Getting a driving license in Dubai can prove to be a cumbersome task. The whole process entails different steps and stages, which every applicant needs to complete in order to get through. Furthermore, there are some prerequisites and requirements that one must meet before applying for a permit.

In this in-depth guide, we have covered every detail related to Dubai driving license and what steps an individual is required to take to obtain one. Read on to know more:

Eligibility and Prerequisites

Any resident of the Emirate can apply for a Dubai driving license provided they are:

• Medically fit
• Over the legal age

The legal age for obtaining a driving license in Dubai depends on the type of vehicle for which the candidate has applied for the license.

These are the details for minimum age requirements:

• For vehicles for people who have special needs: 17 years
• For motorcycle: 17 years
• For cars: 18 years
• For light vehicles: 18 years
• For tractors and heavy vehicles: 20 years
• For buses: 21 years

Anyone belonging to the age group of 18 to 21 years is eligible to obtain a probationary license.

Documents Requirement

Listed below are important documents that one needs to present when applying for a Dubai driving license:

For Emiratis:

• Original Emirates ID of the applicant.

For Expats:

•  Original Emirates ID of the applicant and its copy
• A copy of the visa page of the applicant’s passport
• At least 8 passport size photos of the applicant
• Applicant’s eye test results.

The applicant may also be required to present a NOC (no objection letter) from their sponsor in some cases.

Driving License Fees

There is no fixed figure when it comes to Dubai driving license fees. It depends on numerous factors including the country you belong to and attempts you take to clear the test.

If you belong to any of the countries falling in the exempted list and already hold its driving license, you won’t have to go through the extensive procedure of obtaining a new one in Dubai. It can be exchanged with a Dubai license by paying a service charge which ranges somewhere between AED 100 to 500.

Here is the list of exempted countries:

• GCC Countries
• Germany
• France
• Ireland
• Canada
• Belgium
• Australia
• Austria
• Denmark
• Ireland
• Italy
• New Zealand
• Netherlands
• Japan
• Norway
• Poland
• South Africa
• Romania
• Portugal
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sweden
• Turkey
• UK
• USA
• Switzerland

For those who don’t belong to the list of exempted countries, they will have to bear the total driving license Dubai cost varying between AED 4000 to 7000. The amount can exceed this figure if you repeatedly fail the test.

Step by Step Guide to Obtain a Driving License

Here is a detailed, step by step guide one has to follow to obtain a driving license:

For Expats Belonging to Exempted Countries

Eye Test

The first step is to undergo an eye test for driving license in Dubai. This can be taken in an approved driving school or any optician.

Submit Documents

Along with the documents already mentioned above, the applicant has to submit their original driving license along with its copy.

Deposit Fees

After submitting the documents, the applicant has to deposit the prescribed fees and their application will go under process.

Note: Some applicants may be required to provide verification letters from their consulates.

For Expats Belonging to Non-Exempted Countries

Apply for a License

The first step is to submit a driving license application to the Road and Traffic Authority (RTA). Then, you need to get enrolled in an authorised driving school. Be mindful that rates for driving schools may vary. Therefore, you need to search for a driving school that offers affordable courses and is located in close vicinity.

A candidate who wants to apply for a driving license can get enrolled in any of these five RTA-approved driving schools located in Dubai:

No:	Name	Location	Contact No:
1.	Al Ahli Driving School	Al Quoz	+971-4-341-1500
2.	Belhasa Driving Center	Al Wasl	+971-4-324-3535
3.	Dubai Driving Center	Al Mina	+971-4-345-5855
4.	Emirates Driving Institute	Al Qusais	+971-4-263-1100
5.	Galadari Driving School	Al Qusais	+971-4-267-6166

These schools have multiple branches across the emirate.

Submit Required Documents

Next, submit documents that are required to process the application. The details of the documents required have been listed above.

Receive a Temporary Learner’s Permit

At this stage, you will be eligible to receive your temporary driving license in Dubai or a learner’s permit. After receiving this review, you can start training.

Attend Theory Classes

RTA has made it mandatory for every applicant to attend 8 lectures. They can either attend them in the selected learning centre or opt for E-learning i.e. take online lectures. After attending these lectures, the applicant can start their practical training.

These 8 theory lectures that an applicant must attend are:

• Attitude and Responsibilities of the Driver
• Knowledge of Traffic Rules and Regulations
• Characteristics of Road User
• Driver Condition
• The Driving Environment
• Driving in Freeways, Traffic Violation and Route Planning
• Hazard Perception Training
• Traffic Accident, Case Studies and How to Tackle an Accident

Make sure you have attended all these lectures before starting your practical training or appearing for the test.

Clear the Theory Exam

After attending theory lectures, the next step is to clear the theory exam. It will take place in an RTA authorised driving school. Generally, it’s the same school where the applicant has enrolled in. However, there can be exceptions.

It is recommended for the applicant to have in possession their Emirates ID, 2 passport size photographs and driving file. Furthermore, they will also need to pay a theory test fee before taking the test.

This test is divided into 3 segments and includes 35 questions. Details of these sections are given below:

• Section 1: It contains 17 questions related to numerous traffic situations. The applicant is required to answer at least 11 questions correctly to clear this segment.
• Section 2: It entails 18 questions related to driving license specifics. It is important to get 12 correct answers to pass this segment.
• Section 3: It includes a series of videos that show various conditions. It is basically a Risks Recognition Test that is conducted to analyse the applicant’s views on how to tackle such conditions with minimum risk. The candidate has to take this test on a touch-screen monitor/computer. Usually, the candidate can select between English and Arabic language options. However, those who don’t have proficiency in these languages, they can take an oral test.

Take Practical Classes

Practical training classes make for an integral part of obtaining a Dubai driving license. In this step, RTA-approved instructors conduct practical training sessions that are mandatory for applicants to attend. In practical classes, applicants are taught how to operate a vehicle.

The number of sessions an applicant has to attend depends on their past driving experience. For example, if a candidate has 2 years of driving experience and possesses a license, they are entitled to receive a reduction of the total 5 hours of the training session. Likewise, if they have an experience of 10 years, 10 hours are reduced from their training session.

There are some conditions that they have to meet in order to apply for reductions. Their license should be attested by authorities and must be in Arabic or English.

Clear Parking Test

It is a fully automated test featuring detailed parking instructions. It is taken by RTA examiners. Generally, this test is conducted at the smart yard of a driving institute.

A parking test entails the following sections:

• Slope Parking
• Parallel Parking
• Emergency Parking
• Angle Parking at 60 Degrees
• Garage Parking at 90 Degrees

An applicant can take this test multiple times if they fail. However, if their fail count exceeds five, they will have to retake the internal assessment.

For an applicant who has opted for a 20-hour course, they need to complete at least 12 hours before appearing for this test. Similarly, those who are having 20 and 15-hour courses, it is compulsory for them to complete 12 and 10 hours respectively before taking this test. Lastly, for a 10-hour course, the requirement for taking the parking test is a minimum 6 hours.

Highway and Night Training

Getting highway and night training is the final step before the candidate has to appear for the road test. For female applicants, night training is exempted and they only have to undergo training for highway driving.

Appear for the Road Test

It is the last step to get a driving license. After clearing the road test and assessment, applicants can have their driving license right on the spot. However, it is the most challenging step; thus, they need to be well-prepared and display their best skills.

This test lasts for 10 to 12 minutes. When appearing for the road test, the applicant must have in their possession their emirates ID and driving file along with 2 passport size photographs. Furthermore, they should deposit the fee for this test. Other than that, they need to have cleared all their previous tests, attended all the required lectures, and completed the training.

In the case the applicant fails this test, they will have to take 7 additional classes. Once they have attended them, a new test date will be allotted. For those who have cleared it, they will receive an approval paper from the RTA examiner. They are then required to follow these steps:

• Submit the approval paper to Pass Counter
• Collect the driving file and submit it to Control Counter along with license fee
•  Proceed to the photo area

After the photo is taken, the applicant will be given their driving license.

Important Questions Related to Dubai Driving License

How to Renew a Driving License in Dubai?

For those wondering how to renew driving license in Dubai, they will find the complete information in this section.

Dubai driving license comes with an expiration period. It is important to get it renewed once it has expired. If you haven’t been able to do so, you will have to pay a fine.

To get their license renewed, the applicant has to visit any of the approved optical shops, Dubai driving institutes or RTA’s mall outlets. They can also apply for renewal digitally i.e. by visiting www.rta.ae or downloading its app.

Documents required for renewal are:

• Original Emirates ID
• Eye test results
• Proof of fees deposit

Non-UAE residents also have to submit the following documents along with the ones mentioned above:

• Passport copy showing valid visa page
• Official authorisation. It should be stamped by the UAE embassy

How to Get an International Driving License in Dubai?

Any person who has obtained their driving license in Dubai  becomes eligible to apply for the International Driving License. For this, they have to contact the Automobile and Training Club of UAE, also known as ATCUAE as all the procedures related to International Driving License in Dubai are dealt by this organisation.

How to Avoid Getting Dubai Police Fines?

The Dubai police is very strict when it comes to traffic violations. Therefore, the only way to avoid getting a big ticket is to follow all the traffic rules strictly. For this, you need to develop a complete understanding of all violations.

What are important tips that can help to pass the test?

These are some of the most effective tips that have proven to be of great help for candidates in clearing their tests:

• Be very attentive during the lectures. It is the only way to clear the theory exam.
• Be confident. It’s natural to feel nervous or anxious during the test but try to conceal it with your confidence.
• Be appropriately dressed when appearing for the road and assessment test. You need to make the best impression on the examiner.
• When taking the road test, wear your seat belt and adjust mirrors before driving. Furthermore, check the gear and handbrake. Also, maintaining a modest speed is highly recommended.
• Don’t argue with the examiner. It can dim your chances of clearing the test.

This concludes this all-inclusive guide to get a Dubai driving license. For more information, keep visiting this blog. If there is still any ambiguity, you can leave a comment or get in touch with us using our contact details.