Driving in Turkey vs United Arab Emirates: Key Differences
When traversing the roads of Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, understanding the unique regulations and practices is vital for ensuring a secure journey. From lane usage and speed limits to alcohol restrictions and emergency contacts, each nation presents distinct rules that every traveler should know. Discover how these two countries differ in their approach to road safety.
Lanes
| Turkey | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on some roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if 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 sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with specific signs indicating bus lanes. | 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
turkey:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
united arab emirates:
Marks the left edge on some roads.
Overtaking: On Right
turkey:
Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if the vehicle ahead is turning left.
united arab emirates:
Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
turkey:
List length: 5
united arab emirates:
List length: 6
Bus Lanes: Presence
turkey:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Bus Lanes: Usage
turkey:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
united arab emirates:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas.
Bus Lanes: Markings
turkey:
Labeled with specific signs indicating bus lanes.
united arab emirates:
Labeled and usually marked by road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
turkey:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
turkey:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
turkey:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
turkey:
Electronic signs display current limits.
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways.
Speeds Limits
| Turkey | 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 | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances. | Less common; fines can be issued electronically |
Urban Areas: Standard
turkey:
50 km/h
united arab emirates:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
turkey:
30 km/h
united arab emirates:
25-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
turkey:
90 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
turkey:
80 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
turkey:
80 km/h
united arab emirates:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
turkey:
120 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
turkey:
100 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
turkey:
90 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
turkey:
Yes, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances.
united arab emirates:
Less common; fines can be issued electronically
Signals
| Turkey | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used in Turkey | Not used in UAE |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00 | Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Turkish; symbols are standard | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
turkey:
Not commonly used in Turkey
united arab emirates:
Not used in UAE
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
turkey:
Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00
united arab emirates:
Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas
Traffic Signs: Language
turkey:
Turkish; symbols are standard
united arab emirates:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
turkey:
Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border
united arab emirates:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Turkey | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it. | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign | Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
turkey:
Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it.
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
turkey:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Turkey | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Periodic inspection required for all vehicles | Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
turkey:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
turkey:
International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
turkey:
Periodic inspection required for all vehicles
united arab emirates:
Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
turkey:
Mandatory
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Turkey | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use, not excessively |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
turkey:
More frequent use compared to some countries
united arab emirates:
Moderate use, not excessively
Alcohol
| Turkey | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints are frequent | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
turkey:
0.05%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Professional Drivers
turkey:
0.00%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Underage Drivers
turkey:
0.00%; zero tolerance
united arab emirates:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
turkey:
Common; checkpoints are frequent
united arab emirates:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
turkey:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
united arab emirates:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
turkey:
Can result in license suspension and fines
united arab emirates:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Turkey | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 155 | Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services | Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
turkey:
112
united arab emirates:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
turkey:
155
united arab emirates:
Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency
Contact: Roadside Assistance
turkey:
Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services
united arab emirates:
Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
turkey:
Mandatory
united arab emirates:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Turkey | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license | Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time | Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Approximately TL 160, points may apply | AED 400, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for holding a phone while driving | AED 800, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines vary, penalty points apply | AED 1000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately | Not typical; fines usually notified electronically |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
turkey:
Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license
united arab emirates:
Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
turkey:
Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time
united arab emirates:
Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
turkey:
Approximately TL 160, points may apply
united arab emirates:
AED 400, 4 black points
Common Fines: Phone Use
turkey:
Fines for holding a phone while driving
united arab emirates:
AED 800, 4 black points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
turkey:
Fines vary, penalty points apply
united arab emirates:
AED 1000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
turkey:
Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately
united arab emirates:
Not typical; fines usually notified electronically
Payment: Deadline
turkey:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges
united arab emirates:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay