Whether you’re a seasoned motorist eager to get back in the driving seat, or are hoping to pass your test here in Abu Dhabi, there are a few things to consider.
Some international licences can be transferred after a simple eye test, but some require further steps.
To get an Abu Dhabi licence, you must have a residency visa registered to Abu Dhabi, and you must be over 18 years old.
Once you can tick these boxes, there are different ways to go about obtaining your driving licence. These vary depending on the following:
In Abu Dhabi and other emirates in the UAE, getting your Abu Dhabi driving license means you have to complete several tests in order to become road-worthy. Roughly, it’s all about making an appearance and passing the driving theory test before moving on to the practical exam.
1. You have an international licence
The first thing you need to know is that if you’re a resident you can’t hit the roads with an international licence – you must have an Abu Dhabi version. However, this is a simple process as your international licence can be easily transferred once you’re ready.To get your Abu Dhabi licence, you must visit the Abu Dhabi Drivers’ Licence Department (near Mushrif Mall) with all of the following documents:
- Answered June 19, 2018 Author has 3.9K answers and 5.8M answer views You need a NOC from your employer to get a driving license in Abu Dhabi because you are not from the exempted category. A Labor Supervisor needs a NOC to open a file to get a driving license in Abu Dhabi.
- Ministry of Interior - UAE, MOI Abu Dhabi, MOI, United Arab Emirates, Ministry of Interior - United Arab Emirates, MOI Dubai.
• A passport photo.
• Original and one copy of your passport.
• Emirates ID.
• Original and one copy of your foreign driving licence.
• One copy of your valid Abu Dhabi residency visa.
• A letter of no objection from your current employer or your visa sponsor.
• An Arabic translation of your existing licence (which can be obtained at any translation outlet).
When you visit the licencing centre, you will be sent to take an eye test in a nearby building. If that’s successful you’ll pay Dhs100 before being sent to collect your Abu Dhabi licence. The whole process (including eye test and translation fees) will cost around Dhs800.
Abu Dhabi Drivers’ Licence Department, 2nd and Al Dhafra Street, Al Mushrif, opposite Mushrif Mall (600 577 7777).
2. You have a licence from home
The Abu Dhabi traffic department does recognise some foreign licences, which means you’ll have to go through a process similar to transferring an international licence. For this to be the case you must own a current licence issued by one of the following countries:
• GCC countries
• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Canada
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Netherlands
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• New Zealand
• Norway
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Turkey
• UK
• USA
If your country is not recognised, you’ll need to follow the ‘No licence at all’ procedure below, as you will have to participate in the theoretical and practical testing. If the licence is in this list then it will need to be translated into Arabic, and you will need the same paperwork as for the international licences (above) to take to the Abu Dhabi Drivers License Department.
3. You have no licence at all
If you’re starting from square one, you will need to obtain a learning permit before you can get your motoring career into first gear. To do this, you need will first need to sit a theory test.
The first step is to go to Emirates Driving Company (EDC) and open a driving file.
This will enable you to participate in theoretical courses and the test itself.
EDC administers courses on the the eight units you need to pass before you can get your driving licence.
The eight lessons are:
Lesson one: Traffic rules, road markings and road signs.
Lesson two: Inside city limits.
Lesson three: Outside city limits.
Lesson four: Driving under difficult conditions.
Lesson five: Dealing with critical situations.
Lesson six: Driving behaviour and road manners.
Lesson seven: Vehicle knowledge.
Lesson eight: Safety.
Once the classes are complete – each over a two-hour period – trainees sit a theoretical test so they can apply for a learning permit. After the learning permit is obtained, drivers can start putting their theory into practice by taking lessons.
Where To Get International Drivers License In Abu Dhabi
The number of lessons is dependent on the driver’s capability but is generally 30 hours for complete beginners, 20 hours for intermediate learners or ten hours for more advanced driving students.
The lessons are conducted in a contained environment within a driving rink. Once you are ready to take the practical test, administered by the Emirates Driving Company, your instructor will give you a “certificate of readiness”, which you must present to the Emirates Driving Company before you can book your practical test.
Once you pass your practical driving test on the roads you’ll get a certificate, then you can take that to the Abu Dhabi Drivers’ Licence Department in Mushrif as proof of your completion.
Once there, you’ll be able to get your licence as described on on the previous pages.
International Driving Permit (IDP) is to be obtained by all UAE travelers who wish to drive their vehicle in a foreign country as per the Automobile and Touring Club of UAE more commonly known as ATCUAE.
In 1949 the IDP's were made to make sure that no difficulties are faced by motorists who would be traveling in a country which is outside of UAE owing to the differences in the driver's license requirements. Domestic driving licenses are allowed in various countries across the globe but problems arise when people are traveling abroad and that is due to the one bug issue of language.About International Driving Permit Dubai, UAE
If you are planning a summer vacation trip to the gulf and want to spend some time in either in Oman, Qatar or Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, now is the time. Each of these countries has various opportunities for you and your family to have fun over the vacation. However, it is to be made sure that before stepping into any of these countries, your IDP should be made beforehand. The IDP is a requirement set by the United Nations making it a very much legal document or requirement. It is through the IDP that you do not need to take many other tests and it is also an internationally recognized permit for you which is actually making traveling very easy. The International Driving Permit is valid for one year. It is also a proof of the fact that you belong to a certain country. Accidents can happen anywhere and the IDP can actually help you in legal coverage in the case of one. It can also serve the purpose of your legal identification (secondary or if your primary is lost). The IDP is multi-lingual and has recognition all across the world. There are various functions that are served by IDP and one of the primary ones is to allow law enforcement and other authorities in other countries so that your license can be read in the language they understand. If you want to know more details on the IDP, download the original brochure.
The best part about IDP application is that it is very user-friendly and simple to fill out. Get a grab on your official identification from an Emirates ID authority distributor, a copy of your valid UAE driving license and two Passport size pictures. In order to obtain the international Driving Permit, several portals can be used.
Automobile and Touring Club of UAE offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Sharjah, RAK, Ajman, Fujairah, Um Al Quwain and the
- Western Region.
- RTA Offices.
- Emirates Post Offices.
- DNATA Office in Sheikh Zayed Road.
- Our affiliate members.
Various Advantages of International Driving License Dubai
It proves that the driver and user of this IDP are someone who drives legally back home. The IDP os multilingual and is available in 10 languages from various United Nations required languages which are as follows: English, French, Spanish, Russian and Chinese, as well as German, Arabic, Italian, the Scandinavian languages, and Portuguese. On vacation, there are chances of losing on your important identification documents and this IDP can help serve as one without any kind of language barriers between the police and the drivers.
International driving permit in Dubai can be applied for one year and anyone who is a resident of the UAE can apply for it. No nationality requirements are supposed to be there. The only one is that the driver needs to have a valid Dubai Driving License.
Documents Required For Dubai International Driving License:
The following documents are required to get an International Driving License Dubai.
- International Driving Permit (IDP) Form
- A copy of Valid Passport
- Valid Residency
- Emirates ID
- A copy of UAE-issued Valid Driving License
- 2 x Photos (passport photos)
Conditions:
The applicant should be a holder of a valid United Arab Emirates (UAE) driving license.
Fees:
AED150 (may have changed)
Obtain your International Driving Permit Dubai From:
- Online via our IDP portal with delivery service
- Automobile and Touring Club of UAE offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Sharjah, RAK, Ajman, Fujairah, Um Al Quwain and the Western Region
- RTA Offices
- Emirates Post Offices
- Dnata Office in Sheikh Zayed Road
- Our affiliate members
Frequently Asked Question about Dubai International Driving License
01. Are you required to have an IDP?
IDP has international recognition and basically is a permit to drive a vehicle for a year.
02. What countries is an IDP required for?
| A-C | Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Aguila, Angola, Antigua, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia , Bosnia & Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde Islands, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Congo Dem Rep., Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Curacao, Cyprus, Czech Republic |
| D-F | Denmark, Dijibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France & French Overseas Depts., French Polynesia |
| G-I | Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Guatemala, Guernsey, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gabon, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy |
| J-L | Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea (Rep.), Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg |
| M-O | Macao, Macedonia (FYROM), Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman |
| P-R | Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal (inc Madeira & the Azores), Qatar, Russia, Romania, Rwanda |
| S-U | San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Kitts & Nevis, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay |
| V-W | Vatican City, Venezuela, Windward Islands, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
03. Duration of IDP's Validity
From the date of issue, it has a validity of one year from that day onwards.
04. Does an IDP cover me for driving in UAE?
No.
05. What is the time duration to issue an IDP?
There are two kinds of application: online and over the counter. Online ones need 5 working days to be delivered to your postal address. Over the counter ones are faster as they are done within half an hour.
How To Make International Driving License In Abu Dhabi
06. Price of IDP?
International Driving License Uk
IDP is worth 150AED and this excludes the charges that the postal service would require to send it to your postal address.
International Driving License Uae
Apply for International Driving License Dubai
Ist MethodApply online International Driving License Dubai | 2nd MethodFill the application form and visit our near office location. |
How To Issue International Driving License In Abu Dhabi Indian Embassy
Source: The official portal of Dubai Government and Automobile & Touring Club (ATCUAE)