Driving in Portugal vs. Saudi Arabia: Key Differences
As you prepare for your journey, understanding the nuances of driving in Portugal versus Saudi Arabia is essential for your safety. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane regulations, and the use of emergency services. Familiarize yourself with these critical variations to ensure a secure and enjoyable driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Portugal | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
portugal:
Prohibited.
saudi arabia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
portugal:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
portugal:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
portugal:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
portugal:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
portugal:
Exclusive for bicycles.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
portugal:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
portugal:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
portugal:
N/A
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
portugal:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Portugal | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Standard
portugal:
50 km/h
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
portugal:
30 km/h
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
portugal:
90 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
portugal:
80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
portugal:
70 km/h
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
portugal:
120 km/h
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
portugal:
100 km/h
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
portugal:
90 km/h
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
portugal:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits
saudi arabia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
portugal:
Possible
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Portugal | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Portugal | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Arabic; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with white background and red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
portugal:
Not used in Portugal
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Traffic Signs: Language
portugal:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
portugal:
Triangular-shaped with white background and red border
saudi arabia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Portugal | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
portugal:
Prohibited
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
portugal:
Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Portugal | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no additional permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Periodic inspections required; proof may be required | Mandatory periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
portugal:
Accepted; no additional permit required
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
portugal:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
portugal:
Periodic inspections required; proof may be required
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
portugal:
Displayed on the windshield
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Road Etiquette
| Portugal | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use for communication on the road |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
portugal:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Alcohol
| Portugal | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during holidays | Common, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
portugal:
0.05%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
portugal:
0.02%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
portugal:
0.02%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
portugal:
Common, especially during holidays
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
portugal:
Varies; can be substantial
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
portugal:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
portugal:
Can result in license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Emergency Services
| Portugal | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local authorities | 993 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACP | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
Contact: General Emergency
portugal:
112
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
portugal:
Contact local authorities
saudi arabia:
993
Contact: Roadside Assistance
portugal:
Check with your insurance provider or ACP
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Penalties And Fines
| Portugal | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €120 to €600 | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €240 to €1,200 | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €120 to €600 | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
Common Fines: Speeding
portugal:
Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
portugal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
portugal:
€120 to €600
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
portugal:
€240 to €1,200
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
portugal:
€120 to €600
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
portugal:
Possible
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer