Driving in France when you come from the United Arab Emirates
A driver used to the wide roads of the UAE finds narrower roads in France, lower speed limits and junctions with no lights or signs at all. Above all, a few rules have no equivalent there.
Phones and earpieces
In the UAE
Hand-held phones are banned; hands-free, including Bluetooth, is allowed.
In France
Hand-held phones are banned, and so is wearing any sound-emitting device in the ear, even switched off. Only the car’s built-in audio remains usable.
Source: Code de la route, art. R412-6-1
Priority to the right
In the UAE
Junctions are usually controlled by traffic lights, signs or roundabouts.
In France
At any intersection without signs, you must yield to traffic coming from your right, including in the narrow streets of old town centres.
Source: Code de la route, art. R415-5
Speed limits
In the UAE
Set road by road and closely enforced, up to 140 km/h on some Abu Dhabi highways.
In France
The highest limit is 130 km/h on motorways, reduced to 110 in rain; 80 on other roads (90 where the local authority has decided so) and 50 in built-up areas.
Source: Code de la route, art. R413-2 and R413-3
Roundabouts
In the UAE
Vehicles already on the roundabout have priority.
In France
That is also the rule at a roundabout signed as such. But a circular junction without that sign falls under priority to the right: vehicles entering then go first.
Source: Code de la route, art. R415-10, R110-2 and R415-5
Alcohol
In the UAE
Zero tolerance: no trace of alcohol is accepted at the wheel.
In France
The general limit is 0.5 g per litre of blood, and 0.2 g for probationary licence holders and public transport drivers. A limit is not an invitation: the safest choice remains not to drink before driving.
Source: Code de la route, art. R234-1
The most expensive gap is often the quietest: an earpiece that is perfectly legal in Dubai is banned in France. Our programmes start with these points, and our sessions can be held in Arabic.
These differences summarise general rules and do not replace the Code de la route. Rules abroad may vary by state or region. For the validity of a foreign licence, refer to service-public.fr and the ANTS.