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Applying For A Learning Permit

This service enables you to apply for issuing a driving learning permit for the Emirate of Dubai.

Eligibility

Individual customers, citizens and residents, who are above the legal age and medically fit are eligible to apply for this service. Legal age: Motorcycle: 17 years Light vehicle: 17 years and 6 months to open a file; 18 years to issue a license Heavy vehicle: 20 years Light or heavy bus: 21 years Mechanical vehicle: 20 years.

Required documents

For citizens:

  1. Emirates ID
  2. Eye test (electronic eye test)
  3. No Objection Certificate (NOC) letter from the guardian if the customer is younger than 21 years old

For residents:

  1. Emirates ID
  2. Eye test (electronic test)
  3. NOC letter from the sponsor except for the below listed 66 professions
    • The letter must be addressed to the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) either in English or in Arabic
    • The letter must have a validity date. In case there is no validity date or expiry date, the letter will be valid for 6 months from the date of delivery
    • The letter must be signed and stamped (if the sponsor is a company ) and only signed by the sponsor (for individual sponsor)

Professions that do not require NOC:

Free business

Expert

Specialist

Teacher

Consultant

Imam

Treasurer

Storekeeper

Trader

Surgeon

Geologist

Coach

Expert

Speaker

Daiah

Doctor

Auctioneer

Historian

Captain

Broker

Owner or partner of a business/establishment

Pharmacist

Doctor/General practitioner

Pilot

Judge

Legalist

Journalist

Writer

Marriage Official

Instructor

Trainer

Manager

Lawyer

Legal consultant

Tutor

Guide

Lecturer

Engineer

Contractor

Investor

Owner of land or property

Hostess

Nurse

Mufti

Muezzin

Reciter

Businessman

Editor

Producer

Director

Anchor

Program planner

Accountant

Financial analyst/researcher

Economic analyst/researcher

Tour guide

Auditor

Computer programmer

Sports player

Orator

Prosecutor

Commercial agent

Noukhaza

Shipmaster

Military personnel

For residents with visa issued in other emirate, additional documents are required:

  1. A certificate from the Traffic Department in the emirate where the customer's visa is issued, proving that the customer does not have a traffic file in another emirate
  2. A proof of residence and work in Dubai

In case the customer’s sponsorship is under a company based in another emirate and his visa is issued by the same company, the company must have a branch in Dubai, and the customer must be employed in this branch to open a traffic file

To open a traffic file, the customer is required to present the following documents:

  1. Trade license of the original company
  2. Copy of the company's trade license, branch of Dubai
  3. A letter from the company stating that the customer works at the Dubai Branch

For diplomats:

  1. Diplomatic passport
  2. Diplomatic ID
  3. Letter from the embassy

For students:

The below additional document is required:

  1. An official letter from the college if the customer is studying in Dubai and the visa is issued in another emirate

In case of personal sponsorship:

The below additional documents are required:

  1. Copy of the official tenancy contract or bill from Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA)
  2. NOC from the sponsor
  3. NOC from the guardian in case the customer is younger than 21 years old
  4. Clearance letter from the place of visa issuance stating that the customer does not have a current file in that emirate

For pregnant customers:

The below additional documents are required:

  1. Approval letter from the physician
  2. NOC from the sponsor (on their own responsibility) for citizens and residents

For deaf customers:

The below additional document is required:

  1. A medical report from any state run hospital
For corporate managers, institutions, banks, universities and non-profit organizations:

  1. Emirates ID
  2. Eye test (electronically)
  3. No Objection Certificate from sponsor to receive driving license
  4. Valid tenancy contract in Dubai
  5. Proof that the company has a branch in Dubai

For the passport who is without a family stays (Marsoom):

  1. Eye test (electronically)
  2. Copy of valid passport
  3. Family status

For GCC citizens:

  1. Emirates ID
  2. Eye test (electronically)

For passport holder who is the son of an Emarati woman, with valid letter from General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs stating that the mother of the applicant is Emirati:

  1. Copy of the birth certificate
  2. Copy of valid passport
  3. Eye test (electronically)
  4. No Objection Certificate from the guardian if applicant is younger than 21 years old

For adopted applicant:

  1. Emirates ID
  2. Eye test (electronically)
  3. Letter of adoption from the Court 4. No Objection Certificate from the adopter if the applicant’s age is younger than 21 years old

For diplomats in foreign consulates:

  1. Valid tenancy contract in Dubai
  2. Emirates ID
  3. Eye test (electronically)
  4. No Objection Certificate from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Output

Driving learning permit.

Service fees

  • 100 AED for issuing a driving learning permit for the following categories: motorcycle - light vehicle – light automatic vehicle – light equipment vehicle.
  • 200 AED for issuing a driving learning permit for the following categories: heavy vehicle – heavy bus - heavy equipment vehicle
  • 200 AED for opening a traffic file
  • 50 AED for the handbook manual
  • 200 AED for the eye test
  • 20 AED for the electronic test appointment
  • +10 AED knowledge fee
  • +10 AED innovation fee.

Validity

6 months from the date of the permit issuance.

Average processing time

Up to 10 minutes at the driving institutes or the registration offices or RTA service centers.

Ways to apply

Process

Through driving institutes:

  • The customer presents the required documents at the institutes or at the registration offices
  • The customer is required to settle the fees in person and to open a traffic file
  • The concerned employees print the notification for the customer
  • The customer undergoes an eye test at the office of RTA trusted agent.

Eye testing offices:

  • Al Jaber Optical
  • Magrabi Optics
  • Barakat Optical
  • Super Vision Emirates
  • Grand Optics
  • Dubai Optical
  • Yateem Optician
  • Leen Optics
  • The customer receives an application to start the training.

Terms and conditions

  • The personal presence of the customer is required
  • The customer must be medically fit
  • The license is issued for 1 year for the customers who are younger than 21 years old and it is renewed yearly until the customer completes the 21 years of age. After that, the license is issued for 10 years.
  • For customers with disabilities, the Licensing Agency must issue a certificate to transfer them to the physician. Consequently, the customer heads to Rashid Hospital - Link to map locator
  • The customer must not have a driving license file in another emirate
  • In case the visa is issued in another emirate:
    • The customer must use his own tenancy agreement to apply for a learning permit for one of his first degree relatives
    • The customer must have a tenancy agreement along with a copy of the trade license of the company he works for in Dubai to apply for a personal learning permit.

Motorcycle license (all types of motorcycles):

  • The customer must not be younger than 17 years old.

Light vehicle license (for light vehicles):

  • The customer must be 17 years and 6 months old to open a file; however, the license will be issued when the customer turns 18
  • If the vehicle is for transporting passengers, its weight while empty should not exceed 2.5 tonnes, and the number of passengers must not exceed 14 without the driver
  • If the vehicle is for transporting cargo, its weight while empty must not exceed 2.5 tonnes, and its cargo must not exceed 2 tonnes.

Heavy vehicle license (all types of heavy and light vehicles):

  • The customer must be 20 years old.

Light bus license:

  • The customer must not be younger than 21 years old to apply for this license
  • The passenger number of the bus must not exceed 26 without the driver (the number differs according to the bus type).

Heavy bus license (all types of light and heavy buses and light vehicles) :

  • The customer must not be younger than 21 years old to apply for this license
  • The passenger number of the vehicle must not exceed 26 without the driver (the number differs according to the bus type).

Tractor or light mechanical machine license (all types of tractors and light mechanical machines) :

  • The customer must not be younger than 20 years old to apply for this license
  • The weight of the tractor or mechanical machine while empty must not exceed 7.5 tonnes.

Tractor or heavy mechanical machine license (all types of light and heavy tractors and mechanical machines) :

  • The customer must not be younger than 20 years old to apply for this license
  • The weight of the tractor or mechanical machine while empty must not exceed 7.5 tonnes.

Eye test results:

  • The customer must take an eye test at an eyesight testing centre accredited by the Dubai Health Authority(DHA)
  • The customer must have the results of the eye test according to the requested category
  • If the customer applies for a license to drive heavy vehicles and machines, the eye test result must be 6/6.
  • For drivers of light vehicles and motorcycles:
    • One eye 6/18 -- Second eye 6/18
    • One eye 6/12-- Second 6/24
    • One eye 6/9 -- Second eye 6/36 or 6/60
    • One eye 6/6 -- Blind.
  • For drivers of heavy vehicles:
    • One eye 6/6 -- Second eye 6/18 or 6/12 or 6/9
    • One eye 6/9 -- Second eye 6/9.
  • For the drivers of light and heavy buses, tractor and mechanical machines:
    • Both eyes must be 6/6 with spectacles or without spectacles.
  • For colourblind customers:
    • The customer can apply for the license on condition of passing the eye test.

Note: If the customer did not get the driving license within a period of 6 months from passing the test, he must have another road test and the examiner must present the result once again.

FAQs

  • Question 1: If the customer is taking driving lessons in Dubai and then changes the visa to another emirates, who will issue the license after the customer passes the road test knowing that the visa is not from Dubai anymore?

Answer 1: Knowing that the file is opened in Dubai, the license will be issued in Dubai after the customer passes the road test.

  • Question 2: What is the required number of driving lessons if the customer wants to change the driving license from automatic to manual?

Answer 2: If the customer has a light automatic driving license and wants to apply for a light manual driving license, the driving lessons will be reduced to 10 lessons.

Drivers handbook

  • Question 3: What is in the Dubai Drivers' handbook?

Answer 3: The handbook provides road rules information, including safe driving & crash prevention tips, and information on traffic offences and black points. It also provides information about road signs and road markings that are used in Dubai and the UAE. This handbook is the only one related to road rules. It is approved by the Dubai Government.

  • Question 4: When is the handbook's information updated?

Answer 4: A review of the handbook will be conducted every 6 months, and an updated version will be issued if necessary. When significant changes occur, a leaflet with the updated information may be provided with the handbook.

  • Question 5: What do I do if I think the information in the handbook is incorrect?

Answer 5: In this case, you can contact RTA call center 8009090.

  • Question 6: Why does the handbook cost 50 AED?

Answer 6: The government of Dubai has set 50 AED as a cost for all similar documents. The cost includes the development and production of the handbook as well as the routinely replacement of the handbook with new additions. It is worth noting that the cost also includes 10 AED as knowledge fee for the Government of Dubai.

  • Question 7: Where can I purchase the handbook?

Answer 7: The handbook is available at all RTA outlets. The handbooks are expected to be available at other outlets. The customer can also purchase it through the SDDI system. An application to purchase 1 book only may be filled online. There is a handbook for each level of the license (5 available handbooks). They are issued in Arabic, English and Urdu.

  • Question 8: Is purchasing the handbook compulsory with overseas license transfer?

Answer 8: Yes, all clients who transfer their overseas license to a Dubai license must purchase a copy of the Light Vehicle handbook. The handbook purchase is automatically calculated by E-Traffic and added to the payment receipt.

  • Question 9: What if the customer already has a handbook?

Answer 9: The customer must purchase a copy of the handbook to make sure that everyone has his own updated copy.

  • Question 10: What if the customer does not want to purchase a handbook as part of the license transfer process?

Answer 10: In this case, the customer will not be allowed to transfer the overseas license.

  • Question 11: Can a housemaid apply for a driving license?

Answer 11: Yes, a housemaid can apply for a driving license on a condition of providing all the required documents.

  • Question 12: Is it possible for the customer to get the driving license 1 year after passing the road test?

Answer 12: If the customer did not get the driving license within a period of 1 year from passing the test, he must have another road test and the examiner must present the result once again.

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