Driving in South Korea vs. United Arab Emirates: Key Differences
Exploring the roads of South Korea and the United Arab Emirates reveals intriguing contrasts in vehicular regulations and road norms. From speed limits to lane markings, each country demonstrates unique approaches to ensuring road safety. Discover the critical distinctions that every traveler should know to navigate these diverse driving landscapes confidently.
Lanes
| South korea | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. | Marks the left edge on some roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads | 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 during specified hours. | Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'. | Labeled and usually marked by road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| 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: 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
south korea:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
united arab emirates:
Marks the left edge on some roads.
Overtaking: On Right
south korea:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
united arab emirates:
Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
south korea:
List length: 5
united arab emirates:
List length: 6
Bus Lanes: Presence
south korea:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Bus Lanes: Usage
south korea:
Reserved for buses during specified hours.
united arab emirates:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas.
Bus Lanes: Markings
south korea:
Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'.
united arab emirates:
Labeled and usually marked by road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
south korea:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
south korea:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
united arab emirates:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
south korea:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
south korea:
Minimum two or more occupants
united arab emirates:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
south korea:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
south korea:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways.
Speeds Limits
| South korea | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 60 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 100-120 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: Standard
south korea:
60 km/h
united arab emirates:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
south korea:
30 km/h
united arab emirates:
25-40 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
south korea:
100-120 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
south korea:
100-110 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-120 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
south korea:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
south korea:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
south korea:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Less common; fines can be issued electronically
Signals
| South korea | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in South Korea | 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 | Korean; symbols are standard | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
south korea:
Not used in South Korea
united arab emirates:
Not used in UAE
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
south korea:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
united arab emirates:
Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas
Traffic Signs: Language
south korea:
Korean; symbols are standard
united arab emirates:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
south korea:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background
united arab emirates:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| South korea | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign |
U- Turns Allowed
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| South korea | 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 | Mandatory; proof must be displayed | Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
south korea:
Mandatory; proof must be displayed
united arab emirates:
Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
south korea:
Displayed on windshield
united arab emirates:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| South korea | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use, not excessively |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
south korea:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
united arab emirates:
Moderate use, not excessively
Alcohol
| South korea | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.03% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
south korea:
0.05%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Professional Drivers
south korea:
0.03%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Underage Drivers
south korea:
0.00%; zero tolerance
united arab emirates:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
south korea:
Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used
united arab emirates:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Test Refusal
south korea:
Can result in license suspension and fines
united arab emirates:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| South korea | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; often part of the general emergency network | 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 | Recommended but not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
south korea:
112
united arab emirates:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
south korea:
Varies; often part of the general emergency network
united arab emirates:
Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency
Contact: Roadside Assistance
south korea:
Check with your insurance provider
united arab emirates:
Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| South korea | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines and license points given | 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 and license points given | AED 400, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and license points given | AED 800, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and license points given | AED 1000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Not typical; fines usually notified electronically |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
south korea:
Varies; fines and license points given
united arab emirates:
Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
south korea:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
united arab emirates:
Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
south korea:
Fines and license points given
united arab emirates:
AED 400, 4 black points
Common Fines: Phone Use
south korea:
Fines and license points given
united arab emirates:
AED 800, 4 black points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
south korea:
Fines and license points given
united arab emirates:
AED 1000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
south korea:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Not typical; fines usually notified electronically
Payment: Deadline
south korea:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
united arab emirates:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay