Ways to Obtain a Drivers License in Dubai

If you’re just visiting Dubai, you can lease a vehicle and drive on your foreign exchangeable or international drivers license as long as it is valid for at least one year. All exchangeable and international driving licenses are accepted from any country prior to your residence visa being complete, but once your residence visa is stamped on your passport it becomes mandatory to obtain a UAE drivers license in order to drive a rented or privately owned vehicle in Dubai. If you’re a resident that is eligible to transfer your home country drivers’ license you need to submit an application along with the required documents at any brand of the Dubai RTA (roads and transport authority). Keep in mind that the application form has to be completed, stamped and signed by the applicant and the sponsor. You also need not worry about wait times, because the RTA office will process the application on the spot, take a quick picture of you and issue your UAE drivers license.

You can lease a car and drive on your foreign exchangeable or international license (it if has been valid for at least one year) from any country prior to your residence visa being complete. Once your residence visa is stamped in your passport you will be required to obtain a UAE drivers license in order to drive a rented or privately owned vehicle in Dubai. Residents who are eligible to transfer their home country driver’s license should submit an application along with the required documents at any branch of Dubai RTA (roads and transport authority)

Instructions

  • 1

    Check if you have a valid drivers license from the countries listed below, if you do not then you will have to undergo training from an authorized driving school in Dubai.

    - Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Japan, South Korean, Kuwait, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Qatar, Poland, Oman, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Romania, Sweden, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States.

    - Drivers license holders from Greece, Canada, Japan, Turkey, and South Korea will require a translation of driver’s license from their respective countries consulates. If your driver’s license is not in English or Arabic it should be translated by your home countries embassy and attested.

    - If your driver’s license is an automatic vehicle driver’s license then you will not be allowed to operate a manual vehicle. If the name of the applicant is different from your passport and drivers license then a statement from the embassy will be required as proof of identity.

  • 2

    Complete the application form, get it stamped and signed by the applicant and the sponsor. The RTA (roads and transport authority) office will process your application on the spot, take a picture of you, and issue you your UAE's driver license. In order to fulfill the requirements for the application process make sure you have all the required documents prior to filling out the form.

  • 3

    Transferring a drivers license is relatively simple, but keep in mind that you will have to take an eye test which costs 100 AED. The cost for transferring the drivers license is 410 AED. The validity of a UAE drivers license is 10 years from the date it is registered.

  • 4

    If you don't have a drivers license from any of the countries we mentioned in STEP 1 then depending on your driving history and experience you will have to attend one of the authorized driving schools in Dubai. Keep in mind that it takes roughly 2-3 weeks from the time of registering for the driving school to receive your UAE license and you cannot begin driving school until you receive your UAE residence visa.

  • 5

    This step might seem a little childish to some of you but please take it very seriously we cannot stress this step enough. DONT DRINK AND DRIVE. Dubai has a zero tolerance policy for anyone caught drinking and driving and the penalties and consequences are severe. You can face anything from jail time, deportation, and loss of driving license and no insurance coverage if a car is crashed while intoxicated. It is just not worth it, if you must drink take a taxi it will save your life, career, and peace of mind.

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