How To Get A Dubai Driver’s License

How To Get A Dubai Driver’s License

Learn definitively about how to get a Dubai driver’s license.

Are you planning to visit Dubai or are already in the iconic city packed with things to do and you have to drive yourself around; to touristic places in Dubai, or to work? Dubai offers great transport options — from the Dubai metro, tram, bus to the Dubai taxi — but that notwithstanding, to get to certain destinations in Dubai and because of time (setting off and consequently arriving in time), driving yourself could be indispensable.

But if you must drive yourself in Dubai, how do you make it legal; how do you get a Dubai driving license? This is the purpose of the article as it’s a step-by-step guide on how to get a Dubai driver’s license.

How To Get A Dubai Driver’s License

Car in Dubai 2
Credit: LivinginDubai.org

If you’re on a visit in Dubai, applying for a Dubai or UAE driving license is not the way to go. If you have a valid international driving license you’re good to hit Dubai roads a rented car, a car registered in your name or one owned by your 1st degree relative. Don’t have a valid international driving license? See ATCUAE.

Recommended: If you’ve not got your license, you may want to learn about getting around Dubai on public transport.

Getting A Dubai Driving License For The Dubai Residents

RTA Roads and Transport Authority Dubai
Credit: English.NewsAtFirst.com

Are you an adult resident in Dubai? You’re eligible for a license. But before we get into details, immigrants from select countries are eligible for a transfer of their country-issued driving license with a UAE driving license, in accordance with UAE approved terms & conditions of the driving license transfer.

You’d love this: Get around Dubai on the public bicycle

Dubai Driver’s License Requirements

If you’d be getting a UAE driving license, you’d undergo the following stages, registration, training, testing, and obtaining driving license.

If you’re a Dubai residents, you must meet the following requirements:

  • You should be seventeen years and six months of age or older.
  • You should be medically fit and should join the training & qualification program offered by one of the driving institutes that are approved by the Roads and Transport Authority.
  • You must pass both required tests (the theoretical and practical test).
  • If you were interested in obtaining a commercial driving Permit, you should be subject to Driver’s Medical Test.

Note: For license application, you should be seventeen years and six months of age or older, but to become eligible to obtain the license, you must be completely 18 years old or above.

Driving Training Requirements for PWDs in Dubai

I am a PWD. Any Conditions?

There are, and they are training-related:

  • Whether your disability is mental or physical, you must open a training file according to the recommendations of the pertinent medical report.
  • Based on your disability type mentioned in your medical report, a number of training sessions must be set for you by the driving institute in coordination with the Drivers Affairs Dep’t.

Registering For A Dubai Driving License

If you meet the Dubai driving license requirements, you are consequently eligible to register for a Dubai driver’s license. To obtain a license therefore, you must fulfill the following processes:

  • Attending the training program in one of RTA approved training institutes.
  • Passing the required tests.
  • Paying the fees in order to get a driving license issued.
Dubai Driving Institutes

Below are a list of authorized Dubai driving institutes. These institute do not only teach you how to drive. They can also help you with registration and testing services. As an aside, Registration offices can provide only registration services.

Dubai driving institutes including technical testing centers undergo an assessment (entitled Partners Performance Management System) annually to leverage their caliber competitiveness among them in support of RTA’s strategic Customers First vision.

“Partners Performance Management System” is carried out relying on a number of key elements such as, the scale of professional improvements, working environment, support and services rendered to customers, in addition to measuring the Performance Indicators.

Driving Training Timings:

DaysTimes
Saturday to Thursady08:30 am to 02:30 pm
 15:30 am to 05:30 pm
Fridays07:00 am to 12:00 pm
 02:00 pm to 05:00 pm
Official holidays (affects only private sectors)*07:00 am to 05:00 pm
Night training08:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Ramadan09:30 am to 01:30 pm
 03:00 pm to 05:00 pm
Fitness and Optical test 

You should successfully pass both fitness and optical tests from the approved relevant bodies. Hence, a medical report, to be rendered by a concerned doctor, is a prerequisite; be it by an approved doctor or a medical body authorized by RTA.

The report should state your physical, optical and mental health, to insure your ability to drive safely on public roads. Vision enhancement devices such as contact lenses and glasses or any other related approved devices are permissible “if applicable”.

Optical test should be conducted by one of the authorized optical centers, who shall send the test results electronically to the relevant bodies and institutes.

If you seek to obtain a commercial driving permit, you must clear a specialized medical test as per the UAE Federal Law.

Theoretical Test / Knowledge Test

You must pass the theoretical test, which is required to examine your knowledge and understanding about traffic laws and driving risk perception as well as awareness of safety procedures.

Involved in this stage are:

  • An electronic system linking all driving institutes is provided by RTA to standardize the theoretical test.
  • Availability of the theoretical test in many languages for your convenience.
  • Solution by RTA in case of non-common languages, after assessing the case.
  • Mandatory success with the theory test in order to proceed to the final On-Road test.

Yard Test

You must pass the yard test in order to obtain a Dubai driving license. This test should be cleared prior to the practical test on the road which is supervised by the RTA.

Assessment Test

The assessment test is designed to assess your competency and readiness for the final On-Road test. It is a replica of the final test and is conducted after you pass stage 4 of the practical training.

On Road Driving Test

After passing the theoretical test, you will be assessed practically in accordance with the testing plan set and approved by the Licensing Agency.

Note: A person who fails to pass the practical test will have to undergo additional training sessions, accordance with the approved policy of the Licensing agency.

Conclusion

There you have it, how to obtain a driving license in Dubai. The article is definitive, but if you have any question, visit RTA.ae where you should have every question of yours answered. Dubai Tour Pro‘s primary objective is to guide you, I hope that has been done here today. Kindly share our articles and support us. Thank you and stay guided. Enjoy!

References:
RTA.ae