RTA Dubai Driving Theory Exam — Questions and Answers

Question 1: A newly purchased second-hand vehicle in Dubai has a Salik tag from the previous owner. What should the new owner do?

Continue using the existing tag — it automatically transfers to the new owner
Cover the old tag with tape until the account balance is used up
Report the tag to RTA and drive without one until a new one arrives
Remove the old tag and apply for a new Salik account and tag in their own name (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Remove the old tag and apply for a new Salik account and tag in their own name

Salik accounts are linked to individuals, not vehicles. The new owner must register their own Salik account and obtain a new tag. Using the previous owner's tag could result in tolls being deducted from the wrong person's account and potential legal complications.

Question 2: A driver sees a solid white line on the right edge of the road. What does this line signify?

The separation of lanes traveling in opposite directions.
The right edge of the traffic lane, separating it from the shoulder. (Correct answer)
An area where changing lanes is permitted.
A lane reserved for buses only.

Correct answer: The right edge of the traffic lane, separating it from the shoulder.

A solid white line is used to mark the right edge of the roadway, indicating the separation between the travel lane and the shoulder of the road. Drivers should stay to the left of this line.

Question 3: Which type of intersection is statistically the most dangerous for crashes?

T-intersections with stop signs
Left-turn intersections without dedicated signals (Correct answer)
Highway on-ramps
Roundabouts

Correct answer: Left-turn intersections without dedicated signals

Unprotected left turns across oncoming traffic are among the leading causes of intersection collisions due to misjudging gaps and speed.

Question 4: If your accelerator pedal sticks while driving, what should you do?

Shift to neutral, apply brakes, and steer to safety (Correct answer)
Apply the brakes firmly and turn off the ignition immediately
Increase steering input to counteract acceleration
Pump the accelerator to free it while braking

Correct answer: Shift to neutral, apply brakes, and steer to safety

Shifting to neutral disengages the engine from the drivetrain, allowing you to brake safely without cutting power suddenly.

Question 5: You are driving on a highway when a vehicle ahead suddenly swerves into your lane. What is the safest immediate response?

Brake firmly and steer toward the shoulder if needed (Correct answer)
Sound your horn and maintain speed
Speed up to pass quickly
Flash your headlights repeatedly

Correct answer: Brake firmly and steer toward the shoulder if needed

Braking and steering toward the shoulder gives you the best chance to avoid a collision when another vehicle invades your lane.

Question 6: While driving through a parking lot, a vehicle backs out of a space ahead of you. What is your best response?

Flash your headlights and accelerate around them
Honk and maintain speed to claim the right of way
Slow down and be prepared to stop (Correct answer)
Steer sharply around the reversing vehicle

Correct answer: Slow down and be prepared to stop

Slowing down and being ready to stop gives you reaction time since backing drivers often have limited visibility and may not see you.

Question 7: A solid white line between lanes on a highway indicates:

Passing is permitted with caution
Lane changes are encouraged
Lane changes are discouraged but not prohibited (Correct answer)
A one-way road

Correct answer: Lane changes are discouraged but not prohibited

A solid white line discourages lane changes but does not legally prohibit them the way a double solid line might in certain zones.

Question 8: Overtaking on the right side of another vehicle on a UAE multi-lane road is:

Only permitted for motorcycles
Permitted when traffic is moving slowly in all lanes and the right lane is moving faster (Correct answer)
Legal if the vehicle being overtaken is turning left
Always illegal regardless of circumstances

Correct answer: Permitted when traffic is moving slowly in all lanes and the right lane is moving faster

In slow-moving, congested multi-lane traffic where all lanes are moving, filtering in a faster-moving right lane is generally acceptable. However, deliberate overtaking on the right of a vehicle that is moving freely (i.e., cutting inside) remains illegal and dangerous.

Question 9: What is the primary objective of public transport policies?

To reduce government investment in transportation
To increase private car ownership
To ensure safe and sustainable mobility solutions (Correct answer)
To eliminate fare subsidies for public transit users

Correct answer: To ensure safe and sustainable mobility solutions

The primary objective of public transport policies is to establish and maintain safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly transportation options for the community. These policies aim to provide sustainable mobility solutions, reduce reliance on private vehicles, alleviate traffic congestion, and minimize the overall environmental impact of transportation.

Question 10: While driving at dusk, you see a cyclist wearing dark clothing ahead. What is the best action?

Change lanes immediately without checking mirrors
Flash your high beams to alert the cyclist
Sound the horn continuously until you pass
Reduce speed and increase following distance significantly (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Reduce speed and increase following distance significantly

Reducing speed and increasing following distance gives you more time to react if the poorly visible cyclist moves unexpectedly.

Question 11: A driver is ticketed for speeding 20 mph over the posted limit. How does this typically differ from a minor speeding violation?

It results in the same fine as minor speeding
It automatically suspends the vehicle registration
It requires only a written warning
It may be classified as reckless driving with higher penalties (Correct answer)

Correct answer: It may be classified as reckless driving with higher penalties

Exceeding the speed limit by a large margin can be charged as reckless driving, carrying heavier fines and potential license points.

Question 12: What precaution should you take before driving in winter storm conditions?

Ensure your vehicle has sufficient fuel, working wipers, proper antifreeze, and an emergency kit (Correct answer)
Remove floor mats so feet can grip pedals better
Disable traction control for better manual control on snow
Inflate tires to maximum pressure for better traction

Correct answer: Ensure your vehicle has sufficient fuel, working wipers, proper antifreeze, and an emergency kit

A pre-trip check covering fuel, wipers, antifreeze, and an emergency kit ensures you are prepared if you become stranded.

Question 13: If you experience a sudden tire blowout while driving, you should:

Brake hard immediately to stop as fast as possible
Swerve quickly to the shoulder to clear traffic
Apply the emergency brake gradually while steering straight
Hold the steering wheel firmly, ease off the gas, and steer to a safe stop (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Hold the steering wheel firmly, ease off the gas, and steer to a safe stop

Maintaining steering control and decelerating gradually prevents a dangerous spin or rollover after a blowout.

Question 14: What action is required when you see a sign with a red circle and slash over a U-turn symbol?

U-turns are allowed only for emergency vehicles
U-turns are permitted only during daylight
U-turns are prohibited at that location (Correct answer)
U-turns require a full stop first

Correct answer: U-turns are prohibited at that location

A red circle with a diagonal slash over any symbol means that action is prohibited, so U-turns are not allowed.

Question 15: A sign showing a truck on a downhill grade with the warning 'RUNAWAY TRUCK RAMP' is what shape and color?

Yellow diamond (Correct answer)
Orange rectangle
Red rectangle
Blue square

Correct answer: Yellow diamond

Runaway truck ramp warning signs are yellow diamond-shaped, consistent with all standard warning signs.

Question 16: What does a yellow diamond-shaped sign with a truck on a downward slope indicate?

Truck weigh station ahead
Steep downgrade ahead — trucks should use lower gear (Correct answer)
Road narrows for trucks
Truck traffic prohibited

Correct answer: Steep downgrade ahead — trucks should use lower gear

This warning sign alerts drivers — especially truck operators — that a steep downgrade is approaching and that engine braking with a lower gear is advised.

Question 17: What does hydroplaning mean?

Driving through a flooded road
The engine floods when driving in water
Your tires lose contact with the road surface due to water (Correct answer)
Visibility drops to near zero in rain

Correct answer: Your tires lose contact with the road surface due to water

Hydroplaning occurs when a layer of water builds between the tires and road surface, causing loss of traction and steering control.

Question 18: Which agency is typically responsible for issuing driver's licenses in U.S. states?

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

Driver's licenses are issued by each state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or equivalent agency.

Question 19: You are approaching a roundabout and see a triangular 'Give Way' sign. What is the legally required action?

Honk your horn to alert drivers in the roundabout of your intention to enter.
Come to a complete stop before entering the roundabout.
Give priority to traffic already in the roundabout, and proceed when it is safe. (Correct answer)
Enter the roundabout without stopping if it is clear.

Correct answer: Give priority to traffic already in the roundabout, and proceed when it is safe.

The inverted triangle 'Give Way' sign requires drivers to give priority to traffic already circulating within the roundabout. You must slow down or stop if necessary and wait for a safe gap before entering.

Question 20: When executing an angle park, after signaling and positioning your car, at what point should you typically start turning the steering wheel into the space?

As soon as you see the empty space from a distance.
After the front half of your car has already entered the space.
When your vehicle is completely past the parking space.
When your side mirror aligns with the line of the parking space you intend to enter. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: When your side mirror aligns with the line of the parking space you intend to enter.

A common and effective reference point for angle parking is to start turning the steering wheel sharply when your vehicle's side mirror is aligned with the painted line of the targeted parking space. This helps in entering the space at the correct angle and centralizing the car properly.

Question 21: When driving in fog, you should keep your speed:

Matched to the speed of other vehicles around you
Slightly above normal to spend less time in the fog
Low enough to stop within the distance you can see ahead (Correct answer)
At the posted speed limit regardless of visibility

Correct answer: Low enough to stop within the distance you can see ahead

Your stopping distance must always be within the range of your visible sight distance to avoid hitting unseen obstacles.

Question 22: A continuous (solid) white line between two lanes of traffic travelling in the same direction means:

Lane changing and overtaking are prohibited at that point (Correct answer)
The left lane has higher speed priority
Overtaking is permitted when the road ahead is clear
The marking is purely decorative and advisory

Correct answer: Lane changing and overtaking are prohibited at that point

A solid white line between lanes indicates that crossing the line is prohibited — drivers must not change lanes or overtake at that location. It marks areas where merging would be unsafe, such as near intersections, tunnels, or on blind curves.

Question 23: When parking on a downhill slope without a curb, you should turn your front wheels:

Straight ahead
To the right (toward the road edge) (Correct answer)
In whichever direction feels natural
To the left (toward traffic)

Correct answer: To the right (toward the road edge)

Turning wheels to the right on a downhill with no curb ensures that if the vehicle rolls, it will move away from traffic.

Question 24: When your vehicle begins to skid on ice, you should steer:

Opposite to the direction the rear is sliding
Hard to the right regardless of skid direction
In the direction you want the vehicle to go (Correct answer)
Straight ahead without any steering input

Correct answer: In the direction you want the vehicle to go

Steering into the skid—in the direction the rear is sliding—helps realign the vehicle and restore directional control.

Question 25: What is the 'three-second rule' used to determine?

The time to check mirrors in traffic
A safe following distance behind the vehicle ahead (Correct answer)
How long to pause at a stop sign
How long to signal before changing lanes

Correct answer: A safe following distance behind the vehicle ahead

The three-second rule measures following distance by timing how long after the car ahead passes a fixed point before you pass the same point.

Question 26: On a two-lane road, you see a truck parked on the right shoulder with its hazard lights on. What hazard should you consider?

Road debris may be hidden behind the truck
Pedestrians or workers may be in or near the road (Correct answer)
The truck's lights may blind oncoming traffic
The truck may pull out suddenly

Correct answer: Pedestrians or workers may be in or near the road

A disabled or parked truck with hazard lights may have workers, passengers, or bystanders stepping onto the roadway nearby.

Question 27: What is the safest way to back out of a parking space when your view is obstructed?

Back out quickly to spend less time in the lane
Back out slowly, using your horn if needed, and be prepared to stop (Correct answer)
Wait until traffic fully clears, then back out at normal speed
Have a passenger guide you with hand signals from outside

Correct answer: Back out slowly, using your horn if needed, and be prepared to stop

When visibility is limited, back out very slowly and use your horn to warn others, stopping immediately if anything approaches.

Question 28: When a traffic signal is completely dark (no lights working), how should a driver treat the intersection?

Treat it as a four-way stop (Correct answer)
Only emergency vehicles may proceed
Yield to all traffic approaching from the right
Proceed through at normal speed

Correct answer: Treat it as a four-way stop

A dark traffic signal must be treated as a four-way stop, with drivers stopping and yielding in turn.

Question 29: When parallel parking, at what point during the maneuver should you straighten your wheels?

When your front bumper is level with the rear of the car in front
When your vehicle is about two-thirds into the space (Correct answer)
Once your vehicle is fully parallel with the curb
When your rear wheels are at the curb

Correct answer: When your vehicle is about two-thirds into the space

You straighten your wheels when approximately two-thirds into the space, then turn the opposite way to align with the curb.

Question 30: When driving in dense fog, which of the following is the correct and safe practice according to RTA guidelines?

Follow the vehicle in front closely to use its lights as a guide.
Use low-beam headlights and reduce your speed significantly. (Correct answer)
Turn on hazard lights and maintain your normal speed.
Use high-beam headlights to see further ahead.

Correct answer: Use low-beam headlights and reduce your speed significantly.

In foggy conditions, high-beam headlights reflect off the water droplets in the air, causing glare and reducing visibility further. RTA guidelines state that drivers must use low-beam (dipped) headlights, reduce speed, and increase the following distance. Hazard lights should only be used when stationary to indicate a hazard, not while driving.

Question 31: Which of the following is TRUE about driving in very hot weather?

Engine cooling systems are unaffected by extreme ambient temperatures
Tire blowouts are more likely due to increased air pressure and heat expansion (Correct answer)
Brakes perform better in extreme heat
Hot pavement improves tire grip significantly

Correct answer: Tire blowouts are more likely due to increased air pressure and heat expansion

High temperatures cause tire air to expand and can weaken the rubber, increasing the risk of a blowout.

Question 32: When driving in a roundabout, who has the right-of-way?

The vehicle on the right
Vehicles already circulating inside the roundabout (Correct answer)
Larger vehicles regardless of position
Vehicles entering the roundabout

Correct answer: Vehicles already circulating inside the roundabout

Traffic already circulating inside a roundabout has the right-of-way; entering vehicles must yield.

Question 33: After completing an overtaking manoeuvre on a single carriageway road, a driver should return to the right (normal) lane:

Immediately, even if this forces the overtaken vehicle to brake
At the next available road marking permitting a lane change
After travelling at least 500 m in the overtaking lane
Only when well clear of the overtaken vehicle, with adequate space visible in the mirror (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Only when well clear of the overtaken vehicle, with adequate space visible in the mirror

Returning to the normal lane must be done safely — only when the overtaken vehicle is clearly visible in the rear-view mirror and there is sufficient space to move back without forcing the overtaken driver to reduce speed. Cutting in too soon is dangerous and constitutes aggressive driving.

Question 34: When parallel parking on a two-way street, your vehicle should be positioned:

Angled at 45 degrees to the curb
Facing oncoming traffic for better visibility
Facing any direction as long as you are close to the curb
Facing the direction of traffic on the nearest lane (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Facing the direction of traffic on the nearest lane

When parallel parking on a two-way street, your wheels must be within 18 inches of the curb and you must face the direction of traffic.

Question 35: While driving, you approach a triangular sign with a red border depicting a traffic light symbol inside. What does this sign indicate?

There is a traffic signal ahead, which may not be immediately visible. (Correct answer)
You must stop at the next traffic light, regardless of its color.
You have priority over traffic from other directions.
The traffic lights at the next intersection are out of order.

Correct answer: There is a traffic signal ahead, which may not be immediately visible.

Warning signs in the UAE are typically triangular with a red border. A traffic light symbol inside one of these signs serves as an advanced warning that you are approaching a traffic signal, which is especially useful when visibility is poor or the signal is located after a curve.

Question 36: At a roundabout with a 'Give Way' sign on the approach road, what must an entering driver do?

Enter at speed to merge smoothly with roundabout traffic
Slow down, observe, and yield to vehicles already in the roundabout before entering (Correct answer)
Flash headlights to signal intention to enter
Stop completely before entering even if no vehicle is inside

Correct answer: Slow down, observe, and yield to vehicles already in the roundabout before entering

A 'Give Way' sign requires the entering driver to slow and be prepared to stop if necessary, allowing circulating vehicles to pass. If the roundabout is clear, they may enter without a full stop. The obligation is to yield to any vehicle that is already inside.

Question 37: You are driving on a multi-lane highway in Dubai and see a blue circular sign with a white arrow pointing straight ahead. What does this sign mean?

Overtaking is allowed from either side.
You must proceed straight ahead only; no turns are permitted. (Correct answer)
An exit is coming up soon.
You are approaching a one-way street.

Correct answer: You must proceed straight ahead only; no turns are permitted.

In the UAE, blue circular signs are mandatory signs, meaning they indicate an action that must be followed. A white arrow pointing straight ahead means that all traffic in that lane must proceed straight, and turning left or right is not allowed.

RTA Dubai Driving Theory Exam

The Roads and Transport Authority driving theory exam tests candidates on UAE traffic rules, road signs, safe driving practices, hazard perception, and vehicle licensing requirements.

Questions

45 min

Time Limit

65%

To Pass

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These practice questions were written with AI tools. They are not real exam questions. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy

Sources & references

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rta.ae — Eligibility, fees, exam format, passing score, retake policy · verified Oct 2026