Here’s Everything You Need To Know About Converting Or Obtaining A UAE Driving License
If you’ve just moved to the UAE, first of all, welcome to the land of opportunity, and secondly, if you’re wondering how you can get behind the wheel, there are a few things you must know!
There are a few ways you can obtain a driving license in the UAE:
- You either convert your existing license from your home country
- You go through the “Golden Chance” or
- You go through the regular system
Here’s everything you need to know about converting or obtaining a UAE driving license
🎉🚘🌍 As an expat in the UAE, getting a driving license is a top priority 🏆. If you’re from one of the 43 countries on the MoI’s list, you can swap your home country’s license for a UAE one with ease 🤩.
🗺️ From Estonia to South Africa, Albania to Au…https://t.co/AG4vTu3HP1
— Hassaan Asghar (@hsaanx) April 28, 2023
Dubai residents who hold a valid driving license from any of these 43 approved countries, can obtain a UAE driving license
The Ministry of Interior (MoI) in the UAE announced that expats from 43 countries are not required to take a driving license test in the UAE, under the ‘Markhoos’ initiative. They are technically allowed to drive in the UAE using their national driving license but they can also exchange it if they hold a valid residency visa.
These countries are:
- Albania
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- China
- Cyprus
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovak
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- Ukraine
توفّر #هيئة_الطرق_و_المواصلات فرصة فريدة للحصول على رخصة قيادة جديدة بسهولة وبدون أي مجهود، كل ما عليك أن تفعله هو التقدم بطلب الفرصة الذهبية من خلال موقعنا الإلكتروني https://t.co/d59n6xYb3x pic.twitter.com/j2DsrftTNw
— RTA (@rta_dubai) September 3, 2023
If you are not from the approved 43 countries, the next option is the ‘Golden Chance’
This one’s for any resident, from any country! It’s basically a one-way ticket to the license (well, an easier method). Here’s all you need:
- You must hold a valid license from your home country.
- You have to take and pass the RTA driving exams (theory and road test) in one go!
- You must pay approximately AED2,200 (the price depends on the school) to cover the costs of opening a file, taking the tests, license insurance etc.
You can visit any driving centre in Dubai and apply for the Golden Chance initiative. Just remember if you don’t pass the tests on your first try, you will have to enrol for regular classes.
Lastly, if you don’t have a driving license from your home country, then you need to go through the regular steps of getting a local license.
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