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5 Common Driving Mistakes Tourists Make in Dubai

Last updated on January 20, 2025 | 7 min read
Written By
Shruti Gupta
Edited By
Sachin Nayi
5 Common Driving Mistakes Tourists Make in Dubai

Thrilling driving experiences like that of the world’s longest urban drift track or a desert safari in a sports or SUV would fascinate you. Besides, renowned attractions like Burj Khalifa and Palm Jumeirah, which are prime reasons for visiting, are situated and visible from the roadside. These and a huge network of contemporary infrastructure like well-maintained roads and highways offer smooth yet intriguing driving experiences.

Moreover, the city administration has created a well-developed traffic system with well-developed infrastructure, ensuring stringent traffic rules and drivers following them. While you can couple it up with high-end luxury cars as fuel charges are affordable yet you must know the common tourist driving mistakes Dubai. Accordingly, you can avoid them to save yourself from fines. 

5 Most Common Tourist Driving Mistakes Dubai That You Should Avoid 

Dubai has a well-developed road network, though being tax-free. Like every other city and country, it has traffic rules that tourists must understand and avoid. 

Following is a list of the same: 

1. Ignoring the Road Signs 

For ease, Dubai, across its streets, roads, and highways, has installed road sign boards to offer ease of understanding. By recognizing those road signs, tourists can travel hassle-free. Yet, most of you would avoid it, considering them unimportant, which causes heavy fines. 

The road signs are for a group of reasons, including: 

  • Roundabout ahead 
  • T-intersection ahead (you may need to stop)
  • Traffic merges from the left ahead 
  • Curves or bends in the road (drive carefully)
  • No through road 

As many of you can interpret, these contain crucial information, and not following them can lead to severe accidents. So, the Dubai traffic control ensures that everyone follows them carefully. Some signs even indicate the speed limits to follow on the particular road. Even in the case of an empty road, they don’t permit you to go beyond those speed limits. 

Therefore, as a precautionary measure, you must understand the road traffic signs a day before you plan to drive for a hassle-free experience. Also, as a first-time driver in Dubai, you might struggle with driving, and hence, Automatic Emergency Braking and Blind Spot Monitoring features in luxury sports cars and SUVs help. 

2. Not Following Right-Hand Drive

Like many other countries, such as the United States, Canada, and a major region of Europe, Dubai has adopted a right-hand drive system. This happened in 1996 when oil was discovered across the region, increasing the region’s trade and economy. As a result, American cars were introduced in the country with steering wheels on the left. 

Thus, drivers can see better on the right side of the road, which helps them to drive safely. Besides, a right-hand drive system aligns all the traffic to that side of the road, reducing the risk of head-on collisions. 

3. Tailgating 

Tailgating is the most common type of revenge/rash driving that most people engage in. Of anger and hurry, drivers, mainly tourists, are too close to the back of the next vehicle. 

So, if the next vehicle applies sudden brakes or anything similar, rear-end collisions can occur. Therefore, tailgating is prohibited in Dubai, and tourists must avoid it for safety. 

Luxury cars like Lamborghini also have features like adaptive cruise control, which detects surrounding vehicles and safely adjusts their speed to avoid accidents in compliance with traffic laws. 

Tailgating is risky for the following reasons: 

  • Reduces Reaction Time: Tailgating decreases the reaction time of both drivers, which increases the risk of accidents.
  • Creates Road Rage: Tailgating creates road rage amongst drivers, which can be followed further by rash driving or other traffic violations.

To discourage tailgating, Dubai has a fine of AED 400 for both tourists and locals. 

4. Lane Indiscipline 

Changing lanes is not illegal in Dubai. However, as a tourist, you must observe discipline while doing so. 

Therefore, you must:

  • Always check your surroundings before changing lanes 
  • Change lanes smoothly, or else you will be fined 
  • Use indicators while doing so 
  • Don’t make last-minute lane changes 
  • Never cross multiple lanes simultaneously 
  • Use the lane departure system if the car has it 

Besides, it is noteworthy never to change lanes between solid lane lines but only between incomplete ones. Also, check for distractions on the road and observe discipline. Let the fast drivers go ahead instead of indulging in road rage. Plus, mid-range and exotic cars have advanced features like Lane Keeping Assist and Lane Departure Warning that let you maintain discipline, thus avoiding fines. 

Changing lanes harshly and without complying with the regulations accounts for AED 1000 as a fine. 

5. Overtaking on the Right 

Unlike other Asian countries, overtaking on the right is illegal in Dubai. The city has a right-hand drive system, so all the traffic flow is in this direction. Hence, it’s a cause of side-swipe accidents and against federal traffic laws. Therefore, smoothly overtaking on the left is always required, but execute only if feasible.

Moving towards the right smoothly is further important if any fast-moving vehicle approaches from the rear side. Also, ensure that all your actions comply with the traffic signs on that particular road. If the road is narrow, avoid overtaking. 

Understanding the vitality of how overtaking on the right can cause accidents, the Dubai traffic rules lead to an AED 1000 fine with 6 black points. 

How To Avoid Tourist Driving Mistakes In Dubai? 

Traveling to Dubai as a foreigner is expensive, yet the city’s tax-free nature makes it an asset. For commuting, you might look for car rentals that save costs by allowing you to explore the city as desired. Yet, driving mistakes can lead to heavy fines, disturbing your overall budget. 

Follow the approaches given below to avoid tourist driving mistakes Dubai: 

  • Understand Dubai’s Traffic Rules: Every country has varied traffic rules, and so does the UAE. However, Dubai, being a city, has some rules that differ from those of the rest of the UAE, owing to its infrastructure and trade potential. Therefore, before driving, check the rules and understand them thoroughly. 
  • Know The Speed Limits: Every road in Dubai has different speed limits rest, depending on the crowd, whether it is a pedestrian-heavy region, the narrowness, and lots more. 
    • Residential areas have speed limits of 25-40 km/h
    • Urban roads have a permissible speed of 40-80 km/h
    • Rural roads have ideal speeds between 80-160 km/h
    • Highways have speed ranges between 100-120 km/h 
  • Recognize Traffic Signs: Every type of road has special signs indicating how you should drive, and accordingly, you must follow them to avoid accidents and fines. For example, a signboard indicating a T intersection ahead asks you to slow down and be careful, so modify your drive accordingly. 
  • Avoid Swerving: Prevent sudden movements, jerks, or swerving unless necessary. For example, in case of traffic, luxury Sedans like Bentley and BMW have a Stop and Go feature that stops smoothly yet automatically in case of pedestrians, so you can avoid swerving by choosing these rentals. 
  • Use Navigation Apps: Use navigation systems like Google Maps or Waze to drive smoothly. 

Final Words

Dubai has iconic destinations with a rich yet sophisticated blend of culture and well-developed infrastructure. These, all with trade potential, offer you a lot on your visit to Dubai, whether for personal or professional reasons. Driving in this luxurious city smoothly gives you a heavenly feel, yet not following traffic rules would spoil your experience. 

While we understand that adapting to the federal system would take time, it is stringent and keen to avoid potential damages, indiscipline, and accidents. Therefore, choosing an affordable luxury car rental has advanced features in cars with flexible plans to let you drive smoothly without violations. 

Plus, heads-up display minimizes distractions, and some even demonstrate the traffic rules of the region. Thus, it will save you money, providing a memorable experience. 

Shruti Gupta

Shruti Gupta is a passionate automotive writer who brings insightful expertise to the Phantom Rent A Car blog.

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