General Information » Getting Around » Car

Over the past two decades Dubai has built, and is still building, an impressive network of roads. The Municipality estimates that, in the last ten years, the number of roads in Dubai has literally doubled, although congestion has still become a definite problem, mainly due to the fact that the Creek crossings are limited. There are two bridges and a road tunnel linking the two main districts on either side of the Creek, with a third bridge under way. The roads to all major areas are excellent and an eight-lane highway heads south from the city to Abu Dhabi, which takes about one and a half hours to reach. As the population grows, only time will tell whether the increasing numbers of cars on the road will result in horrendous traffic jams. Rush hour on Sheikh Zayed Road or on either of the bridges is pretty close to total gridlock now.

Driving Habits & Regulations

While the infrastructure is superb, the general standard of driving is not. The UAE has one of the world’s highest death rates per capita due to traffic accidents. According to the Dubai Police, one person is killed in a traffic related accident every 48 hours, and there is one injury every four hours – not the most positive statistics. Drivers often seem completely unaware of other cars on the road and fast, aggressive driving, swerving, pulling out suddenly, lane hopping, tail-gating or drifting happen far too regularly.

One move to help the situation on the roads was a ban placed on using handheld mobile phones while driving. Predictably the sales of hands free systems rocketed before people went back to their old bad habits.

In Dubai, you drive on the right-hand side of the road, and it is mandatory to wear seatbelts in the front seats. Children under ten years of age are not allowed to sit in the front of a car, though you’ll still see people driving with their child on their lap and kids climbing over the seats and on the dash board. The fine is Dhs.100 and four black points.

Details of fines for any traffic violations are found on the Dubai Police website (www.dubaipolice.gov.ae). Speeding fines are Dhs.200 and parking fines start at Dhs.100. You are also issued a certain number of black points against your licence according to the particular violation – 12 points and you have to reapply for your licence. Most fines are paid when you renew your annual car registration. However, parking tickets appear on your windscreen and you have a week or two to pay – the amount increases if you don’t pay within the time allotted on the back of the ticket.

Try to keep a reasonable stopping distance between yourself and the car in front...