Driving License in Abu Dhabi, UAE

      A valid international driving license is required to hire a car in during your visit. The international driving license is valid for use only up to the date on which you obtain your residence visa, after which you will need to apply for a UAE driving license. To take the advantage of international license, you need to be a citizen from one of the countries in the transfer list. If the citizens with international driving licenses are from one of the following countries in the transfer list, then they are eligible for automatic driving license transfer. The countries are Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States. Nationalities from the countries in italics will need to submit a letter of approval from their consulates with an Arabic translation of the license.

If you are planning to reside in the UAE, it is important to transfer the license and for that you must be at least 18 years old, have a valid driver's license, have a residence visa in the UAE, and fill in the driver's license form with one passport size photograph, original passport and one photocopy, original driver's license and one photocopy, eye test report, and the fees. Visitors and people waiting for their residency permit to be processed, can apply for temporary license which is valid for six months. If the visitor does not belong to one of the above countries on the transfer list, then he will need to take a driving test. You will be required to take have an eye test and a proof of blood group, while processing the necessary documents to the Traffic Police Licensing Department in Abu Dhabi.

      To obtain a driving license in Abu Dhabi, you need to possess a residence visa issued in any of the emirates. However, if you are a residing in one emirate but have a visa issued in another, and then you need to get a transfer form allowing you to obtain your driver's license from the former. The minimum age for obtaining a driver's license is 18 years. If you plan to drive or own a private car in Abu Dhabi, then you are required to get a temporary or permanent Abu Dhabi driving license. Before you decide to get a driver's permit, you should first decide which driving institute you wish to take driving lessons with. There are two types of driving institutes, one of which is large institutes, where all classes are scheduled in advance and to be followed strictly by the students. The smaller institutes belong to the second category where things are little more flexible; students can request driving classes as per the convenience and availability of the instructor and the student. The instructor may even come to the driving student's apartment in order for him to take driving lessons. Students can choose whether they wish to take driving classes using a manual or automatic vehicle. The cost of driving lessons will vary from institute to institute. 

      You can find more up-to-date information and policies about Abu Dhabi driving license at abudhabi.ae and www.adpolice.gov.ae

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