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Apply for a Special Driving Permit

This service enables you to obtain all types of Special Driving Permits (Safari, Tram, Special Nature and Occupational).

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Eligibility
Safari Driving permit: Individual customers, citizens and residents, who have a driving licence issued in the UAE, and work at a tourism company that organises safaris.Tram Driving Permit: Individual customers, citizens and residents, who have a driving licence issued in the UAE, and work for a company that owns or operates trams.Occupational Driving Permit: Heavy vehicle and bus drivers, and personal drivers of light vehicles.Driving Permit for Vehicles of Special Nature: Corporate employees whose jobs require driving within the premises of their companies.
Required documents

For all types of permits

  1. Emirates ID number

For safari driving permit

  1. Criminal record certificate from Dubai Police (electronically).
Service fees

For the Safari Driving Permit

  • 200 AED Safari Learning Permit fees
  • 200 AED Practical test fees
  • 300 AED Safari Driving Permit fees
  • +20 AED Knowledge and Innovation fees.

For the Occupational Driving Permit

  • 200 AED Occupational Permit fees
  • Medical test fees vary according to the hospital
  • +20 AED Knowledge and Innovation fees.

For the Tram Driving Permit

  • 500 AED Tram Learning Permit fees
  • 500 AED Tram Driving Permit fees
  • +20 AED Knowledge and Innovation fees.

For the Driving Permit for Vehicles of Special Nature

  • 200 AED Learning Driving permit for Vehicles of Special Nature fees
  • 200 AED Knowledge test fees
  • 200 AED Practical test fees
  • 300 AED Driving permit for Vehicles of Special Nature fees
  • +20 AED Knowledge and Innovation fees.
Process time
  • Website: 3 minutes
  • Driving Institutes: 5 minutes.
Website
Accredited Hospitals


Clinic Name

Region

Contact number

1

Al Tadawi Medical Centre

Deira

04-2038888

2

Zulekha Hospital

El Nahda

600524442

3

Zulekha Centre

Bani Yas Road

600524442

4

Zulekha Centre

Al Qusais

600524442

5

Iranian Hospital

Al Bada

04-3440250

6

JTS Medical Centre LLC

Jumeirah

04-3799954

7

Unicare Medical Centre

Al Jafilia

04-3529292

8

Apple International Polyclinic

International City

04-4227533


Process

Through Website

Driving Permit for Vehicles of Special Nature

  1. The company representative logs in to the Special Driving Permits Management platform through RTA website.
  2. The company representative adds the driver(s) to the drivers’ list by entering the Emirates ID number.
  3. The company representative applies for a Driving Learning Permit.
  4. The company representative settles the required fees.
  5. The driver completes the training requirements (if any).
  6. The company representative books a theory and practical tests appointment for the driver(s) and settles the required fees.
  7. After passing the tests, the company representative settles the fees to issue the Special Driving Permit for the driver(s) who passed the tests.
  8. The permit is issued, and the company representative can anytime download a copy through the Special Driving Permits Management platform.

Other types of permits

  1. The company representative logs in to the Special Driving Permits Management platform through RTA website.
  2. The company representative adds the driver(s) to the drivers’ list by entering the Emirates ID number.
  3. The company representative applies for a Driving Learning Permit.
  4. The company representative settles the required fees.
  5. The driver completes the training requirements (if any).
  6. The company representative books a practical test appointment for the driver(s) and settles the required fees.
  7. After passing the test, the company representative settles the fees to issue the special driving permit for the driver(s) who passed the test.
  8. The permit is issued, and the company representative can anytime download a copy through the Special Driving Permits Management platform.

Through Driving Institutes (for Safari Permits)

  1. The customer receives an NOC to issue a Safari Driving Permit, then applies for the Tourist Guide Training Program (Safari) at Dubai Economy and Tourism.
  2. The customer passes the Tourist Guide Training Program that’s valid for 2 years.
  3. The customer applies electronically for the criminal record certificate from Dubai Police and submits it at the institute.
  4. The customer settles the required fees.
  5. The customer receives electronic copies of the receipt and permit to his registered email, and an SMS to his registered phone number with a link to download electronic copies of the receipt and permit.

Through accredited hospitals (for occupational permits)

  1. The customer applies for the service through the accredited hospitals.
  2. The customer settles the required fees.
  3. The customer receives an electronic copy of the receipt to his registered email, and an SMS to his registered phone number with a link to download an electronic copy of the receipt.
  4. The customer undergoes the comprehensive medical examination:
    • If the customer didn’t pass the medical test, he must take the needed medical treatment to repeat the examination.
    • If the customer passes the medical test, he receives an electronic copy of the permit to his registered e-mail, and an SMS to his registered phone number with a link to download the permit.
Average waiting time
  • Website: Instantly
  • Driving Institutes: 10 minutes.
Validity

Special Learning Permits

  • Tram Learning Permit: 6 months
  • Other types of permits: 3 months

Special Driving Permits

  • Driving Permit for Vehicles of Special Nature: 2 years
  • Other types of permits: 1 year.
What you will get

Electronic Special Driving Permit.

Terms and conditions

For the Safari Driving Permit

  • The residents must be sponsored by a tourism company.
  • The customer must be 21 years old and above.
  • The customer must have held a UAE valid driving licence for at least 2 years.
  • The customer must have valid eye test results.
  • The customer must pass the training program for tourist guide by Dubai Economy and Tourism.

For the Occupational Driving Permit

  • The customer must be medically fit (has valid medical test results from one of the accredited hospitals).

For the Tram Driving Permit

  • The customer must not be younger than 25 years old.
  • The customer must have held a valid UAE driving licence for at least 5 years.
  • The customer must pass the tram driving training program designed according to the Competency Management System under direct supervision of the contractor, or owner or operator.
  • The customer must be medically fit (has valid medical test results from one of the accredited hospitals).

For the Driving Permit for Vehicles of Special Nature

  • The customer must pass the traffic signs test and the practical test.
  • The customer cannot use the permit outside of the site.
  • The customer must have a valid permit for a training and inspection site related to works of special nature.
  • The customer must have valid eye test results.
FAQs
  • Question 1: What are the details pertaining to driving violations in the desert?

Answer 1: For details about driving violations in the desert without a permit, the customer is requested to check with Dubai Economy and Tourism or Dubai Police (Department of Tourism Security).

  • Question 2: Does the light bus driver need to apply for the occupational permit?

Answer 2: Heavy vehicles and heavy bus drivers need to apply for this permit, but not light bus drivers.

  • Question 3: If the light vehicle driver is under the company sponsorship, does he need to apply for the occupational permit?

Answer 3: No, only drivers under personal sponsorship need to apply for this permit.

  • Question 4: How can the company renew the occupational permits for its drivers?

Answer 4: Currently there's no online renewal. The driver's permit will be automatically renewed during the medical test in the hospital.

  • Question 5: Can the customer who holds a driving licence from another emirate apply for an occupational driving permit?

Answer 5: Yes, the occupational driving permit is mandatory for drivers as per UAE Federal Traffic Law. The company must add the drivers and apply for the service.

  • Question 6: If the customer has a special driving permit, can he use it to drive for more than one company?

Answer 6: No. According to RTA rules, the customer who has a special driving permit can only drive for the company under which he's registered.

  • Question 7: Do citizens need to obtain the tour guide certificate in order to get the safari permit?

Answer 7: No, the tour guide certificate isn't required for citizens.

  • Question 8: What’s the validity of the medical test issued by the accredited hospital?

Answer 8: The medical test validity is 6 months. If it’s expired, the customer needs to do it again.

  • Question 9: Does the customer need to have a driving permit to drive a forklift within a construction site, or is the driving permit for vehicles of special nature sufficient?

Answer 9: The driving permit for vehicles of special nature is sufficient to drive a forklift within a construction site.

  • Question 10: Is the driving permit for vehicles of special nature sufficient to drive the forklift outside the construction site?

Answer 10: No, the customer needs to have the light equipment driving licence to drive forklifts outside the construction site.

  • Question 11: When did the Special Driving Permit become mandatory?

Answer 11: In 2009 with the issuance of the Minister of Interior Resolution No (776) of 2009 amending Certain Provisions of Executive Regulations of Federal Law No. (21) of 1995 on Traffic, Article 2.

  • Question 12: Does the law cover drivers from other emirates?

Answer 12: The law covers all occupational drivers working in the emirate of Dubai. Drivers working in other emirates must check with the relevant licensing authorities.

  • Question 13: Is it necessary to obtain a permit in case the customer is passing through the emirate of Dubai?

Answer 13: Professional drivers in the emirate of Dubai who meet the requirements must obtain a professional driving permit, which qualifies them to practice the profession of driving vehicles or buses according to the driving licence category. This isn't related to entering, passing through, and exiting the Emirate, which requires permits from other parties.

  • Question 14: Can the customer renew the Safari Driving Permit if the trade licence is expired?

Answer 14: No, the trade licence should be valid.

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