UAE on a Norwegian Licence — Zero Alcohol, an IDP and Cameras Everywhere

A Norwegian will find the mechanics of UAE driving easy — same right-hand side, excellent wide roads, modern cars — but two rules sit far stricter than anything at home, and they deserve top billing.

The first is alcohol: the limit is zero. Not a low threshold like Norway’s 0.02, but an absolute ban with no tolerance whatsoever. A single drink can put you over, and the consequences are severe — the UAE treats drink-driving as a criminal matter that can mean detention, not just a fine. If you are driving, you do not drink, full stop. This is the single most important thing to internalise before you collect a car.

The second is the permit. You need an International Driving Permit alongside your Norwegian licence to hire a vehicle; rental desks will not release a car without it, so sort it at home before you fly. Carry the IDP, your licence and your passport together. The Driving Permit Checker confirms exactly what your nationality needs.

On the road itself, the Emirates are fast and heavily policed. Motorways run to 120 km/h, but the defining feature is enforcement: fixed speed cameras line almost every major route, often back to back, and they are unforgiving. A typical overage costs around AED 300 (≈ EUR 75) and the fines accumulate across a trip before you ever notice. Drivers also push hard in the fast lane, so keep right unless overtaking. The Speeding Fine Calculator helps you gauge a heavier penalty.

Fuel is famously cheap at roughly $0.75/litre, urban limits are 60 km/h and the emergency number is 999. Read the full UAE driving guide for the detail, but the two non-negotiables are simple: an IDP in your pocket and not a drop of alcohol behind the wheel.