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Driving in Dubai

drivingDubai is home to approximately 180 different nationalities, all of whom come with their own driving abilities and habits. Those arriving from Western countries may find the roads chaotic, while those from Asian nations or Arab states may find the driving organized. By familiarizing with the local driving regulations one can comfortably drive through Dubai.

Cars are left-hand drive, and traffic is supposed to stay on the right hand side of the road (as in Europe, US and Canada; opposite of Britain, Asia, Australia, South Africa and NZ). If you wish to hire a car in the UAE as a tourist you will be issued with a UAE temporary driving permit by car hire companies on presentation of valid national or international driving licences. When you get a residence permit, you must get a Dubai driving licence. You're no longer allowed to drive with a foreign license, IDP or temporary Dubai licence.

There is an extensive high quality road network throughout the Emirates and unleaded petrol is cheap. The rules relating to driving licences differ from emirate to emirate. However, once you have been issued with a temporary driving permit from one emirate you can drive throughout the UAE.

Traffic regulations are strict, with radar and cameras in use by the police. In any case, you need to drive carefully. The speed limit in urban areas is 60- 80 kph and 100-120 kph for cars on the open road. Hired cars are equipped with an insistent alarm that is set off when the speed limit is exceeded. It is illegal to leave the scene of an accident without police permission. Use of mobile phones while driving is prohibited. Under no circumstances can you drink and drive. Even a small amount of alcohol will put you over the legal limit. Seat belts are compulsory. Children under 12 are prohibited from traveling in front seats of vehicles.

On March 1, 2008 the new Unified Federal Traffic Law comes into effect putting in place hefty penalties for serious traffic offences.

Traffic violations, fines and black points

Description

Fines

Black Points

Confiscation

 

Driving dangerously (racing)

2000

12

30

 

Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or similar substances

Decided by court

24

60

 

Driving a vehicle without number plates

1000

24

60

 

Causing death of others Decided

Decided by court

12

30

 

Not stopping after causing an accident that resulted in injuries

Decided by court

24

60

 

Reckless driving

2000

12

30

 

Exceeding maximum speed limit by more than 60km/h

1000

12

30

 

Driving in a way that is

1000

12

30

 

Jumping a red light 8 Both 15

800

8

15

 

Running away from a traffic policeman

800

12

30

 

Dangerous overtaking by trucks

800

24

60

 

Causing a car to overturn Decided

Decided by court

8

-

 

Causing serious injuries Decided

Decided by court

8

-

 

Exceeding maximum speed limit by not more than 60km/h

900

6

-

 

Exceeding maximum speed limit by not more than 50km/h

800

-

-

 

Overtaking on the hard shoulder

600

6

-

 

Entering road dangerously

600

6

-

 

Causing moderate injury

Decided by court

6

-

 

Heavy vehicle lane discipline

600

6

-

 

Overtaking from a prohibited place

600

6

-

 

Causing serious damage to a vehicle

Decided by court

6

-

 

Exceeding maximum speed limit by not more than 40km/h

700

-

-

 

Parking in fire hydrant places, spaces allocated for people with special needs and ambulance parking

1000

4

-

 

Exceeding maximum speed limit by not more than 30km/h

600

-

-

 

Driving against traffic

400

4

-

 

Allowing children under 10 years old to sit in the front seat of a vehicle

400

4

-

 

Failure to fasten seat belt while driving

400

4

-

 

Failure to leave a safe distance

400

4

-

 

Failure to follow the directions of

 

-

-

 

30 Exceeding maximum speed limit by not more than 20km/h

500

-

-

 

Entering a road without ensuring that it is clear

400

4

-

 

Exceeding permitted level of car window tinting

500

-

30

 

Not giving way to emer gency, police and public service vehicles or official convoys

500

4

-

 

Driving a heavy vehicle that does not comply with safety and security conditions

500

-

30

 

Failure to stop after causing an accident

500

-

-

 

Driving a noisy vehicle

500

-

30

 

Allowing others to drive a vehicle for which they are unlicensed

500

-

-

 

Loading a heavy vehicle in a way that may pose danger to others or to the road

500

6

7

 

Overload or protruding load from a heavy vehicle without permission

500

6

7

 

Driving a vehicle that causes pollution

500

-

-

 

Stopping on the road for no reason

500

4

-

 

Stopping on a yellow box

500

-

-

 

Not giving pedestrians way on pedestrian crossings

500

6

-

 

Failure to abide by traffic signs and directions

500

-

-

 

Throwing waste from vehicles onto roads

500

4

-

 

Refusing to give traffic police name and address when required

500

-

-

 

Stopping vehicle on the left side of the road in prohibited places

500

-

-

 

Stopping vehicle on pedestrian crossing

500

-

-

 

Teaching driving in a training vehicle that does not bear a learning sign

500

-

-

 

Teaching driving in a nontraining vehicle without permission from licensing authority

500

-

-

 

Placing marks on the road that may damage the road or block traffic

500

-

-

 

Operating industrial, construction and mechanical vehicles and tractors without permission from licensing authority

500

-

7

 

Modifying vehicle's engine without permission

400

-

-

 

Modifying vehicle's chasses without permission

400

-

-

 

Changing vehicle's colour without permission

400

-

-

 

Exceeding maximum speed limit by not more than 10km/h

400

-

-

 

Driving with a driving license issued by a foreign country except in permitted cases

400

-

-

 

Violating the terms of the driving license

300

-

-

 

Parking behind vehicles and blocking their movement

300

-

-

 

Towing a vehicle or a boat with an unprepared vehicle

300

-

-

 

Driving a vehicle that omits gases or fumes with substances exceeding permitted rates

300

-

-

 

Leaving a vehicle on the road with its engine running

300

-

-

 

No lights on the back or sides of trailer container

200

-

-

 

Lights on the back or sides of container not working

200

-

-

 

Taxis, which have designated pickup areas, stopping in undesignated places

200

4

-

 

Prohibited entry

200

4

-

 

Blocking traffic

200

-

-

 

Vehicle unfit for driving

200

-

7

 

Driving a light vehicle that does not comply with safety and security conditions

200

-

7

 

Not lifting exhaust of trucks

200

-

7

 

Not covering loads of trucks

3000

-

7

 

Using vehicle for purposes other than designated

200

4

7

 

Heavy vehicle prohibited entry

200

4

7

 

Violating loading or unloading regulations in parking

200

4

7

 

Carrying and transporting passengers illegally

200

4

7

 

Writing phrases or placing stickers on vehicle without permission

200

-

-

 

Not taking road safety measures during vehicle breakdowns

200

-

-

 

Turning at undesignated points

200

4

-

 

Turning the wrong way

200

4

-

 

Loading a light vehicle in a way that may pose a danger to others or to the road

200

3

7

 

Overload or protruding load on light vehicles without permission

200

3

7

 

Stopping vehicle without keeping the distance specified by the law from a curve or junction

200

-

-

 

Transporting passengers by vehicle undesignated for this purpose

200

4

-

 

Sudden swerve

200

4

-

 

Driving a taxi without required license

200

4

-

 

Carrying passengers in drivingtraining vehicle

200

4

-

 

Driving a taxi with an expired warranty

200

-

-

 

Reversing dangerously

200

-

-

 

Taxi refusing to carry passengers

200

4

-

 

Falling or leaking load

3000

12

30

 

Not securing vehicle while parked

200

-

-

 

Parking in prohibited places

200

2

-

 

Parking in loading and offloadingareas without need

200

-

-

 

Parking on road shoulder except in cases of emergency

200

-

-

 

Using multi-coloured lights

200

-

-

 

Not wearing helmet while driving motorbike

200

4

-

 

Exceeding passenger limit

200

3

-

 

Driving with tires in poor condition

200

-

7

 

Driving with an expired driving license

200

3

-

 

Not renewing vehicle registration after expiry

400

-

-

 

Driving unlicensed vehicle

200

-

7

 

Violation of laws of using commercial number plates

200

-

-

 

Not fixing number plates in designated places

200

2

-

 

Driving with one number plate

200

2

-

 

Driving at night or in foggy weather without lights

200

4

-

 

Using unmatching number plates for trailer and container

200

-

-

 

Not fixing reflective stickers at the back of trucks and heavy vehicles

200

-

-

 

Not using indicators when changing direction or turning

200

3

-

 

Not giving way for vehicles to pass on the left

200

-

-

 

Not giving way to vehicles coming from the left where required

200

-

-

 

Stopping a vehicle in a way that may pose danger or block traffic

200

3

-

 

Failure to have vehicle examined after carrying out major modification to engine or body

200

-

7

 

Using training vehicles outside of timings specified by licensing authority

200

-

-

 

Using training vehicles in places not designated by licensing

200

-

-

 

Overtaking from the right

200

4

-

 

Overtaking in a wrong way

200

3

-

 

Driving an unlicensed vehicle

200

-

7

 

Abuse of parking space

200

3

-

 

Number plates with unclear numbers

200

3

-

 

Violating tariff

200

6

-

 

Light vehicle lane discipline

200

2

-

 

Parking vehicles on pavement

200

3

-

 

Not showing vehicle registration card when required

200

-

-

 

Not showing driving license when required

200

-

-

 

Not fixing taxi sign where required

200

-

-

 

Not fixing a sign indicating licensed overload

200

3

-

 

Using interior lights for no reason while driving

100

-

-

 

Failure to abide by specified colour for taxis or training cars

200

-

-

 

Failure to display tariff of buses or taxis or not showing them when required

200

-

-

 

Broken lights

200

6

-

 

Using horn in prohibited areas

200

2

-

 

Driving below minimum speed limit

200

-

-

 

Failure to keep taxis and buses clean inside and outside

200

-

-

 

Smoking inside taxis and buses

200

-

-

 

Using hand-held mobile phone while driving

200

4

-

 

Not abiding by taxi drivers obligatory uniform or not keeping it in good condition

100

-

-

 

Calling on passengers in the presence of signs

100

-

-

 

Not displaying truck's load on both sides

100

-

-

 

Not carrying driving license while driving

100

-

-

 

Not carrying vehicle registration card while driving

100

-

-

 

Driving without spectacles or contact lenses

100

-

-

 

Not using interior light in buses at night

100

-

-

 

Broken indicator lights

100

2

-

 

Using horn in a disturbing way

100

2

-

 

Having no red light at the back of vehicle

100

-

-

 

Opening left door of taxi

100

3

-

 

Pedestrians crossing from undesignated places (If any existed)

200

-

-

 

Do drive safely and adopt a really nice driving behavior and enjoy your stay in Dubai.

GOWEALTHY.COM © 2008
For comments: editor@gowealthy.com

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