
Yes, periodic inspection required
united arab emirates:
Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
norway:
None
united arab emirates:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Road Etiquette
| Norway | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use, not excessively |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
norway:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
united arab emirates:
Moderate use, not excessively
Alcohol
| Norway | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | High fines and possible license revocation | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
norway:
0.02%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Professional Drivers
norway:
0.02%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Underage Drivers
norway:
0.00%; zero tolerance
united arab emirates:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
norway:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
united arab emirates:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
united arab emirates:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Norway | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 02800 | Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NAF | Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA |
Contact: General Emergency
norway:
112
united arab emirates:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
norway:
02800
united arab emirates:
Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency
Contact: Roadside Assistance
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
united arab emirates:
Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA
Penalties And Fines
| Norway | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license | Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | 1500 NOK | AED 400, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | 1700 NOK | AED 800, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | AED 1000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, typically required | Not typical; fines usually notified electronically |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
united arab emirates:
Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
norway:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
united arab emirates:
Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
norway:
1500 NOK
united arab emirates:
AED 400, 4 black points
Common Fines: Phone Use
norway:
1700 NOK
united arab emirates:
AED 800, 4 black points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
united arab emirates:
AED 1000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
norway:
Yes, typically required
united arab emirates:
Not typical; fines usually notified electronically
Payment: Deadline
norway:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
united arab emirates:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay