Driving License Rules and Renewals

Driving license can be applied through any of the RTA approved Driving Institutes/Centers in Dubai. To apply for Driving License the following documents are required:  

+ Driving License New/Renewal fee at RTA is Dh320. Can be paid through Credit/Debit Card or Cash.

Documents required for New Driving License Application:

+ Original passport with valid visa + photo copy
+ Filled application
+ No Objection Letter from sponsor with company seal and signature. For dependent sponsored visa holders, NOC from husband/father/mother is enough.
+ 4 photographs
+ Applicant’s age should not be less than 18 years
+ Normal applicants should appear for 40 practical classes and 4 theoretical classes.

+ GCC valid driving license holders can appear for road test directly along with the above mentioned documents.

+ If the applicant holds valid driving license from his home country, he needs to appear for 20 classes only, if the license is attested from the concerned Consulate.

The process of acquiring a driving licence:

+ Open an E-Traffic File and get a copy of the Light Motor Vehicle Handbook through one of the driving schools

+ Apply and get a learning permit

+ Begin theory classes

+ Book for theory test

+ Pass the theory test

+ Attend the required number of practical classes

+ Go through internal Smart Yard Assessment

+ Attempt RTA Smart Yard Test

+ Internal On-road Assessment

+ Book for practical test

+ Attend freeway/highway driving

+ Pass the practical driving test

+ Keep learning to drive and driving to learn
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+ Average time taken – 3 months

+ Average test attempts – 3 trials

+ Average age group – 27 to 31 years

+ Minimum learning hours – 20

Steps for learners:

1. Register for a driving licence course in one of the authorised driving schools by opening your RTA file. Students can opt to register for either automatic or manual gear transmission for their car driving licence. However, automatic licence holders are not allowed to drive a manual gear vehicle.

Documents required: Passport (original and copy) with residence stamp, No-Objection Certificate from employer and eight photos.

Eye test: You need to get an eye test done either with an optician or at your driving school. The receipt of the test must be submitted at your driving school.

2. Theory Test: The training course begins with theory lectures and it is mandatory to take all the lectures for 8 hours before starting practical training classes.

(i) The theory test is carried out at the five authorised driving schools.

(ii) Don’t forget to carry a relevant ID, driving file, two photos and theory test fee of Dh200.

(ii) A total of 35 questions on road signals, hazards and guidelines on safe-driving will be asked in either English, Arabic or Urdu, with more languages to be added later. Candidates who cannot read the touch-screen or are not computer literate can take the examination orally.

(iii) The first segment with 17 questions focuses on general traffic situations, and the candidate will need to answer a minimum of 11 correct to pass.

(iv) The second segment has 18 questions related to the specific driving licence the candidate requires and a minimum of 12 correct answers are required to be eligible for the road test.

(v) From July 2015, a new segment was added to the Theory test. Called Risks Recognition Test, the test contains a few videos that depicts specific environmental conditions and asks the driver how he/she can cope with them.

3. There is a pre-evaluation test for students who have signed up for 30 and 20 classes to evaluate their driving experience.

4. After passing the theory test and pre-evaluation test (if required), students can begin their practical training.

(i) Students who do not possess any driving licence (from any country) have to register for 40 classes.

(ii) Students possessing their country’s licence which is 2-5 years old have to take 30 classes.

(iii) Students possessing their country’s licence which is more than 5 years old have to take 20 classes.

5. After your practical training classes, your course-in charge will advise you to book your RTA parking test and assessment test.

6. After clearing your assessment test, you will complete your highway training before going for the final road test.

7. Road Test: On the date assigned, go with your passport, driving file, two photos to the RTA Licence Section as advised by your driving school. Fill up an application form and submit fees (around Dh200 for the road test). When your name is called out, go along with the other three candidates and the RTA inspector to the designated car. You will be given just a few minutes to demonstrate your driving skills.

If you fail, you will have to register with your driving school for at least seven more classes and get a new road test date.

If you pass, collect the approval paper from your inspector and go to the Pass Counter. Submit a suitable ID and Dh100. Collect your test file and submit to the Control Counter. After processing, pay the required fee. In a few minutes, you will receive your DL and be eligible to drive in Dubai and the UAE. Congratulations!

Other caveats

1. Refresher Course: If you already have a valid UAE driving licence and only need practice, you can apply for this course. It includes 8 practical training classes. You can take 4 minimum classes also.

2. Simulator Training: All students registered for 40 classes will have to attend 1 session of Simulator prior to starting their training classes.

3. Solo Training: This is mandatory for 40 classes’ course and is optional for 30 and 20 classes’ course.

4. People who have a valid UAE driving licence from any emirate other than Dubai need to get their driving file transferred from that emirate to Dubai RTA before opening a file for any other vehicle category.

6. People who possess a valid GCC (Bahrain, Kuwait Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia) licence have to take two theory lectures at the beginning of the course. Then they have to take the RTA Knowledge test, parking test and the road test.

7. People who have any traffic fine in their name will not be able to open a file until the fine is cleared.

8. People who have opened any driving file before with other institute should transfer their file.

Tips for theory test

1. You should read the RTA handbook thoroughly

2. Take mock theory tests.

3. Practice on the RTA mobile app

Resources:

Traffic Sign Test: Try to memorise the common road signs and take a traffic sign test online here.

Tips for road test

1. Dress like a CEO: On your test day, dress up like you’re some big shot executive. Not only would it give a good impression to your examiner, but he/she might feel that you’re a busy person and shouldn’t spend a lot of time trying to get a licence.

2. Do not wear sunglasses: It’s strongly recommended that you avoid wearing sunglasses. The examiner would want to see your eye movements while driving and changing lanes.

3. Just obey: Do what your examiner says, don’t argue or ask questions.

4. Remember the first few steps: Adjust your seat, mirrors and fasten your seat belt. Don’t forget! Make sure you always tell other people sitting in your car to fasten their seat belts as well.

5. Check Handbrake: You must check the handbrake and make sure your vehicle is in the correct gear before you start.

6. Maintain a good speed: Don’t drive too slow or too fast. Drive confidently within the speed limit.

7. Entering the main road: When entering the road, wait at the “Stop” sign for at least 3 seconds, even if the lane is clear. If you don’t, then you FAIL the test. It is a considered as a significant error.

8. Keep a safe distance: Keep two seconds between you and the car in front of you.

9. Changing lane: This is one of the most crucial things that examiners like to check. When asked to change lane, check both the rear view and side mirrors. When all’s clear, don’t miss to check the blind spot, then turn on the indicator. Speed up your vehicle, stay within the speed limit, and then slow down again after changing the lane.

10. T-Junction: When turning onto a main road from a secondary road at a T-junction, stop before the “STOP” line for at least 3 seconds, even if the road is clear. Enter safely at a relaxed pace, then speed up gradually to stay within the speed limit.

11. Hard Brakes: Don’t apply hard brakes. Drive at a comfortable pace and start slowing down when you spot a vehicle or traffic signal nearby. If you apply hard brakes and sway, your examiner would think you don’t have control of your car.

12. Roundabouts: Never enter a roundabout, unless the road is clear from the left side. Remember, you always have to give RIGHT indicator while exiting.

13. Parking: If the examiner asks you to park your car at the side, do not park in front of any entrance, gate or at a bus stop.

You can drive in UAE with a licence from these 36 countries

Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States. (Please call RTA on 8009090 for any changes to this list)

Driving licence holders of some countries in the above list will require translations or consulate letters. These countries include:

Canada: A letter from the Canadian Consulate in Dubai to verify that the licence is genuine is required

Driving licence holders from Greece, Cyprus, Poland, Turkey, Japan and South Korea will require a translation of their driving licence from their respective consulates.

Driving License Validity (new rule from 01/07/2017)
The validity of new driving license in the country has been set to two years for citizens, GCC nationals and other nationalities aged 21 years and above.

Licence renewal validity shall be 10 years for UAE citizens and GCC nationals and five for non-citizens from other nationalities.

For those aged less than 21 years, be it citizens, GCC nationals or other nationalities, the initial validity of the driver license issued, replaced or renewed shall be one year.

Why drivers fail Dubai Road Test?

Fear of failure and nervousness are the main causes of drivers not passing the road test, a senior licensing official at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said.

‘Behaviour of the driver on road is crucial. The examiner will see whether the driver is safe for other road users or whether he is a threat to their safety,’ he added.

However, apart from psychological and behavioural aspects there are major aspects of driving that a driver has to follow to obtain a licence.

There are five major criteria and if a candidate fails to fulfill even one of those, then he is stopped from driving immediately. One of these five is ‘failure to stop at red light, stop sign or stop line’.

‘The most important thing to look for on the road is not how you drive but how you stop, that matters the most. If you fail to stop where you are required then you are gone,’ Surprisingly, failure to stop at signals is among the most common mistakes.

‘This is common among experienced drivers, those who already have a licence from other countries. What they do is they see the road open and they go, because they carry their habits from their prior experience and it is difficult to change old habits,’ he explained.

The other major mistakes are not adhering to traffic signs like entering a no-entry zone or yellow box, lack of vehicle control and failure to ensure the road, lane or roundabout is clear before proceeding.

Apart from control and confidence of the driver, examiners generally look for adherence of rules and there are 16 things among these minor rules that need to be taken care of.

If a candidate takes care of at least 12 of the 16 minor criteria then he will succeed. These are pre-drive checks, mirrors and observation, signals, lane change, overtaking, approach, stop position, judgement, left turn, movement on roundabout and U-turn, right turn, progress and speed, position on road gear use, safety margin, parking in and out.

‘Drivers learn these rules during theory classes and road training, but it is important to implement these rules or adhere to them. Young drivers, who are driving for the first time, learn better and adhere to rules better, that’s why they have a better pass rate,’ he said.

To pass, the driver has to clear at least 12 of these 16 steps apart from five major points that need to be adhered to.

‘If a person drives well throughout his test but commits one major mistake at the end of the test then he will fail,’ he stated.