Eligibility to drive
The minimum age requirement to obtain a driving licence is as follows:
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17 years for motorcycles and for vehicles for people with special needs
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18 years for cars and light vehicles
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20 years for heavy vehicles and tractors
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21 years for buses.
Apply for a driving licence
Citizens and expatriate residents can obtain a UAE driving licence after taking classes from private institutes and passing the tests conducted by local transport authorities. A new driving licence is valid for 1 year for those under 21, and for 2 years for those who are 21 or older.
Some expatriate residents can exchange their existing valid driving licence issued by their home country. Note that in this case, the applicant must be at least 18 years old.
Some visitors to the UAE have the right to drive with their national driving licence and exchange it for a UAE-issued licence if they are going to be residing here, under the 'Markhoos' initiative.
eServices
- Apply for a light vehicle driving licence - Ministry of Interior
- Get a driving licence - TAMM
- Apply for a new driving licence - RTA, Dubai
- Apply for a new driving licence or a new category based on exchanging licences - RTA, Dubai
Learning driving in the UAE
To get a new driving license, a citizen or a resident needs to apply to a 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 licence valid for 2 years for citizens, GCC nationals and other nationalities. Applicants can start the whole process from the authorised driving institutes, which include:
Abu Dhabi
Dubai
Sharjah
Ras Al Khaimah
Fujairah
Documents and process to open a traffic file
To learn driving, you need to open a traffic file with the respective local traffic authority.
Documents required to open a traffic file include:
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a copy of passport
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a copy and the Emirates ID card
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2 photographs
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eye test report
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a 'No objection' letter from the sponsor (if required by the related traffic department).
The process to learn driving includes:
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opening a traffic file in one of the registered driving centres in the related emirate
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conducting an eye test at any centre approved by the traffic department
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completing all required driving classes
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passing all tests set by the related traffic department
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obtaining the driving licence from the traffic authority.
eServices
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Open traffic file - Ministry of Interior
Renewal of driving licence
A renewed driving licence is valid for:
- 10 years for all UAE and GCC citizens
- 5 years for expatriate residents above 21 years
- 1 year for expatriate residents below 21 years.
Renewal of driving licences is available online in most of the emirates. To renew your driving licence, you must settle your traffic fines.
Related links
- Renewal of a light vehicle driving licence – Ministry of Interior
- Renewal of a driving licence in Abu Dhabi - TAMM
- Renew a driving licence – RTA, Dubai.
Updated on:
23 Dec 2025
