Driving in Russia vs. United Arab Emirates: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of Russia and the United Arab Emirates, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their travel experiences. From speed limits and overtaking rules to traffic signals and documentation requirements, understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a safe journey. Familiarize yourself with the critical contrasts to drive confidently in these diverse environments.
Lanes
| Russia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used to separate opposite directions on undivided 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 | Yes | Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis. | Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with specific road signs or markings. | 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: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
russia:
Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads.
united arab emirates:
Marks the left edge on some roads.
Overtaking: On Right
russia:
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
russia:
List length: 5
united arab emirates:
List length: 6
Bus Lanes: Presence
russia:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Bus Lanes: Usage
russia:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
united arab emirates:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas.
Bus Lanes: Markings
russia:
Labeled with specific road signs or markings.
united arab emirates:
Labeled and usually marked by road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
russia:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
russia:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
russia:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
russia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways.
Speeds Limits
| Russia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 60 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 100-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; but fines are also mailed | Less common; fines can be issued electronically |
Urban Areas: Standard
russia:
60 km/h
united arab emirates:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
russia:
20 km/h
united arab emirates:
25-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
russia:
90 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
russia:
90 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
russia:
70-80 km/h
united arab emirates:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
russia:
110 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
russia:
90-100 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
russia:
90 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
russia:
Yes; but fines are also mailed
united arab emirates:
Less common; fines can be issued electronically
Signals
| Russia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Russia | 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 | Russian; symbols are standard | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
russia:
Not used in Russia
united arab emirates:
Not used in UAE
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
russia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
united arab emirates:
Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas
Traffic Signs: Language
russia:
Russian; symbols are standard
united arab emirates:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
russia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
united arab emirates:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Russia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign |
U- Turns Allowed
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Russia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles | Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Usually indicated in vehicle documents | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
russia:
Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles
united arab emirates:
Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
russia:
Usually indicated in vehicle documents
united arab emirates:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
russia:
Not mandatory
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Russia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use, not excessively |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
russia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
united arab emirates:
Moderate use, not excessively
Alcohol
| Russia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.035% | 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, especially in cities | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
Limits: General Drivers
russia:
0.035%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Professional Drivers
russia:
0.00%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Underage Drivers
russia:
0.00%
united arab emirates:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
russia:
Common, especially in cities
united arab emirates:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Emergency Services
| Russia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local numbers; 113 is common | 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
russia:
112
united arab emirates:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
russia:
Check local numbers; 113 is common
united arab emirates:
Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency
Contact: Roadside Assistance
russia:
Check with your insurance provider
united arab emirates:
Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
russia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Russia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines | 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 | Fines apply | AED 400, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points in the record | AED 800, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | AED 1000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer | Not typical; fines usually notified electronically |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
russia:
Varies; substantial fines
united arab emirates:
Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
russia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
united arab emirates:
Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
russia:
Fines apply
united arab emirates:
AED 400, 4 black points
Common Fines: Phone Use
russia:
Fines apply, points in the record
united arab emirates:
AED 800, 4 black points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
russia:
Fines apply
united arab emirates:
AED 1000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
russia:
Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer
united arab emirates:
Not typical; fines usually notified electronically
Payment: Deadline
russia:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
united arab emirates:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay