Dubai driving license
Contents of this article
As in any other country, to drive a car in the UAE, you will need a valid driving license. Since January 2010 The United Arab Emirates have got the unified license, which is valid throughout the country.
Driving as a tourist
If you are a tourist, you only need an international driving license from your home country. It will give you the right to rent a car.
Driving as a resident
The things get different once you get your residence visa. When you become a resident, you can’t rent a car with your international license anymore and need to get a UAE driving license.
Some residents do rent cars without a UAE license using some gray schemes e.g. renting a car in Sharjah or renting it in someone else’s name. This might get one into a serious trouble; you will read about that later.
Exchange driving license from your country
If you are a citizen and a holder of a driving license of one of the following countries, you can just ‘exchange’ your license for a UAE one. That does not mean that your license will be physically exchanged; you will still keep yours and get a new one.
- Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC)
- Europe: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom (UK)
- North and South America: United States of America (USA), Canada
- East Asia: Japan, South Korea, Singapore
- Africa: South Africa
- Australasia: Australia, New Zealand
This list may change. Visit Dubai Police website
Back to driving school
If you are not lucky enough to find your country in the list above, then you are in trouble. You are in less trouble if you have a driving license from your home country though.
You will have to go to driving school for 20 or 40 classes depending on where you are from, pay them a lot of money and pass the driving test. The driving test is somewhat very tricky. Many people do it 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 times and more. Every time they fail they have to pay for additional classes. This is the way the system works.
Driving without a driving license in Dubai
I wouldn’t do that. However, some people rent a car while they are still on a tourist visa and then continue driving the car they rented.
The chance of being caught by the police is minimal but you always have to keep in mind that if you get into an accident, you will face the police and there the trouble begins.
- The car may be seized (in fact making you have to pay for it to the rent-a-car company)
- Insurance will not be valid
- You will also be severely fined
Read this article in the Gulf News; 5000 AED (900 EUR, 1360 USD) was the fine for two persons driving without a license in Fujairah, UAE.
April 6th, 2010
can I drive with UAE driving license in Europe-sweden , or not
Hi, Mohammad. Yes you can if you have a Swedish passport.
Hi, you have a list of european countries that ppl from those countries can exchsnge their driving l to uae one. I see poland and etc, what about Lithuania? Can lithuanian driving license be accepted for a exchange ?
Thanks
Hi Andy. Unfortunately most of the former USSR allied countries are missing from the list
hi,
. I will be moving in july’2010, please reply.
i have a valid kuwait driving license, what is the procedure for me to get a dubai driving license. do i have to go through the whole procedure or any discount
Hi,
If you are not a GCC national, you will have to go through this hassle. However, you may not get the classes but go straight for exams.
Hi,
I am an Indian Citizen last year August i got my Driving License from Saudi Arabia. Can i convert my Saudi License to a Fujairah Driving license with our attending any classes.
Hi,
You will need to check with the driving school. I think you will still have to pass the test you will not have to go through classes (this is the rule for Bahrain’s license and I believe it is the same for all GCC).
Hi,
I am a lebanease citizen and i have a UAE driving license.
Can i use it to rent and drive a car in turkey for my holiday trip. Thanks
Hi Rami, you will need to check it with Turkish road authorities.
hi there. i am trying to clarify… I am going back to Europe at Christmas, I have had my license “taken away” but my girlfriend has a UAE license. She is not from any EU country, she is from Russia. How can she hire a car in her name with a foreign passport, and UAE license? She only has a tourist visa to visit 4 european countries.
your help is much appreciated. thank you.
Hi, sorry you will need to check the rules of the country you are going to
I am from algeria and detained a converted driving licence from usa to algerian;please tell me if i can use to drive in united arab emirats.
Thanks
Hi! You will need to check if Algerian driving license is “convertable” into UAE
Hi i am indian having Qatar resident permit staying in qatar for past 11 yrs and having valid qatari driving license.Now i shall be relocationg to sharjah what will be the procedure to obtain the driving license?
Hi Jojo! You will have to go through simplified driving classes for GCC driving license holders.
Hi,
Iam a citizen of India I have a valid UK driving license, How far I can drive in Dubai with that license.And what are the procedures to be followed to change that in to a valid full UAE driving license. Is that specifically mentioned that Citizens of GB and other EU and other specified countries can only change there license through certain paper works in the rules or a valid license holder from this country is permitted to do so. If we are not permitted why is such discrimination while we are going through all the procedures which those national are fulfilled for their license.
Hi Amith! Life isn’t fair. Being a Russian national I also had to go through that.
Hi
I am Greek with a German license, can I exchange it with a uae license?
many thanks
Q
Hi! That’s a tricky situation. Please let us know if you can it will be useful for other readers.
i have K.S.A Driving license.Can i drive in U.A.E on Visit visa?
Hi! If you are a KSA national then I think you can.
I am an Indian. i have a valid GCC Driving license from Saudi Arabia. the back side my my driving license show a new GCC emblem. is it enough for All GCC contry to drive.
if not, I would like to get License from UAE.
What are the Formalities..?
Hi Riyas, you will have to take driving classes. Your SA license is an advantage because you will have to take fewer classes. Check with any of Dubai’s driving schools.
Hi,
I have a valid UAE license but i am not a UAE resident anymore..Now that I want to visit UAE next week on a tourist Visa so can i drive with my UAE license which is valid till 2018?
Hi Umair, I think you should be able to do it but you better check with a car rental company. If you find out, please write about your experience here. I would be interested to know this too.
hi,
i have valid qatar licenece . what is the procedure to get the IAE Driving licence ? can i transferred to directly UAE licence without attend any drving class please advise me
thanks
rassak
Hi Rassak, if you are a GCC national, you can covert your license. Otherwise, you will have to go through the classes. Check with one of UAE driving schools.
Hi,
I am indian citizen, will be going to Dubai for a week on a toursit visa. Can i drive there post i have removed an international licence from my home country ? can i reant a car ?
Hi Bee, if you travel as a tourist you can rent a car with your home country international license.