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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)
  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. Emirates ID
  5. Letter from the following countries' embassies or consulates: Greece, Japan, South Korea and Quebec - Canada
  6. Legal translation of the licenses from the below countries :Portugal, Luxumbourg, Slovakia, Bulgaria and People's Republic of China

For exchanging Singapore Driving license:

  1. Theory 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. Original driving license + copy
  2. Diplomatic passport + 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. RTA accepts Diplomatic Cards for Embassies, Consulates and International Organisations as an official document instead of the Emirates ID

GCC nationalities with driving license from exception countries (mentioned in the chart below)

  1. Emirates ID
  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.

Customer having a license from exception countries other than GCC countries and his nationality is not from the listed countries:

  1. Theory test
  2. ParkingTest
  3. Driving test

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

Exception countries:

GCC countries Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Qatar
Oman
Bahrain
Kuwait
European Countries Germany
Italy
Switzerland
Poland
Slovakia
Finland
Bulgaria
Spain

Netherlands

Greece
Sweden
Belgium
Ireland
Turkey
Denmark
Portugal
Austria
France
United Kingdom
Norway
Romania

Luxumburg

Latvia

Serbia

Lithuania

North American Countries United States of America
Canada
East Asian Countries japan
Australia
Singapore
People's Republic of China
South Korea
New Zealand
Hong Kong
South Africa

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 UAE Nationals and Dubai Citizens who are above the age of 21
  • 1 year for citizens 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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