Driving in a foreign country can be challenging because it can take some time to become familiar with the traffic rules and driving culture of a specific country. The duration to adapt to the traffic rules and regulations can be even longer for an expatriate in the UAE as there are more than 100 traffic violations for which motorists can be booked and penalized in the UAE. The traffic authorities have also harshened traffic penalties for serious violations to improve the road safety situation in the country so driving in the UAE can be a serious challenge altogether for expats if they don’t adopt the road safety practices quickly.
As an expat, you need to be more careful, proactive and confident in your approach to prepare for any unexpected situation while driving in the UAE. It can help a great deal if you carry some essential legal documents with you while driving and get navigational help from “traffic and navigation based apps” to find new locations easily in the UAE.
Here are the six most essential things that expatriates need to keep with them while driving in the UAE.
Resident Identity Card
Resident Identity Card is the identity proof for expatriates in the UAE. In February 2013, the name of the identity card for expatriates was changed from Emirates ID Card (only valid for the UAE nationals now) to Resident Identity Card. However, the technical specifications and security features of both the cards remain the same.
You should carry your original Resident ID Card with you while travelling in the UAE to verify your identity if required. Expats should also know when to renew their Resident Identity Card because authorities can take legal actions against the expatriate for living in the country with an expired Resident Identity Card. A Resident ID Card is required to complete all legal procedures in the UAE such as getting a driving license or applying for the registration of a vehicle amongst others, so you must keep your Resident ID Card with great care and with you at all times.
Also read: New Radars in Abu Dhabi to Catch Motorists for Driving Vehicles with Expired Registration
Driving License
Having a driving license with you while driving is not just a choice, but also a legal requirement. You must have your driving license with you while driving as a violation of this important traffic rule can be penalized with a fine of AED 400. Expatriates must also know that they cannot drive a vehicle in the UAE if they have not obtained a valid UAE driving license after completing the RTA’s Driving License Acquisition Procedure.
Not complying with this rule can even result in detention of the driver for a maximum of three months or the offender may have to face a heavy fine of AED 6,000. Driving license rules have been toughened to make the UAE roads safer for commuters, so expatriates must understand their civic responsibility and cooperate with the authorities by keeping their driving license with them while driving in the UAE. The driving license needs to be renewed after every year for expatriates aged below 21 while for those aged above 21, the driving license remains valid for 6 years after which they have to renew it.
Also read: Smart Services by Dubai Police Becoming Popular among Motorists
Car Registration Card
Car Registration Card is another important document that you should always carry with you as it is a legal requirement. You can be fined AED 400 for not carrying your registration card with you while driving in the UAE. On the other hand, just like you need to renew your driving license, you also need to renew the registration card of the vehicle as driving a vehicle with expired registration is considered to be a serious traffic violation in the UAE.
Also read: Understanding How to Renew Your Car Registration Card through MOI Smart App in RAK
Motorists can face a heavy fine of AED 600 and four black points can be issued against their driving license for driving a vehicle without renewing its registration. A vehicle can also be impounded for seven days if the registration is not renewed within three months of its expiration.
Medical Insurance Documents
Even though you don’t need to carry your medical insurance documents with you while driving in the UAE, however, it is highly advisable to have this documents with you while driving because it can help in some worst case scenarios. For an instance, if you lose consciousness in an unfortunate life threatening accident, having insurance documents in your vehicle can be of immense importance. The emergency inpatient medical expenses can be covered under your insurance policy and you can receive important and urgent medical care without any delay.
RTA Smart App
If you are an expatriate living in Dubai, you must have the RTA Smart App installed on your smartphone. The RTA Smart App offers a number of smart services to motorists, which can make commuting stress-free in Dubai.
Let’s explore the smart services being offered by the RTA Smart App to Dubai motorists:
- You can check your Salik balance and recharge it through the RTA App.
- You can find free parking slots through RTA App and save your parking location in the app once you have parked it.
- You can also book a taxi through the RTA App if your car has broken down midway.
- RTA app also calculates the green points that can be redeemed later for giveaways.
Also read: RTA Dubai App Updated to Calculate Carbon Emissions and Transport Cost
Google Maps
The value of Google Maps cannot be understated when it comes to finding locations easily at a new place. For expatriates, it is suggested to use Google Maps if they ever have a difficult time finding a new location in the UAE. The Google Maps can also sort the current congested areas so that you can take an alternative route and avoid the frustration of being stuck in a traffic jam. You can also save and share locations with your friends and family members whenever it is important. Google Map is arguably a must-have app in your smartphone if you are an expatriate in the UAE.
To read about the benefits of Google Maps and how to use it in an effective way, read our blog titled, A Motorist’s Guide to Use “Google Maps” like a Pro.
Bottom-line
Being an expatriate in a foreign country is not easy by any means as you have to adjust to a number of new things and conditions. Driving is one aspect of living in the UAE that needs to be given extra attention by expatriates because it takes time to get familiar with the diverse driving culture and strict traffic rules of the UAE. Additionally, finding new places can be tough when you have just recently moved to the UAE so being prepared for all possible challenges holds central importance in order to avoid any unwanted road situation. Apart from keeping all the aforementioned things with you while driving, a proactive mindset and defensive driving approach can guarantee a trouble-free driving experience in the UAE for expatriates.
If you are looking to sell your used car to buy a new one with advanced safety features and improved performance, then don’t forget that with us, you can sell any used car in just 30 minutes while all the post-sale paperwork is handled by SellAnyCar.com’s team.
