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عربي

Home/ RTA Services / Service Details

Applying For A Valid UAE Driving License Using Your Foreign License

This service enables you to apply for issuing a new driving license in Dubai based on exchanging license, and according to the list of authorised states for the replacement of the driving license.

Overview
Eligibility
Documents
Output
Service fees
Validity
Process
Terms & Conditions
FAQs

Disclaimer

Reference to the UAE Cabinet Decision (30) of 2017 on traffic and traffic safety services, the fees of driving licenses and vehicles are changed. For more information please visit https://www.rta.ae/links/lic-updates.pdf or contact RTA call centre on the following number: 8009090.

Eligibility

Individual customers, citizens and residents, can apply for this service.

Required documents

Original driving license of the exception countries + copy
No Objection Certificate (NOC) form the sponsor except for the 66 professions (mentioned in the chart below) and the diplomatic passport holders
Eye test (certified by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). The validity of the eye test is 3 years from the date of issuance
Original Emirates ID.

For exchanging Singapore Driving license:

Knowledge Test is mandatory to convert the driving license in Deira Licensing Department for the duration of 45 minutes. This service is available from Sunday to Thursday between 8 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.

Customer with diplomatic passport:

Diplomatic passport + copy
Original driving license + copy
Eye test certified by the DHA (The validity of the eye test is 3 years from the date of issuance)
Letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affaires valid for at least 6 months from the date of submission
Diplomatic Cards for Embassies, Consulates and International Organisations as an official document instead of the Emirates ID.

Customer having a license from exception countries but his nationality is not from the listed countries:

Knowledge test
Driving test.

Professions that do not require NOC:

Judge	Shipmaster
Prosecutor	Noukhaza
Lawyer	Pharmacist
Consultant	Nurse
Legalist	Military personnel
Doctor/General practitioner	Imam
Doctor	Orator
Surgeon	Daiah
Specialist	Speaker
Advisor	Mufti
Specialist	Marriage official
Expert	Muezzin
Professor	Reciter
Teacher	Historian
Instructor	Journalist
Trainer	Editor
Guide	Director
Lecturer	Producer
Engineer	Commentator
Contractor	Anchor
Investor	Program planner
Owner of land or property	Sports referee
Trader	Sports player
Businessman	Accountant
Free business	Financial analyst/researcher
Owner or partner of a business/establishment	Economic analyst/researcher
Auctioneer	Geologist
Broker	Tour guide
Commercial agent	Auditor
Manager	Computer programmer
Pilot	Writer
Hostess	Storekeeper
Captain	Treasurer

Output

UAE driving license based on exchange.

Service fees

200 AED for opening a file
600 AED for issuing a license
50 AED for handbook manual
+20 AED Knowledge and Innovation fees.

Validity

1 year customers below the age of 21
2 years validity for customers who are above the age of 21.

Average processing time

1 visit to the service centres.

Ways to apply

Service Centres

Process

Through Centres

The customer presents the required documents at the service centre
RTA verifies the driving license authenticity
RTA opens a traffic file for the first-time-applying customer
The customer is required to settle the payment
Once issued and printed, the customer receives the license.

Terms and conditions

The customer must be personally present
Driving license cannot be replaced for holders of duel passports if they were residents of an unauthorized country and it shows on one of their passports
Driving licenses issued from GCC for GCC citizens must be valid upon their replacement. Original licenses are withdrawn from their holders and sent back to their country of issuance
To be able to replace driving licenses issued from Iceland:
- The customer must have a valid permit or residence visa
- The driving license must be permanent and valid
- The customer’s age must be in accordance with the laws of the party required to replace
- The customer must pass the medical test (eye test)
- The customer must present a legalized translation of the license from an accredited legal office if it was not in English
- The license must be withdrawn from the issuing parties.
Exception countries

GCC Countries
License origin	Nationality		License requires translation (yes/no)	The foreign license must be withdrawn (yes/no)	Replaceable categories
Saudi Arabic	All exception countries		No	Yes, from all GCC nationalities	All categories
Kuwait	All exception countries		No	Yes, from all GCC nationalities	All categories
Bahrain	All exception countries		No	Yes, from all GCC nationalities	All categories
Oman	All exception countries		No	Yes, from all GCC nationalities	All categories
Qatar	All exception countries		No	Yes, from all GCC nationalities	All categories
European countries
License origin	Nationality	License requires translation (yes/no)		The foreign license must be withdrawn (yes/no)	Replaceable categories
Lithuania	Nationals only		Yes	Yes	Motorcycle and light vehicle
Portugal	Nationals only		Yes	Yes	Motorcycle and light vehicle
Hungary	Nationals only		Yes	Yes	Motorcycle and light vehicle
Bulgaria	Nationals only		Yes	Yes	Motorcycle and light vehicle
Latvia	Nationals only		Yes	Yes	Motorcycle and light vehicle
Serbia	Nationals only		Yes	Yes	Motorcycle and light vehicle
Luxembourg	Nationals only		Yes	Yes	Motorcycle and light vehicle
Iceland	Nationals only		Yes	Yes	Motorcycle and light vehicle
Cyprus	Nationals only		Yes	Yes	Light vehicle
Slovakia	Nationals only		Yes	Yes	Light vehicle
Romania	All exception countries		No	Yes	All categories
Germany	All exception countries		No	No	All categories
Italy	All exception countries		No	No	All categories
Switzerland	All exception countries		No	No	All categories
Poland	All exception countries		No	No	All categories
Finland	All exception countries		No	No	All categories
Spain	All exception countries		No	No	All categories
Holland	All exception countries		No	No	All categories
Greece	All exception countries		No	No	All categories
Sweden	All exception countries		No	No	All categories
Belgium	All exception countries		No	No	All categories
Ireland	All exception countries		No	No	All categories
Turkey	All exception countries		No	No	All categories
Denmark	All exception countries		No	No	All categories
Austria	All exception countries		No	No	All categories
France	All exception countries		No	No	All categories
Britain	All exception countries		No	No	All categories
Norway	All exception countries		No	No	All categories
Northern American countries
License origin	Nationality		License requires translation (yes/no)	The foreign license must be withdrawn (yes/no)	Replaceable categories
United States of America	All exception countries		No	No	All categories
Canada	All exception countries		No	No	All categories
East Asian countries
License origin	Nationality		License requires translation (yes/no)	The foreign license must be withdrawn (yes/no)	Replaceable categories
Japan	All exception countries		Yes	No	All categories
South Korea	All exception countries		Yes	No	All categories
Hong kong	Nationals only		Yes	No	All categories
People's Republic of China	Nationals only		Yes	No	Light vehicle
Australia	All exception countries		No	No	All categories
New Zealand	All exception countries		No	No	All categories
Singapore	Nationals only		No	No	Motorcycle and light vehicle After passing the knowledge test (signs test)
African countries
License origin	Nationality		License requires translation (yes/no)	The foreign license must be withdrawn (yes/no)	Replaceable categories
South Africa	All exception countries		No	No	All categories

Driving license issued from the below countries cannot be replaced:
- Puerto Rico (USA)
- North Mariana (USA)
- Guam island (USA)
- Liechtenstein island (Switzerland)
- Monaco island (France)
- Jersey island (Britain).

FAQs

zQuestion 1: Can the customer exchange his driving license in Dubai if he has a visa from other emirates and a tenancy agreement in Dubai?

Answer 1: The customer can exchange his driving license even if his visa is from other emirates . He must be living and working in Dubai and the company must have a branch in Dubai.

Question 2: If the customer is from GCC countries and has a driving license, does he need to exchange it or can he use it to drive in Dubai?

Answer 2: A GCC national is allowed to drive with his own driving license as long as he is on a visit trip but if he is working and living in UAE, then he must exchange the driving license.

Question 3: If the customer is on a visit visa with a driving license from GCC countries, but his nationality is not from GCC countries nor from the exception countries, can he drive in Dubai or does he need an international license? What are the vehicles that he can drive using his GCC license?

Answer 3: The customer can drive light vehicles and motorcycles if he has a driving license from the exception or GCC countries if he is on visit visa.

Question 4: The customer is a USA national with an investment visa, and a US driving license, and he comes in and out of the country. Does he have to exchange his driving license in Dubai or can he use his US license in Dubai?

Answer 4: No, the customer is not allowed to drive with the US driving license.

Question 5: The customer has a mission visa, service visa or multiple visa, can he drive in the UAE using a driving license issued in a country which is from the exception countries list? What is the procedure?

Answer 5: No, he cannot if he doesn't have a valid residence visa.

Question 6: What is the procedure if the customer has dual passport and he wants to convert his driving license to Dubai driving license but the visa is stamped on the passport which is not from the exception countries?

Answer 6: The customer cannot replace it, and he should refer to the driving institutes to open a training file.

Question 7: The customer has a UK driving license (exception countries) and he is on a visit visa, can he drive a vehicle registered under KSA plate number in the UAE?

Answer 7: The customer cannot drive even if he is holding a UK driving license and a UK passport. He can only drive it in UAE in case he crosses the border while driving it.

Question 8: What is the procedure if the customer has a driving license from Dubai and he has exchanged it for a GCC license? If the customer wants to come back to Dubai on a residence visa, how can he get the Dubai license back?

Answer 8: For any nationality, if the original driving license was issued in Dubai, the customer can have it back by presenting his valid Emirates ID.

Question 9: Can the customer convert a license from New Mexico?

Answer 9: Yes since it's an American state.

Question 10: Can the customer convert a license from Puerto Rico?

Answer 10: No.

Question 11: Can the customer exchange G1 and G2 Canadian licenses?

Answer 11: No.

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