Driving in Oman vs. United Arab Emirates: Key Differences
Driving in Oman and the United Arab Emirates presents unique contrasts that every traveler should be aware of. Key distinctions include lane regulations, speed limits, and traffic signals. While both nations enforce strict alcohol limits and vehicle inspections, the presence of bus and high-occupancy lanes in the UAE marks a significant divergence in road use. Stay informed to ensure a safe journey!
Lanes
| Oman | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on some roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 6 |
| 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 | 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. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
oman:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
united arab emirates:
Marks the left edge on some roads.
Overtaking: On Right
oman:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
united arab emirates:
Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
oman:
List length: 5
united arab emirates:
List length: 6
Bus Lanes: Presence
oman:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Bus Lanes: Usage
oman:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas.
Bus Lanes: Markings
oman:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Labeled and usually marked by road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
oman:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
oman:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
oman:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
oman:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
oman:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways.
Speeds Limits
| Oman | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 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: Residential Zones
oman:
40 km/h
united arab emirates:
25-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
oman:
80 km/h
united arab emirates:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
oman:
120 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
oman:
100 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
oman:
100 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
oman:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
oman:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
oman:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Less common; fines can be issued electronically
Signals
| Oman | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Oman | Not used in UAE |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged | Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; symbols are standard | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
oman:
Not used in Oman
united arab emirates:
Not used in UAE
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
oman:
Unnecessary use discouraged
united arab emirates:
Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas
Traffic Signs: Language
oman:
Arabic; symbols are standard
united arab emirates:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
oman:
Triangle-shaped with red border
united arab emirates:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Oman | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not typically 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
oman:
Not typically allowed
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
oman:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Oman | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Regular inspection required | Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
oman:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
oman:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
oman:
Regular inspection required
united arab emirates:
Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
oman:
Displayed on windshield
united arab emirates:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Road Etiquette
| Oman | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Use more frequent compared to some countries | Moderate use, not excessively |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
oman:
Use more frequent compared to some countries
united arab emirates:
Moderate use, not excessively
Alcohol
| Oman | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and heavy penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
oman:
0.00%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Professional Drivers
oman:
0.00%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Underage Drivers
oman:
0.00%
united arab emirates:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
oman:
Common
united arab emirates:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
oman:
Substantial fines
united arab emirates:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
oman:
Can result in license suspension and heavy penalties
united arab emirates:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Oman | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 9999 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 9999 | 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 |
Contact: General Emergency
oman:
9999
united arab emirates:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
oman:
9999
united arab emirates:
Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency
Contact: Roadside Assistance
oman:
Check with your insurance provider
united arab emirates:
Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA
Penalties And Fines
| Oman | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial | Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines may apply | AED 400, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply | AED 800, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines can be substantial | AED 1000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Not typical; fines usually notified electronically |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; ensure timely payment | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
oman:
Varies; fines can be substantial
united arab emirates:
Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
oman:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
united arab emirates:
Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
oman:
Fines may apply
united arab emirates:
AED 400, 4 black points
Common Fines: Phone Use
oman:
Fines may apply
united arab emirates:
AED 800, 4 black points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
oman:
Fines can be substantial
united arab emirates:
AED 1000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
oman:
Common
united arab emirates:
Not typical; fines usually notified electronically
Payment: Deadline
oman:
Varies; ensure timely payment
united arab emirates:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay