Driving in Tunisia vs. United Arab Emirates: Key Differences
Explore the contrasting road regulations and practices in Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates, emphasizing the significant distinctions in lane usage, speed limits, and alcohol policies. Understanding these variances is crucial for ensuring a secure and hassle-free driving experience in each country. Prepare yourself for a safe journey abroad!
Lanes
| Tunisia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on some roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typically permitted. | 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 | No | Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| 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
tunisia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
united arab emirates:
Marks the left edge on some roads.
Overtaking: On Right
tunisia:
Not typically permitted.
united arab emirates:
Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
tunisia:
List length: 5
united arab emirates:
List length: 6
Bus Lanes: Presence
tunisia:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Bus Lanes: Usage
tunisia:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas.
Bus Lanes: Markings
tunisia:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Labeled and usually marked by road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
tunisia:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
tunisia:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
tunisia:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
tunisia:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
tunisia:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
tunisia:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
tunisia:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways.
Speeds Limits
| Tunisia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 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 | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 100-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 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: Standard
tunisia:
50 km/h
united arab emirates:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
tunisia:
30 km/h
united arab emirates:
25-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
tunisia:
90 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
tunisia:
90 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
tunisia:
80 km/h
united arab emirates:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
tunisia:
110 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
tunisia:
90 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
tunisia:
80 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
tunisia:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
tunisia:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
tunisia:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Less common; fines can be issued electronically
Signals
| Tunisia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not typically used | 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 | Arabic and French; 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
tunisia:
Not typically used
united arab emirates:
Not used in UAE
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
tunisia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
united arab emirates:
Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas
Traffic Signs: Language
tunisia:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
united arab emirates:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
tunisia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
united arab emirates:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Tunisia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted | Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
tunisia:
Prohibited
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
tunisia:
Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Tunisia | 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; proof may be required | Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | 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
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
tunisia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
united arab emirates:
Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
tunisia:
Displayed on windshield
united arab emirates:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
tunisia:
Not mandatory
united arab emirates:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
tunisia:
Not mandatory
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Tunisia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use | Moderate use, not excessively |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
tunisia:
Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic
united arab emirates:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
tunisia:
Moderate use
united arab emirates:
Moderate use, not excessively
Alcohol
| Tunisia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used broadly | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies by offense | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
tunisia:
0.05%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Professional Drivers
tunisia:
0.00%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Underage Drivers
tunisia:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
united arab emirates:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
tunisia:
Common; checkpoints used broadly
united arab emirates:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
tunisia:
Substantial; varies by offense
united arab emirates:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Tunisia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 197 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 197 | Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | 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
tunisia:
197
united arab emirates:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
tunisia:
197
united arab emirates:
Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency
Contact: Roadside Assistance
tunisia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
united arab emirates:
Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
united arab emirates:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Tunisia | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; DT 40 to DT 500 | 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 | DT 40 | AED 400, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | DT 60 | AED 800, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; DT 60 to DT 200 | AED 1000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Not typical; fines usually notified electronically |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
tunisia:
Varies; DT 40 to DT 500
united arab emirates:
Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
tunisia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
united arab emirates:
Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
tunisia:
DT 40
united arab emirates:
AED 400, 4 black points
Common Fines: Phone Use
tunisia:
DT 60
united arab emirates:
AED 800, 4 black points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
tunisia:
Varies; DT 60 to DT 200
united arab emirates:
AED 1000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
tunisia:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Not typical; fines usually notified electronically
Payment: Deadline
tunisia:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
united arab emirates:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay