What are some tips for driving around Dubai and Abu Dhabi?

Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the two most popular tourist sites in the United Arab Emirates, portray fine architecture and modern infrastructure. With its vast skyscrapers, desert landscape, and stunning skyline, Dubai is a glamorous hub for visitors and businessmen worldwide. You see luxury and sports cars common in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. There is no doubt, that the roads web, and highways in Dubai are up to the mark. Therefore, people visiting Dubai find a natural urge to drive on its vast, broad, and streamlined roads.

While driving in Dubai may sound exciting to you, you must note that the Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai strictly monitors the observation of traffic rules. You can face serious consequences if found guilty of violating the laws. But, before we discuss the punishments impounded upon violating traffic rules, we must know the right guide to driving in Dubai.

Tips for driving safely in Dubai

Let us divide safe driving tips in Dubai into three categories.

Pre-requisites to driving safely in Dubai

There are certain prerequisites to driving safely in Dubai. If you drive without these prerequisites, you drive illegally in Dubai and are subjected to punishments.

Before you start to drive in Dubai, make sure you have a valid RTA license or an International Driving License that is still valid.

You must have your car insured. This can reduce the cost of damage if your car is prone to an accident during driving.

Get a complete understanding of the local traffic laws and regulations

If you are a resident of Dubai, you need to register with Dubai’s Road and Traffic Authority to fully comply with driving requirements.

How is driving different in Dubai?

If you belong to Asian countries like Pakistan, India, or Bangladesh, then driving in Dubai might be a different experience for you. The reason is that the steering wheel of cars is on the left side of the vehicle in Dubai while in these other countries, the steering wheel is on the right. So, the driving direction in Dubai is on the Right Side of the road. And you have to follow the driving rules in Dubai accordingly.

Follow driving etiquettes in their full spirit.

If you are driving in Dubai, you must follow the driving etiquette observed there.

Always wear seat belts

Avoid jaywalking

Follow speed limits that range from 100-160 km/hr on Highways and about 40km/hr in residential and commercial areas.

Respect pedestrians and cycle riders

Don’t drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs or the consequences might be severe for you.

Don’t drive recklessly. Monitoring cameras keep a check on you.

Some tips specific to Dubai and Abu Dhabi

You must follow the traffic and driving rules according to RTA Dubai. But some guides can help you during your visit to Dubai. Some of these are:

Dubai Specific

Don’t drive during rush hours. Rush hours in Dubai extend from 7:00 am to 9:00 am and 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Drive cautiously on Sheikh Zayed Road as it is congested and busy. Therefore, the chances of accidents and incidents are always there.

Don’t park in the prohibited areas. Only park your car at the recommended parking sites and that too, with care.

Abu Dhabi-specific driving tips:

Respect your lane while driving

Don’t exceed the speed limit on the highways like E10 and E11.

Keep a vigilant eye on saliks or toll gates.

What might happen if you violate driving rules in Dubai and Abu Dhabi?

You might be subjected to serious penalties for violating the driving rules in Dubai.

Some of these are:

If you overspeed, you will have to pay a fine of AED 600 to AED 1000

If you use a mobile phone while driving, you may be subjected to AED 800 fine.

Running through red lights may cause a fine of up to AED 1000

Driving recklessly can cause you a fine of AED 2000 to AED 3000.

You might be assigned Black Points if you violate driving rules. You can tolerate a maximum of 24 Black Points in a year.

If you are an expat or a visitor to Dubai, you can also be deported by the authorities if you drive recklessly or drive under the influence of drugs.

Not confident in your driving skills in Dubai? Safe Driver UAE can help.

If you are in Dubai and are not sure about whether you would be able to drive perfectly on its roads, don’t try. In case, you try and any mishap happens, then you might be subject to legal action by Roads and Traffic Authority Dubai. To save yourself from this crunch, hire a Safe Driver Dubai by Safe Driver UAE.

How Safe Driver UAE can elevate your trip experience to Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

A Safe Driver UAE can elevate your trip experience to Dubai by offering on-time, punctual, and on-demand services to tourists.

Some of the services offered by the Safe Driver UAE are:

After-party pickups: After you are done enjoying the party and find yourself too dizzy to drive on your own, call Safe Driver UAE for a Safe Driver, driving service.

Airport Pickups: If you are arriving in Dubai and don’t know which Safe Driver service you must opt to travel from the airport to your hotel bookings, hire a Safe Driver UAE to feel at home upon your arrival in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

Road Trip driving: Now that you are in Dubai, hire a Safe Driver UAE to travel along the city lanes and enjoy an untroubled trip experience.

Corporate Travels: If you are in Dubai for official or formal meetings, hire the best chauffeur from Safe Driver UAE

Conclusion

While driving in Dubai might be an exciting experience, you must follow the RTA guidelines on driving. If you are not a licensed and experienced driver, hire a Safe Driver UAE for the job.