DUBAI CLASSIFIEDS

Obtainting a Drivers License

Requirements of Obtaining a Driving License

To obtain a driving license in the UAE, you need to be a resident of country, with a residence visa issued in any of the emirates. However, if you are a resident of an emirate but have a visa issued in another, then you need to obtain a transferal form allowing you to obtain your driver's license from the former. The minimum age for obtaining a drivers license is 18 years. An International Driving License is valid for use ONLY up to the date on which you obtain your Residence Visa, after which you will need to apply for a UAE license.

Transferring An International License

Individuals who have driving licenses from any of the GCC countries or any of the countries mentioned below, can transfer to a UAE driver's license without having to take driving lessons or tests. It is only important to transfer to a UAE driving license if you are planning to reside in the the UAE.

Drivers license holders from the following countries can transfer their licenses without having to take a driving test:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, United States, United Kindom

Those who want to transfer their license must be at least 18 years old, have a valid driver's license, have a residence visa in the UAE, and fill in the driver's license form with one passport size photograph, original passport and one photocopy, original driver's license and one photocopy, eye test report, and Dhs. 100. For none GCC license, it is also required to obtain a letter from the Embassy or Consulate from which the driver's license was issued, confirming that the driver's license is valid. If the driver's license is not in English or Arabic, it is also required to have the license translated at the Consulate or Embassy.

Obtaining a UAE Driver's Permit

Before you decide to get a driver's permit, you should first decide which driving institute you wish to take driving lessons with. Driving institutes in the UAE can be grouped into two types, which are described below.

Type A - These driving institutes are large institutes. Initially a driving student needs to sign up with the driving institute and pay for the number of classes he/she will take, before beginning training. The student will also have scheduled lesson timings that has to be followed, and if a student misses a certain number of classes, then the classes will be cancelled without a refund. Most of these institutes have a typing office and eye test facilities, which will facilitate obtaining your driver's permit. Students are also able to take road tests normally taken at the Traffic Department, inside the institute.

Type B - These smaller driving institutes are the most common in the UAE. The student can request lessons from the driving institute's instructor whenever he/she has available time. The instructor will come to the driving student's residence in order for him/her to take driving lessons.

So if you chosen to undergo driving classes with a Type B driving institute, then it is very important to read through the following information. It is no longer possible to obtain the driving licence application form from the Police Traffic Departments, so you will need to pick one up from any driving institute near you. After obtaining the application form, you will then need to gather together 4 passport size photographs (4cm x 6cm), your original passport (which is only used for inspection) and a photocopy of it (main and visa pages), 'No Objection Letter' from your sponsor (indicating that they don't object that you apply for a driver's license), and either a photocopy of your sponsor's passport or your company's trade license. When obtaining the 'No Objection Letter' from your sponsor, you should have him/her sign and stamp in the required place on the application form. Then take the application form and the other items down to any typing office in the UAE and have them fill out the form in Arabic using a typewriter, as the Traffic Department will not accept applications written by hand. The filled form should then be taken to any UAE government hospital, or any private hospital, clinic, or optical centre in the UAE for an eye examination. The eye examiner will fill out the necessary place on the back of the form and stamp it. The eye exam/test should cost around Dhs. 25. Lastly, you can submit your application form and other items to the driving institute, so that they can take them down to the Traffic Department for the issuing of the permit. A fee of Dhs. 100 should be submitted with the filled application form. The driving permit is valid for one year and will cost Dhs. 40 for it to be renewed.

Taking Driving Lessons

Students can decide whether they wish to take driving classes using a manual or automatic vehicle. The cost for driving lessons will differ from institute to institute but normally it costs Dhs. 30 per class for manual lessons and Dhs. 35 per class for automatic lessons. Driving classes last for a duration of 40 to 45 minutes. The number of lessons required by a student will depend on the student's experience with a car, but students who have no experience will need around 40 to 50 classes, while students with some experience may need 10 to 20 classes. Driving institutes working hours are between 8:30AM and 1:30PM and again from 3:00PM to 5:30PM.

Obtaining the License

On successful completion of driving tests, it will cost Dhs.100 to issue a driver's license. The driver's license will have a digital photograph on it. Individuals under the age of 21 will be issued a driving license that needs to be renewed yearly, while individuals over 21 will be issued driving licenses that last for 10 years.

Getting a driving license in Dubai

Driving Licenses can be obtained by adult citizens and residents of UAE after learning driving from a certified driving school in Dubai. It is extremely important to have an updated driving license, failing which your insurance will be invalid, in the unfortunate event of an accident, added to the fact that you will be breaking the law and will have to face severe penalties.

Criteria for driving license

If you have never driven before or have a driving license that is not on the approved list of 36 countries, (See the list here) then you must go to a certified driving school, who will train you, so that you can pass the Dubai Traffic Police Driving Test and thus obtain your driving license. (If you are 18-21 year of age, you can apply for a probationary license). A reputed driving school will do most of the procedures for you, including internal tests.

Important Updates

Zero-tolerance on drinking and driving: Do keep in mind that Dubai has a zero-tolerance policy on drinking and driving. Plainclothesmen travel about in unmarked vehicles and can legally stop you at any time to check.  

Of particular Interest: Update 6th March, 2007: Safer driver, a new private service introduced in December 2006, can be called on 050-8057648. Mainly available from major hotels, Safer driver, can arrange to drive you and your car home for a small fee ranging from AED 80 to 120.

Some smaller schools that do not meet the quality criteria will be closed in 2007 by RTA. See press report. The only 5 authorized driving schools are:

1. Belhasa Driving School - 04-3440276
2. Dubai Driving Centre- 04-3455855
3. Emirates Driving Institute-04-2631100
4. Galadari Driving School-04-2676166
5. Al Ahli Driving School-04-2722595

November, 2006 update: A minimum of 40 lessons will have to be taken, as per the new RTA instruction. In addition, people who fail their test will have to wait a minimum of one month, before their next test date. See press report.

Manual/Automatic or Male/Female Instructor

You also have a choice of manual or automatic, while females are normally given female instructors. If a woman would like to have a male instructor, she must obtain a No Objection (NoC) letter from both her sponsor and the traffic police.

Fees & Documents Required for Driving School

Passport for residents(original & copy), residence permit copy, NOC from employer, 8 photos, & training fees. This ranges from AED 1,500 onwards depending on the number of classes you need. Most schools have a package deal, while smaller schools or private instructors charge by the hour.

Steps

1. Get an eye test done. Reputed driving schools will do the eye-test at their centres. If not, this can be done at any hospital, clinic or optician. Give them 2 passport-sized photos and mention that it is for a driving license. Most opticians will not charge for the test, while there may be a small fee for others.
2. The school will handle all paper-work with the Dubai Police, who may even have a counter at the school.
3. Receive your temporary driving license, which you must carry in your training car.
4. Begin your lessons.
5. Once you have passed all internal tests like garage and parking, your school will first apply for your signal test (practice 1 here, practice 2 here) followed by the road test.

Signal Test

On the date assigned by your school, go with your passport, driving file+ 2 photos to Dubai Traffic Police, Driving License Section in Al Ghusais. Fill up application form & submit AED 35 for signal test. When your name is called out, go to the computer booth and identify the traffic signals. (In case you are not computer literate, you can opt for the manual test). Collect the pass print-out with your road test date (if you fail, pay the test-fee & you will be given another new test time and date) and submit to your driving school.

Road Test

On the date assigned, go with your passport, driving file+ 2 photos to Dubai Traffic Police, Driving License Section in Al Ghusais. Fill up application form & submit AED 35 for road test. When your name is called out, go along with the other three candidates and the inspector to the designated car. You will be given just a few minutes to demonstrate your driving and anticipatory skills.

If you pass, collect the pass paper from your inspector and go to the Pass Counter. Submit along with suitable ID & AED 100. Collect your test file and submit to Control Counter. After processing, pay required fee and proceed to photo area. When your name is called out, have your photo taken. Congratulations. In a few minutes, you will receive your DL and be eligible to drive in Dubai and the UAE. Dubai eGovernment recommends that you buckle up your seatbelt and drive safely at all times.