Driving Tips for Beginners in the UAE

According to the information released by the Ministry of Interior the UAE, in 2023, out of 4391 accidents, 352 of them resulted in death and the rest ended in injury.

These numbers are both terrifying and show that efforts to reduce road accidents in the UAE have remained woefully unavailing.

Who are to blame for accidents and why?

Those who give up driving learning after passing the test, those who show no flexibility towards different driving situations and also young drivers that adventurously want to test the speed limit.

The following article is a quick guide for driving beginners and anyone starting off on the road for the first time.

Avoid These Common Traffic Violation in the UAE

Jumping the Signal or Red-light Running

The first few months after getting a driver’s license are usually the most accident-prone period, as young drivers recklessly cross red signals.

Unlike other traffic offences, jumping the signal results in high fine of AED 1000 and 30-day vehicle impounding. There is no way out, you must completely STOP.

Ignoring the Seatbelt

Abu Dhabi Police statistics in 2022 show that 60% of road fatalities are due to not using seat belts.

UAE traffic law imposes a fine 400 and four black points for not wearing seatbelts.

Apart from that, ignoring the seat belt can affect your insurance coverage and reduce the compensation you receive from insurance claims or legal settlements.

Parking violations

The most frequent traffic violation is related to parking, most. Majority of traffic offenders are individuals careless to traffic signs, hasty and less patient.

Emirates Police takes parking violations seriously as part of its wider effort to maintain order, safety and smooth traffic flow in the city.

Zero Tolerance and Immediate Fines are two decisive approaches that the Emirate Traffic Police uses to ensure compliance with parking regulations.

Ignoring the Speed Limit

Depending on the road, the car and the emirate you are in driving the prescribed speed limits varies. In order not to be misled, general information about light vehicle speed limits is provided to you in a table.

* You are allowed to drive up to maximum speed of 160 km/h just on three major highways in the UAE: Abu Dhabi-Al Ain (E22), Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed (E11) and Abu Dhabi-Sweihan (E20).

Under speeding can be as dangerous as over speeding. Driving significantly slow on UAE highways results in impeding traffic, sudden swerving, chain accidents and rear-end collisions.

The risk of an accident due to very low speed is especially high at night or in poor visibility conditions.

System of Driving in UAE; right or left?

UAE driving system follows right hand traffic which means vehicle keep driving on the right side of two-direction road and the steering wheel is on the left. In this system roundabouts circulate anticlockwise.

Right hand traffic and left-hand drive are equivalent. Those travelers on visit visa coming from UK, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, India, and Pakistan might find RHT system unfamiliar and strange when renting a car.

This system does not allow you to overtake from the right side.

Note that Importing cars with right steering wheel are not allowed to be registered.

Tips to Drive Safety in UAE Roads

Maintain the safe following distance, only then will you have enough time to react or be able to take evasive action in time. This gap should be typically 5 seconds.

Reduce the risk of blind spot by adjustable mirror especially in populous cites of Dubai and Abu Dhabi which vehicles are unintentionally placed in each other’s blind spots. Modern cars have blind Spot Monitoring Systems. If your car is probably not equipped with this system, check blind spots manually by turning your head.

Use signal early and not less than 60m distance to change lanes, merge and turn right and left. This will give other drivers time to adjust to your move. It is recommended to use 5-seconds-long signal.

Mind lane discipline and make sure you drive between lanes. Your car must be right in the center of lanes and not inclined to right or left. Another lane discipline is overtaking. Never overtake on the right. Do not obstruct the traffic flow on the highways and let the fast vehicle use the left lane.

Maintain the driving style and put your hands at the 9 and 3 o’clock positions. Only in this case you can expect to have the timeliest reaction toward driving hazards.

Use traffic application to plan your journey in advance and make commuting as efficient as possible.

Use Smart Phone Traffic Applications

The UAE is known for its modern, well-developed and somehow complicated road network connecting seven emirates and also extensive urban road, bridges and tunnels.

So, as beginner, it is recommended not to take risks and before hitting the road, get as much information as necessary about the condition of the roads and traffic jams. Here are top smart phone applications that can be your assistant in the UAE.

• WAZE is a community-driven application is available throughout the UAE. It offers real-time traffic updates, route planning, alerts about accidents and other location-specific cue.
• Google Maps is highly recognized traffic application covering the UAE. It provides all you need to know about real-time traffic conditions, street maps, satellite imagery, route planning for traveling by foot, car, bike and car.
• RTA Smart Drive developed by the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai. The application offers audio and video navigation instructions. It does not require an internet connection to search and navigate.
• Abu Dhabi Traffic App is provided by the Abu Dhabi Police. It gives sufficient information about real-time traffic, accident reports, and road conditions in Abu Dhabi
• Here WeGo is offline maps which offers directions in a simpler and user-friendlier way. It presents turn-by-turn navigation and live traffic updates.
• TomTom GO Navigation is known for its easy-to-follow walk guidance and it provides the most accurate real-time updates and route planning.

End Note

Most of the accidents that occur in the UAE are heavy cars- and motorcycle-related.

That’s why compared to previous years, we see stricter law enforcement against offenders in UAE driving rules.

The most efficient way is instead of focusing on deceptive methods to avoid getting fined, drive properly.

Driving in the UAE’s heavily settled cities can be a wonderful experience if you review the principal and be watchful of traffic signs.

At the end, note that any facts and figures presented in this article is adapted from reliable sources and are well grounded.