Driving in Singapore vs. United Arab Emirates: Key Differences
When exploring the unique road regulations of Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, distinct contrasts emerge in driving practices and safety measures. From lane usage to speed limits, this comparison illuminates vital distinctions, such as Singapore's left-side driving and the UAE's zero-tolerance alcohol policy, ensuring informed and secure travels abroad.
Lanes
| Singapore | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on some roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed. | 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 | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during peak hours. | 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 | 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. |
Driving Side
singapore:
Left
united arab emirates:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
united arab emirates:
Marks the left edge on some roads.
Overtaking: On Right
singapore:
Not allowed.
united arab emirates:
Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
singapore:
List length: 5
united arab emirates:
List length: 6
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
united arab emirates:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
singapore:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Bus Lanes: Usage
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
united arab emirates:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas.
Bus Lanes: Markings
singapore:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
united arab emirates:
Labeled and usually marked by road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
singapore:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
singapore:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
singapore:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits.
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways.
Speeds Limits
| Singapore | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-90 km/h | 100-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Less common; fines can be issued electronically |
Urban Areas: Standard
singapore:
50 km/h
united arab emirates:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
singapore:
40 km/h
united arab emirates:
25-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
singapore:
70-90 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
singapore:
70-90 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
singapore:
70-90 km/h
united arab emirates:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
singapore:
80-90 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
singapore:
80-90 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
singapore:
80-90 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
united arab emirates:
Less common; fines can be issued electronically
Signals
| Singapore | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Singapore | 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 | English; 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
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
united arab emirates:
Not used in UAE
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
singapore:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
united arab emirates:
Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas
Traffic Signs: Language
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
united arab emirates:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
singapore:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
united arab emirates:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Singapore | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not 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
singapore:
Not allowed.
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
singapore:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Singapore | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age | Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Display not required | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
united arab emirates:
Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
singapore:
Display not required
united arab emirates:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
singapore:
Not mandatory
united arab emirates:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
singapore:
Not mandatory
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Singapore | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use, not excessively |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
united arab emirates:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
singapore:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
united arab emirates:
Moderate use, not excessively
Pedestrians Priority
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
united arab emirates:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
united arab emirates:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Singapore | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 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; checkpoints used frequently | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
singapore:
0.05%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Professional Drivers
singapore:
0.00%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Underage Drivers
singapore:
0.00%
united arab emirates:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
united arab emirates:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
united arab emirates:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Singapore | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 995 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore | Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
singapore:
995
united arab emirates:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
singapore:
999
united arab emirates:
Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency
Contact: Roadside Assistance
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
united arab emirates:
Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
united arab emirates:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Singapore | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines, demerit points | 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 | $120, demerit points for non-compliance | AED 400, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use | AED 800, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $200 to $500, demerit points | AED 1000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means | Not typical; fines usually notified electronically |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
united arab emirates:
Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
united arab emirates:
Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
united arab emirates:
AED 400, 4 black points
Common Fines: Phone Use
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
united arab emirates:
AED 800, 4 black points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
united arab emirates:
AED 1000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
united arab emirates:
Not typical; fines usually notified electronically
Payment: Deadline
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
united arab emirates:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay