Getting a driving license
To get a new driving license, citizens and residents must take lessons from a driving school / registered driving institute and pass all tests. Learn about the eligibility criteria and the steps to renew a driving license.
Learning driving in the UAE
To get a new driving license, a citizen or a needs to apply to a driving school / registered driving institute in the related emirate to attend driving training classes and pass all tests (if required). After finishing all classes and passing all tests, the applicant can get a new driving license valid for 2 years for citizens, GCC nationals and other nationalities. Applicants can start the whole process from the authorized driving institutes
Eligibility to drive
Individual customers, citizens and residents, who are of legal age and medically fit, are eligible to get a driving learning permit and apply for new driving license. The minimum age requirement to obtain a driving license depends on the vehicle, for which you are obtaining the license. The minimum age requirement is as follows:
17 years for motorcycles and for vehicles for people with special needs
18 years for cars and light vehicles (17 years from 29-March-2025)
20 years for heavy vehicles and tractors
21 years for buses.
Required documents and procedures
Documents required to open a traffic file include:
- Copy of passport and residence visa page
- Copy and original emirates ID card
- 2 photographs
- Eye test report
- No objection letter from the sponsor (if required by the related traffic department).
Procedures followed to learn car driving includes:
- Opening a traffic file in one of the registered driving centres in the related emirate
- Conducting an eye test at any centre approved by the traffic department
- Completing all required driving classes
- Passing all tests set by the related traffic department
- Obtaining the driving license from the traffic authority.
eServices:
- Apply for a light vehicle driving license - Ministry of Interior
- Request to open a driving license file in Abu Dhabi - TAMM
- Apply for a new driving license - RTA Dubai
- Apply for a new driving license based on exchanging licenses - RTA Dubai
Renewal of driving license
Driving licences are renewable for 10 years for UAE and GCCC citizens and 5 years for residents. Renewal of driving licences is available online in most of the emirates. To renew your driving licence, you must settle all your traffic fines. A fine of 10 AED per month will be levied on customers who delay renewal of the driving licence for more than one month.
Related links
- Renewal of a Light vehicle driving license – Ministry of Interior
- Renewal of a driving license in Abu Dhabi- TAMM
- Traffic services – Abu Dhabi Police
- Renew a driving license – RTA Dubai.
Source: https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/transportation/get-a-driving-licence
