Traffic Laws and Regulations
The core duties
UAE traffic law is built on a few duties that generate most test questions. You must hold the correct licence and category for the vehicle, carry valid registration and insurance, and obey the directions of police officers, which override signs and signals. Seat belts are compulsory for the driver and all passengers, and small children need an approved child restraint. Holding a phone while driving is prohibited - only hands-free use is permitted, and being stationary at a red light is not an exemption. There is zero tolerance for alcohol and drugs.
Emergency vehicles on call have priority: slow down, indicate, and move aside safely. The hard shoulder is for emergencies only, not for overtaking or queue-jumping. At night and in poor visibility, lights must be used so that you can see and be seen, without dazzling others. Loads must be secure and must not obstruct lights, plates or mirrors.
The overriding rule
You must always be able to stop within the distance you can see to be clear, and every manoeuvre must be safe, legal and considerate to other road users. If a hazard forces a choice, safety comes before priority.
Traps
Watch for statements that sound reasonable but are illegal: using hazard lights to park anywhere, using a phone while queued, treating a green light as an absolute right of way, or assuming insurance still covers you if the driver is unlicensed.
Rule of thumb: before any action, ask "is it safe, is it legal, and will it inconvenience someone else?" Worked example: you are being followed too closely - the correct response is to increase your own following gap ahead and let the tailgater pass when safe, not to brake sharply to warn them.