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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.

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

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

For exchanging Singapore Driving license:

  1. 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:

  1. Diplomatic passport + copy
  2. Original driving license + copy
  3. Eye test certified by the DHA (The validity of the eye test is 3 years from the date of issuance)
  4. Letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affaires valid for at least 6 months from the date of submission
  5. 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:

  1. Knowledge test
  2. 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

Countries authorized to replace their driving licenses:

First: Driving licenses issued from GCC countries (KSA, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait). License holders must be citizens of the same country.

Second: Driving licenses issued from Lithuania, Portugal, Hungary, Bulgaria, Latvia, Serbia, Luxembourg, Iceland, Slovakia, Cyprus, Hongkong, China, and Singapore. License holders must be citizens of the same country and holders of a valid Dubai residence visa.

Third: Driving licenses issued from Romania, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, Finland, Spain, The Netherlands, Greece, Sweden, Belgium, Ireland, Turkey, Denmark, Austria, France, Great Britain, Norway, The USA, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa . License holders must have a valid Dubai residence visa.

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

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

Average processing time

1 visit to the service centres.

Ways to apply

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
  • The eye test of the customer must comply with the vehicle category
  • Dual passport holders cannot replace their driving license
  • Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) withdraws the customer's original license if it is issued in a GCC country.

FAQs

  • Question 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 whether he is on visit visa or not.

  • 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 listed countries?

Answer 6: The customer cannot replace it, and he should refer to the driving institutes to open an 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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