Dubai, like any other Emirate of the UAE is one of the safe places, where residents enjoy tax-free living, abundance of leisure activities and other facilities. Therefore, many people have settled in the Emirate for the various benefits the city has to offer to expats. One of such is the option to convert foreign driving licence to a Dubai driving licence.
Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) offers a service to exchange driving licence in Dubai. This service can be availed only by those foreigners who come from the authorised countries (the list is provided below).
For a background check, it is important to know that the legal driving age in the UAE is 18 years. To rent a car, you have to be 21 years old. To get a UAE driver’s licence (in case of an expat), it is your passport that is ultimately the deciding factor. We have given a list of key countries moving forward that are eligible to make a smooth and seamless transfer of their (unexpired) driver’s licence to a UAE one.
As for the rest of the countries, passport-holders are required to start from scratch, apply for a UAE driver’s licence, and then drive legally in the country.
Read on to get complete information on RTA’s service to convert international driving licence in Dubai.
EXCHANGE DRIVING LICENCE IN DUBAI
Here are all the details on how to convert a driving licence in Dubai:
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR EXCHANGING DRIVING LICENCE IN DUBAI
Both citizens and residents can apply for an exchange driving licence in Dubai through RTA. However, given here are a few details on the eligibility for converting a foreign driving licence to Dubai
If you are a GCC citizen and have a driving licence from the GCC, it should be valid at the time of replacement. All other original driving licences are to be withdrawn from their holders. Find below the list of countries whose driving licences, unfortunately, as per RTA, cannot be exchanged.
- Puerto Rico (USA)
- North Mariana (USA)
- Guam Island (USA)
- Liechtenstein island (Switzerland)
- Monaco Island (France)
- Jersey Island (Britain)
Besides, here is the list of countries that are excluded and driving licences from these countries can be exchanged with a new Dubai driving licence:
GCC COUNTRIES
- Saudi Arabia
- Amman
- Two Seas
- Kuwait
The licence is withdrawn from the nationalities of the mentioned GCC countries only and does not require translation. Also, all types of driving licences are convertible.
EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
- Lithuania
- Portugal
- Hungary
- Bulgaria
- Latvia
- Serbia
- Iceland
- Estonia
- Cyprus
- Malta
- Albania
- Romanian
- Germany
- Italia
- Switzerland
- Poland
- Finland
- Spain
- Holland
- Greece
- Sweden
- Belgium
- Ireland
- Turkey
- Denmark
- Austria
- France
- UK
- Norway
- Republic of Montenegro
- Ukraine
A few European countries require licence translation and a few can convert their light vehicle and motorcycle licences only. However, some countries’ licence from the list can be converted for all the vehicles. For more information you can check the RTA Dubai official website.
NORTH AMERICAN AND EAST ASIA COUNTRIES
- United States of America
- Canada
- Japan
- South Korea
- Hong Kong
- People’s Republic of China
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Singapore
- South Africa (only one African country’s all vehicle’s driving licence can be converted)
Now that we know the countries from where you are eligible to exchange driving licence in Dubai, we shall proceed next to the required documents for the process.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO CONVERT A FOREIGN DRIVING LICENCE TO DRIVE IN DUBAI
To convert a foreign driving licence to drive in Dubai, you are required to submit certain documents. We have provided comprehensive information for all types of residents, including those with diplomat or Singapore passports as well.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY ALL APPLICANTS:
- If you belong to the exception countries, bring along the original driving licence with a photocopy.
- Document of the electronic eye test (mandatory)
- Your Emirates ID – original and valid
- If the original driving licence is in any other language except English or Arabic, a legal translated copy
APPLICANTS WHO HOLD A RESIDENCE PERMIT FROM OTHER EMIRATES:
Those who have a residence permit other Emirates need to submit the following documents when applying for exchange driving licence in Dubai. But only if the company holds a branch in Dubai and you are working in this branch:
- Emirates ID, original and valid
- Eye test report
- Trade licence copy of the company of the main branch in another Emirate and the Dubai branch
- A letter from the organisation/company that certifies that the applicant works in its Dubai branch although he/she has a visa issued in another Emirate.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR EXCHANGING SINGAPORE DRIVING LICENCE IN DUBAI:
Those holding a Singapore driving licence applying for conversion need to submit the knowledge test results. To convert foreign driving licence in Dubai, you need to first give a 45-minute knowledge test at the RTA Customer Happiness Centre located in Deira. The test costs around AED 220, which is other than the service fee.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY APPLICANTS HOLDING DIPLOMATIC PASSPORTS:
- The original diplomatic passport plus its photocopy
- The original driving licence and its photocopy
- The electronic eye test document
- A letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a validity of six months from the date it was submitted
- In place of the Emirates ID, you must have official Diplomatic Cards for Embassies, Consulates and International Organisations.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY THOSE HAVING DRIVING LICENCE FROM EXCEPTION COUNTRIES BUT UNLISTED NATIONALITY:
- Result of the Knowledge Test
- Result of the Driving test
- Result of the Yard Test
WHAT’S THE PROCESS TO EXCHANGE DRIVING LICENCE IN DUBAI?
You can apply for an exchange driving licence in Dubai via the RTA website or by visiting the RTA Customer Happiness Centres located in:
- Umm Ramool
- Al Manarah
- Al Twar
- Deira
- Al Barsha
- Al Kifaf
or at the Hatta Tasjeel Centre.
Here is the process detailed on how to convert a foreign driving licence to drive in Dubai:
- Submit the required documents
- The recipient, after collecting your documents, verifies the authenticity of the original driving licence
- They open a ‘traffic file’ if you are applying for the conversion for the first time.
- Pay the fee
- Once you pay the fee, you will receive an electronic copy of the receipt at the e-mail address registered. A text message is also sent to your contact number including a link from where you can download your copy of the transaction receipt.
- When the receipt is issued, the driving licence is printed and provided to the applicant
COST TO CONVERT FOREIGN DRIVING LICENCE TO DUBAI DRIVING LICENCE
there is a cost to convert foreign driving licence to Dubai driving licence . Here is the breakdown of the entire service fee:
- AED 200 for file opening
- AED 600 to issue the new Dubai driving licence
- AED 50 for traffic manual
- AED 20-Knowledge and Innovation fees.
The RTA Dubai has set forth a policy that states the longevity of the driving licence. Once you convert foreign driving licence to Dubai, you will receive:
- 1 year validity if you are under 21 years.
- 2 years validity if you are above 21 years.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Some terms and conditions apply to convert a foreign driving licence to drive in Dubai. Read on to find out the mandates.
- The eye test is obligatory for all applicants. You can easily get it done at any of the RTA approved eye testing facilities in Dubai available at the Customer Happiness Centres that are listed above.
- You or your legal representative must be present at the centre.
- If you hold dual passports and one passport is from an unauthorised county with proof of residence in that country, then your application will be rejected.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
If I have a GCC driving licence can I use it to drive in Dubai?
Yes, you can, but as long as you are in Dubai for a visit. All GCC nationals can drive in Dubai when on a tour, but must convert it if they are living or working in the Emirate.
I have an investment visa from the USA and driving licence from the same country. I frequently travel to and from Dubai. Can I drive in the Emirate with the US driving licence?
No, you cannot drive in Dubai with a US driving licence.
With that, we conclude our guide on how to exchange driving licence in DubaI. With a valid driving licence in your hand, you can discuss the finances, insurance, and payment options of possessing a car with plenty of dealers available in the Emirate. At the end of the day, make sure you obtain your valid driving licence to escape expensive penalties (or even jail) on your name.
Daily and frequent commuting using public transport in Dubai may or may not be expensive, but may cause a lot of hassle. To move around in your own car is a perfect solution. However, if you are new in the Emirate you may opt to buy a used car in Dubai to start with.
Stay tuned to UAE’s top auto blog for more information on RTA services related to vehicles, driving licence, vehicle registration and more.
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