The first step towards getting a licence and driving a car in Dubai is to register with an RTA-certified driving school. In this regard, Galadari Motor Driving Institute is considered one of the finest, most trusted driving schools in the emirate. Established in 2004, Galadari Motor Driving Institute Dubai has served thousands of students to date.
If you need more reasons to understand why Galadari may be your best choice, this guide covers everything you need to make a decision.
History of Galadari Motor Driving Institute Dubai
Galadari Motor Driving Institute Dubai was established by two entrepreneurs, Mustafa Galadari and Ilyas Galadari. It is a certified institute that operates according to the framework and rules, regulations laid down by the RTA. The school was founded with a mission to ensure all drivers have the aptitude and confidence to drive vehicles on the road, keeping safety protocols in mind.
Galadari boasts a pool of over 500 qualified instructors. From theory to practical driving training, the school focuses on building the skillset, confidence and aptitude needed for effective driving in the city. Finally, after all the training, the driving institute enables students to obtain a driving licence in Dubai after clearing a final assessment by the RTA. Without clearing RTA assessments, students cannot acquire a driving licence in Dubai.
Courses offered by the Galadari Motor Driving Institute Dubai
Different driving classes are offered at GMDC for different vehicle categories. These include:
- Light vehicles (including cars and motorbikes)
- Heavy vehicles
- Buses (heavy and light)
- Shovel
- Forklift
Additionally, the driving institute offers advanced off-roading and defensive driving courses. These are divided into two parts – one being theory, the other practical.
Before going for the practical driving training on the road, students have to sit through the theory lectures and clear the RTA Knowledge Test. As for the practical driving lessons, qualified instructors of GMDC conduct those sessions.
To take RTA’s road test, aspiring drivers must first complete a set number of practical training hours first. The length of practical training hours depends on the prior driving experience. However, before taking the final RTA tests, GMDC conducts an internal assessment that students must pass.
Details about the theory classes at GMDC
To get a driving licence in Dubai, it is a mandatory requirement by the RTA curriculum for students to complete 8 hours of theory classes. The hours for theory classes at GMDC are flexible. With the help of insightful theory lessons, drivers get accustomed to the different rules and laws that are supposed to be followed when driving in the city and that legalise drivers in Dubai.
For effective communication of the rules and guidelines laid out by the RTA, the theory classes are offered in different languages including English, Arabic, Urdu and Hindi language. Classes are conducted at different GMDC branches in Al Qusais, Al Quoz and a few more locations.
Let’s go through the training courses in detail.
Car driving course
After registering with GMDC, students can choose from the various training course options offered according to their preference. Car driving course at Galadari Motor Driving Institute Dubai is offered at three different time spans including the regular, Friday and night sessions.
Regular course
With the regular course you can take classes on any three alternate days of the week in the following manner:
- Saturday, Monday, Wednesday
- Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday
Students can either opt for taking the standard 1 class (1 hour) training per day or go for the 2 classes (2 hours) of training per day to fast-track the course.
Friday course
Those who aren’t able to take sessions on the weekdays can go for the classes offered on Fridays. The Friday Course consists of 2 classes = 2 hours or a maximum of 4 training sessions= 4 hours of training.
Timings for Friday training sessions are from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Night course
Students who work or study during the day are accommodated with the night classes at Galadari Driving School Dubai. The timing for night course classes is from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm.
Motorcycle riding course
Those interested in learning how to ride motorcycles can opt for the GMDC motorcycle riding course. Course options available include:
Regular course
With this course, students can take one class = 1-hour session per day to complete their number of training hours. To put it simply, with the regular course you are allowed one class per day.
The timings for the regular motorcycle riding course at Galadari Dubai is from 6:00 am to 5:30 pm.
Shift duty course
With the shift duty course, you can select the training hours according to your preference and in agreement with your driving instructor. You can take one training session (which means an hour per day) between 6:00 am to 12:00 pm and between 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm. Shift duty course classes are available from Saturday to Thursday.
Friday course
If you can only take classes on Fridays because of a busy schedule other days of the weeks, you can take the Friday course. With this course, students take 2-hour (two classes) sessions of training every Friday until their course completion.
You can also opt for Friday and Saturday sessions, with this schedule two classes are offered on Friday and one on Saturday.
Timings for the Friday motorcycle riding course is from 7:00 am to 12:30 pm and from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Heavy truck driving course
After registering with Galadari driving school, aspiring drivers can select from two different training course options offered for the heavy truck driving course.
Regular course
With the regular course, classes are offered six days a week, whereby you can take:
- 1 class (one hour) for internal training 6 days a week= 6 classes from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm and from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
- 1 class (one hour) for on-road training 6 days a week= 6 classes from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm and from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm.
Friday course
In this course, students can take:
- 2 classes (2 hours of training) for internal training every Friday from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm and from 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm.
- 2 classes (2 hours of training) for on-road training every Friday from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Light bus driving course
The light bus driving course is offered in two-course options: Regular course and Friday Couse.
Regular course
With this course, you can take 1 class of 1 hour for 3 days a week on:
- Saturday, Monday, Wednesday.
- Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday.
Or you can take 1 class daily for 6 days a week from Saturday to Thursday.
The training timings for weekday classes are from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm and from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Friday course
Those who cannot take classes on weekdays can opt for the Friday course, whereby students have to take four classes (1 hour per class) every Friday. The Friday training classes are held from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Heavy bus driving course
Again, two-course options: Regular course and Friday course are available to students willing to take up the heavy bus driving course.
Regular course
With the regular course students have to take:
- One class per day= one hour for the internal yard training
- One class per day= one hour for on-road training
These classes have to be taken six days a week from Saturday to Thursday. For regular course, internal training classes are available from 6-2 pm and from 2-3 pm, whereas, the on-road training classes are available from 8:30 – 1:00 pm and from 3-5:30 pm.
Friday course
Those who are only available on Fridays can take the Friday training course consisting of 2 classes every Friday = 2 hours of training.
The internal training classes are available on Fridays from 6:00 pm to 2:00 pm and from 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm. Whereas, the on-road training classes are available from 7:00 pm to 12:00 pm and from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Forklift driving course
After registering with GMDC for this course, you can go for the regular or Friday option based on your preference.
Regular course
You have to take one class = 1 hour for six days from Saturday to Thursday. The regular course is available from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm and from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
Friday course
This consists of two classes (2 hours of training) every Friday from 6:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
Please note that Forklift driving licence training is available at the GMCDC Head Office in Al Qusais and in the Al Quoz branch.
Shovel driving course
Again, after registering for the shovel driving course, you can go for the regular or Friday course based on your preference.
Regular course
You have to take one class = 1 hour for six days from Saturday to Thursday. The regular course is available from 6:00 am to 1:00 pm and from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
Friday course
This consists of two classes (2 hours of training) every Friday from 6:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
Please note that shovelling licence training is available at the GMCDC Head Office.
Fee structure for courses offered at GMDC
The fee structure for cars and motorcycles is as follows:
Eligibility | Number of Hours | Duration | Regular | Shifts | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginners | Number of Hours 20 | Duration 1 hour | Regular AED 2,000 | Shifts AED 2,800 | Friday AED 3,000 |
| Licence with a validity of 2-5 years | Number of Hours 15 | Duration 1 hour | Regular AED 1,500 | Shifts AED 2,100 | Friday AED 2,250 |
| Licence with a validity of 5 years | Number of Hours 10 | Duration 1 hour | Regular AED 1,000 | Shifts AED 1,400 | Friday AED 1,500 |
| Additional hours | Number of Hours 04 | Duration 1 hour | Regular AED 400 | Shifts AED 560 | Friday AED 600 |
The free structure for other driving courses offered at Galadari Driving Institute Dubai is as follows:
Vehicle | Eligibility | Hours | Duration | Regular | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy truck | Eligibility Beginner | Hours 20 | Duration 1 hour | Regular AED 2,800 | Friday AED 4,400 |
| Light bus | Eligibility Beginner | Hours 20 | Duration 1 hour | Regular AED 2,200 | Friday AED 3,000 |
| Heavy bus | Eligibility Beginner | Hours 20 | Duration 1 hour | Regular AED 2,600 | Friday AED 4,400 |
| Forklift | Eligibility Beginner | Hours 20 | Duration 1 hour | Regular AED 1,800 | Friday AED 2,400 |
| Shovel | Eligibility Beginner | Hours 20 | Duration 1 hour | Regular AED 2,800 | Friday AED 4,400 |
Please keep in mind:
- The fee structure mentioned above applies to automatic and manual cars alike
- RTA fee is subject to change
- A VAT of 5% is applicable on the fee for all courses
- The afore-mentioned timing and fee are subject to change. Please visit Galadari’s official website before making the final payment
Galadari Motor Driving Institute Dubai registration process
To register yourself, visit any of the Galadari Motor Driving Centre’s branches in Dubai. You can also log in to GMDC’s official website and register yourself online.
The following documents are mandatory for registering yourself at the Galadari Driving Institute Dubai:
- A copy of your passport
- A copy of your residence visa
- Original and a copy of your Emirates ID
- Two recent passport-sized photographs
- Eye test report
- Sponsor’s No Objection Certificate (NOC)
- Sponsor’s visa and passport copy (individual)
If you already have your home country’s driving licence, you need to present the original and a copy of the home-country licence.
After successful registration and payment for the courses you intend to take, you will have to get an eye test done. The test can happen at the school’s facility or at any other RTA-approved eye-test centre in Dubai.
Locations of various GMDC branches
GMDC has several branches across Dubai. The timings and contact numbers for various Galadari Driving Institute branches are as follows:
GMDC Main office at Al Qusais
Address: Al Qusais Industrial Area 4, Dubai
Timings: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, and on Fridays, the branch is operational from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
You can call them at +971-4-267-6166
Galadari Motor Driving Centre in Al Quoz
Address: Near Al Quoz Mall, Al Quoz Industrial Area 3, Dubai
Timings: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm and on Fridays from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm
You can call them at +971-4-404-3400
There are several other locations of GMDC branches that can be searched on the internet. These locations serve as registration offices for the school, while some also conduct theory classes. Some noticeable GMDC locations include:
- Al Nahda | +971-4-251-6094
- Al Karama | +971-4-396-4886
- Al Tawar| +921-4-220-4788
- International City | +971-4-240-6605
- Al Raffa | +971-4-393-0886
- Souq Exta | +971-4-380-7793
- Silicon Oasis | +971-4-320-4599
- Bur Dubai | +971-4-355-4008
- Abu Hail | +971-4—239-7992
- Al Aweer | +971-4-320-8339
- Naif | +971-4-273-4995
- Al Barsha | +971-4-432-9803
- Rashidiya | +971-4-285-5057
- Satwa | +971-4-344-3080
- Tecom | +971-4-447-1577
- Hor Al Anz | +971-4-265-4504
Other facilities offered at various Galadari Driving Institute Dubai include pick and drop transportation services, customer care and call centre facility, cafeteria, waiting lounge, kids play area, mosque, offices and ATM services.
That concludes our detailed guide on Galadari Driving Institute Dubai. Once you get a driving licence, you are all set to drive! Here is a list of other popular driving schools in Dubai. You may also want to read a comparison between two important driving schools in the emirate, Galadari vs EDI.
Besides, if you don’t have a car to drive around, explore these used cars for sale in Dubai.
Stay tuned to your favourite cars blog for more on driving schools in the UAE.
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