Driving Licence in Abu Dhabi: Eligibility, Fees, Eye Test & More

Eligibility criteria
Know your category
Process for international driving licence holders
Process for first-time applicants

While public transport options are readily available in Abu Dhabi, many residents prefer driving their own vehicle. Naturally, driving without a valid license is not allowed in the UAE. Due to the strict laws and heavy focus on road safety, getting a driving licence in Abu Dhabi can be challenging, especially if you’re new to the city or a first-time driver.

To make things easy, this step by step guide explains the entire process of obtaining a driving licence in Abu Dhabi.

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for getting a driving licence in Abu Dhabi requires the applicant to be:

A resident of the UAE
At least 18 years old to drive a car or light vehicle
At least 17 years of age or older for a motorcycle licence
At least 20 years of age for commercial driving licence for heavy vehicles, like trucks or tractors
At least 21 years old or older for commercial bus driving licence

Know your category

People applying for a driving licence in Abu Dhabi fall into two categories:

People with valid international driving licences from a list of approved countries
First-time applicants with no previous licence in any country

Process for applicants with an international driving licence

How to get a driving licence in Abu Dhabi — Driving without a valid driving licence can result in heavy fines

The process for getting a licence is simpler for people with a valid licence from certain countries including Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK and USA.

If you are a citizen and have a licence from the above-mentioned list of approved countries, you’ll have to convert your home country’s licence into an Emirati one. The process is simple and takes just a day. Following are the details:

Get original and photocopies of important documents including your passport, visa page for Abu Dhabi residency, current licence and Emirates ID.
One passport size photo.
A NOC (no objection certificate) from your workplace or visa sponsor.
Legal translation of your present driving licence from any translation outlet or typing centre of Abu Dhabi (if it is already in Arabic, you don’t need a translation).
Your eye test’s result.
Payment of the required fee (the cost of the eye test is AED 100 and the processing fee for converting the licence is AED 250).

Process for first-time applicants

cars commuting in Abu Dhabi — First-time applicants must clear the practical road test to get a driving licence in Abu Dhabi

If you do not have a valid licence from the list of approved countries and are applying for the first time, the process is going to be slightly different and you will need to follow these steps:

Step 1: Conduct an Eye Test

You need to visit the Drivers and Vehicles Licensing Department of the Emirates Driving Company with all the documents mentioned above to take an eye test. It’s just a 5 to 6-minute process. Clearing the eye test is a mandatory requirement if you want to get a driving license in Abu Dhabi.

The fee for taking the eye test is AED 100 but it can change with time, therefore, just to be on the safe side it is always useful to check with the driving licence authority’s official website.

Timings: Monday- Thursday, 07:30 am to 04:00 pm, Friday, 07:30 am to 12:00 pm

Please note that the eye test can also be taken at any approved optician of the city licensed by the traffic and licensing department of Abu Dhabi.

Step 2: Open a Traffic File

Next, you need to open a traffic file online. This can be done via the TAMM portal or via the Abu Dhabi Police mobile application. The following documents are needed in both the mediums:

• Your Emirates ID

• The eye test certificate

• Your personal photo

Applying via TAMM

To apply through TAMM visit the official website: tamm.abudhabi.
Select ‘Driving Services’ appearing under the home page’s ‘Vehicles and Transportation’ category.
Scroll down to click on ‘Request to Open a Driving Licence File’ and click on ‘Start’.
The page will ask you to log in using the UAE Pass.
Next, select the licence type. For a car’s driving licence, select ‘light motor vehicle’.
Then select a ‘new’ category and choose a driving test centre according to your preference. (These are Abu Dhabi Police traffic and licensing department branches where the final driving test of applicants is conducted.)
Choose the car transmission type – manual or automatic.
Enter personal information. That said, this section gets filled automatically according to the information given in your UAE Pass account. Details include your full name, Emirates ID number and expiry, nationality, the Emirate of residence, Date of Birth, email address and mobile number.
Then, upload the necessary documents.
Pay the fee for opening the traffic file.

Step 3: Take driving lessons and training at Emirates Driving Company

After opening a traffic file, applicants need to take driving lessons and training by opening a driving file with the Emirates Driving Company (you can’t attempt any theoretical or practical tests without a driving file). EDC is a government authorised driving school.

Address: Street number 17, Mussaffah Industrial Area, Musaffah, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Contact: +971-6-0058-8880

Timing: Saturday – Thursday, 07:00 am to 10:00 pm, Friday, 07:00 am to 12:00 pm

Necessary Documents

You need to take the following documents at the Emirates Driving Company to take the driving lessons and training sessions:

Your traffic file number
Your Emirates ID and passport copy
Your residency visa copy
Two personal photographs
A No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the guardian for applicants who are 17 years old

Details of the courses at EDC

The EDC course consists of eight units (video lessons) that future drivers are required to study in order to get a driving licence in Abu Dhabi. The eight units include:

Traffic rules, road markings and road signs
Inside city limits
Outside city limits
Driving under difficult conditions
Dealing with critical situations
Driving behaviour and road manners
Vehicle knowledge
Safety

The video lessons are for 2 hours each. Once done with these units, you will sit through a theoretical test required for a learners permit. The theory test consists of 35 questions to determine the driver’s understanding of driving laws followed in the country.

The training and lessons fee starts at AED 830 and there is an additional charge of AED 50 for taking the test.

After clearing the theory test, you receive a “Successful Completion of Theory Exam and Internal Practical Training Certificate”.

Besides, you can also take driving lessons at any of the private driving centres in Abu Dhabi. Here is a list of driving schools in Abu Dhabi.

Step 4: Clear the Road Test

driving licence in abu dhabi — Practical road test can be taken at EDC or any other driving school after receiving a certificate from the instructor

After clearing the theory test, if your instructor thinks you are fit to go on the road for a practical test you will be given a “Certificate of Readiness”. You can book a practical driving test with the Emirates Driving Company after showing them the certificate.

The training permit issuance costs AED 100 and the practical driving test costs AED 200.

The first practical driving test is the parking test followed by a road test. All these driving tests are taken inside a driving rink, safe for first-time drivers. First-time applicants get 10 to 20 minutes to prove their driving skills to the examiner. In case of an unsuccessful attempt, you can take 7 more training hours.

The total cost to pass the road test may vary starting depending on the number of sessions taken. For beginners, it usually takes 30 hours and those with previous driving experience can take 10 to 20 hours.

After successfully completing the driving tests conducted on the roads, you need to take your certificate to the Drivers and Vehicles Licensing Department to prove you’ve completed all the necessary requirements. Next, get photographs taken and you will receive the driving licence within 15 minutes.

You can also collect the driving licence from any of the Abu Dhabi Police Customer Happiness Centres.

Total Cost for Obtaining a Drivers Licence in Abu Dhabi

The total cost for obtaining a drivers licence in Abu Dhabi is as follows:

The cost for the eye test is AED 100.
The cost for opening a traffic file is AED 100.
The theory training lessons at EDC start at AED 830 with an additional charge of AED 50 for the test.
The practical test fee depends on your skill level, number of classes enrolled and school selected. According to the EDC, the lowest estimated cost for a beginner is around AED 2,705.
The cost for issuing training permit is AED 100.
The practical driving test costs AED 200.
The cost for issuing the driving licence is AED 315.
The cost to convert driving licence in an Emirati one is AED 250.

Disclaimer: The costs mentioned above are subject to change according to each student’s requirement.

Select a car

Once you have a valid drivers licence in Abu Dhabi, you’re all set to start driving. That said, if you don’t have a car it’s just the right time to buy one. You can buy used cars in Abu Dhabi from dubizzle at a variety of prices. From family to luxury and sports cars, you will find a massive collection of vehicles here. Some popular cars in the emirate include:

After following all the requirements, obtaining a driving licence in Abu Dhabi and buying a comfortable vehicle, you can freely drive your car around the city – just make sure you follow all the rules and regulations and drive safely to avoid traffic fines and road mishaps.

Note that the Abu Dhabi driving licence expires after 2 years and you can easily get it renewed online. Once renewed, the licence validity period for UAE and GCC citizens is 10 years and 5 years for expats.

Please keep in mind you’ll have to clear all the traffic fines before renewing your licence. Delay in renewals of results in fines.

FAQs

Is an NOC required for driving lessons in Abu Dhabi?

Previously, people from certain approved countries had to get a NOC from their employers in order to take driving classes, but that policy changed in 2020. Now, anyone in the UAE can take driving lessons without a NOC from their employers.

Is it necessary to open a driving file to get a driving licence in Abu Dhabi?

Yes, you need to open a driving file with the Emirates Driving Company to take the lessons and training necessary for getting a driving licence in Abu Dhabi.

For more information, go through our list of Abu Dhabi Driving Licence FAQs.

That is all you need to know about getting a driving licence in Abu Dhabi.

Stay tuned to UAE’s top auto blog for more information on getting a driving licence, licence renewal and driving rules and regulations.

The Process of Getting a Driving Licence in Abu Dhabi