For the tourist, traveling around in an unfamiliar place can be and exciting undertaking, and at the same time a stressful one. If you have your own transport, even of the most basic sort, you will certainly find it a much more convenient way to get around. If you are planning a visit to Dubai, and you do intend to drive yourself around, then you would be well advised to become familiar with the local traffic rules first, so that you don’t find yourself in trouble with the local people as well as the law.
Car accident related deaths in Dubai, especially on the highways, are amongst the highest anywhere. One of the reasons behind this stastic is the large number of expensive luxury cars here, whose owners love to drive them fast.
Traffic regulations in Dubai have attempted to respond to this heavy road toll by increasing their penalties. Some of these regulations are as follows:
* Drink driving carries a fine of 20,000 Dhs and a year in prison, as a minimum.
* Hit-and-run drivers face the same penalty.
* Driving without a license, or driving in an unlicensed vehicle, carries a minimum penalty of 500 Dhs together with three months in prison.
* The owner of a car who allows an unlicensed driver to drive it faces a penalty also.
* ‘Unlicensed’ includes tourists who do not have a United Arab Emirates driving license, even though they may be licensed to drive in their own country.
* Petrol stations do not accept credit card payment.
* The speed limit of 60 kph is strictly enforced by the use of radar guns by Dubai police.
* A Dubai driving license can be obtained by a holder of a foreign license, however this requires the driver taking a minimum of 21 driving lessons and passing a driving test.
Other points to note about driving a car in Dubai
* Cars in Dubai are left hand drive and drivers must keep to the right hand side of the road.
* Hitting a camel is considered to be the fault of the driver; camels are not often seen in the city, as they are no longer standard means of transportation there, but as they do not understand traffic rules, and can move quite fast and unexpectedly when they are found in city streets, they are considered a hazard. As well as the danger involved, there is also expense, owing to the damage to the car and to the camel. You will need to compensate the camel’s owner for any injury to the animal. Take special care when driving around anywhere where there could be camels, therefore.
So if you are planning a visit to Dubai, and on driving yourself around by car, ensure that you understand the regulations and take plenty of care, and you should have no trouble at all.
