The Guides

How to get a driving license in Dubai

Key factors to keep in mind for getting a driving license in Dubai

Words by Ankita Bhowmick in The Guides · Dec 18th, 2018

Getting a driving license in Dubai depends on a number of factors that include one's existing license, its validity and his citizenship.

Luxhabitat takes you through the step-by-step process of getting a driving license in Dubai.

For The Beginners

If you want to get a driving license in Dubai and never had one in any other part of the world, the first thing that you are required to do is register with one of the driving institutes, where a minimum of 40 classes has to be attended.

Once you have attended the classes, you will be eligible for the tests. There are two kinds of tests, a preliminary and a final RTA test.

The total cost of obtaining a license approximately is AED 5,500, which includes the classes and the tests. But if you don't manage to pass the tests in the first attempt, you will be required to take re-exam and pay additional fees.

Documents Required

1. Emirates ID (Original and Copy)

2. Passport (Photocopy of personal details and relevant visa page)

3. Passport Size Photographs (8 or more)

4. NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the sponsor

5. Eye Test Results - Can be arranged by the preferred driving school

For those who have a valid driving license from another country can check with the RTA whether they can be transferred to a UAE one.

Transferred License

RTA has listed 32 countries for transferrable licenses in Dubai, that include GCC countries and other cooperative countries. An approx cost of AED 360 is required to be paid for the transfer and the new driving file.

If you have a driving license that is not eligible for a transfer, you can check its validity, on which the number of classes that you will have to take differ. If the existing license from your respective country has been valid for more than five years, then you can go for the tests upon completion of 20 classes rather than 40. If it has been valid for two to five years, the minimum number of classes required to be taken is 30, while if you have a license that has been valid for less than two years, you will have to take a minimum of 40 classes.