Driving in the UAE: Traffic signs and rules

UAE traffic sign system overview

Nowadays, as modernization is taking its full shape, especially in the aspect of transportation, one thing keeps recurring, and that is road accidents. Accidents may happen due to a mistake or carelessness by you or other road users. To ensure smooth and safe road transportation, every road user must adhere to the traffic rules.

The UAE traffic signs are often found at every corner of the road as a guide and warning to road users. Some also serve as reminders of what you may encounter a few kilometers ahead. Whichever way, traffic rules and signs are meant to be strictly observed and adhered to. For those considering company setup in Dubai, understanding local regulations, including traffic rules, is essential to ensure smooth business operations and employee safety.

The official UAE traffic sign system follows RTA and federal standards, which categorize signs into several main groups: mandatory, control, parking control, freeway control, prohibitory, warning, hazard markers, guide, and trailblazing signs.

In the UAE, it is an offense with a penalty to be seen disobeying the traffic rules. Everything boils down to ensuring that everyone is safe. So, in this article, we are going to discuss the precautionary measures to take while on the road, as well as various traffic rules and signs to observe. Traffic signs in the UAE are not difficult to observe as they are boldly written and erected for easy comprehension.

Driving in the UAE: precautionary measures and safety rules

Below are some of the general traffic rules to pay attention to in the UAE:

• No overspeeding: this is required of everyone driving in the UAE, as it stands the chance of causing both accidents and harm to other road users. Drivers should also be aware of minimum speed limit signs (often 60 km/h), as driving below the indicated speed without a valid reason is also discouraged.
• No slow driving: although overspeeding is shunned to avoid potential hazards, the act of driving sluggishly may not be safe for other motorists either. Anyone driving under the moderate speed limit may accidentally hit your vehicle. The idea is that everyone is required to drive at a moderate and safe speed limit.
• Overtaking: this should be done only when required and with much caution. You are going to see below some road maps and traffic signs that tell a road user when to overtake and when not to. Specifically, you must not overtake or cross lanes where there are single or double solid white or yellow lines. Again, overtaking requires you to alert other traffic users driving behind you. This is to avoid the risk of colliding with another vehicle.
• Changing lanes: this should only be done where there is an indicated broken white line to avoid breaking traffic rules. It is also mandatory to show your intent to the drivers behind you by using left or right turn signals so they can slow down and enable you to change lanes.
• Avoid self-distraction: this includes using the cellphone while driving, focusing on the Internet road maps, eating, and drinking. It is also advisable not to drive while on a medication that can cause drowsiness. Drinking alcohol prior to or while driving is another terrible traffic offense that attracts penalties in the UAE.
• Unnecessary blowing of horns: this shouldn't be done to avoid triggering other road users into making mistakes out of shock. In areas marked with "No Horn" prohibitory signs, use of the horn is forbidden except in emergencies.
• Observe the pedestrian crossing: pedestrians should be given access to cross over. In the UAE, it is a very serious traffic offense to hurt a pedestrian, especially while at the zebra crossing lanes or zones marked with zigzag white lines, which attracts a huge fine and possible imprisonment.

Additionally, drivers must respect yellow box junctions by not entering them unless the exit is clear, and they must stay out of lanes marked with green bicycle symbols.
So, having discussed some of the traffic rules to keep, now is the time to explain the meaning of the road traffic signs in the UAE.

UAE mandatory, control, and warning traffic signs

The mandatory signs are to alert the road user to the obligatory symbols to pay careful attention to. These are typically blue circular signs that indicate an action you must follow, such as specific turn directions or keeping to a certain side of an obstacle. Failure to adhere to such traffic signs may not only lead to some traffic mistakes but may also cause road accidents with other road users.

Below are the mandatory traffic signs that serve as a warning to drivers: