Abu Dhabi Driving License; Regulations and Requirements

As a resident or newcomer who intends to drive in Abu Dhabi -the city of fast paced traffic-you are obliged to have a driving license. Getting driving permit in each emirate can be found somehow arduous due to rigorous traffic laws in the UAE.

The point is you need to familiarize yourself with the rules and regulation, before entering the roads, especially when it comes to Abu Dhabi. In this following article, we have compiled all the information you need to know about Abu Dhabi driving license.

Accurate knowledge about the legal procedures of obtaining a official driving permission in this emirate will definitely moves you forward.

Age Requirement for Driving in Abu Dhabi

Legal age for be given a driver’s license depend on vehicle. In this article, our main focus is on Light Travelling Vehicles License. Based on the UAE law stipulation, residents and immigrants to obtain LTV permit must have reached 18 years to enroll in courses and pass mandatory written and practical RTA driving exams.

Although in some cases we see that applicants with the age of 17 years and 6 months are registered to take the courses, but the certificate is given to them when they reach 18.

Note that LTV includes all personal cars like sedans, SUV’s and mini-trucks weighing around 3.5 tons.

Who Are the Driving License Applicants in Abu Dhabi?

Drivering license applicants in the UAE are classifies in three major types:

1. Immigrant residents who have already received their driving license from the home country, but the its validity is controversial.
2. Tourists Planning to browse in Abu Dhabi sightseeing for a limited time.
3. Domestic and foreign residents who are applying for a driving license for the first time.

In the first situation, validity of the permission obviously depends on your nationality. If your official documents belong to exempt countries then you must follow the process of license conversion which is quite straightforward.

Which Countries Are Eligible for Exchange License?

According to UAE traffic rules, no one is allowed to maneuver on the UAE roads just by having a foreign license, unless the driving permission is issued from any of the countries listed below.

• Gulf Cooperation Council countries – GCC nationalities (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia).
• United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom
• Australia, New Zealand,
• Austria, Switzerland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Belgium
• Greece, Romania, Portugal, Poland, Denmark, Finland, Norway
• South Korea, Japan, Netherlands, Hong Kong, Singapore
• South Africa, Turkey

As an expats and resident if your country is not among these eligible areas, it literally means that whatever you have already got doesn’t work anymore and you are considered a first-time applicant to re-sit driving test.

Note that according to RTA, if the driving license belongs to Singapore, applicants must pass theorical exam in registered driving institutes to be allowed to exchange their driving permission.

Converting Foreign Driving License to Abu Dhabi Valid Version

For whom lives in Abu Dhabi, the relevant department to exchange the international permit is “Vehicles & Drivers Licensing Directorate” in Al Sa’adah. The offices hours are usually from 7:30 till 4:00 pm, Monday to Thursday. Fortunately, there is no need to make an appointment in advance.

To convert the official permission from any of the countries listed, the license must be valid within one year of the date of expiry.

The first step is to undergo an eyesight assessment at an optometry center approved by Abu Dhabi RTA offices. Authorized hospital for eye test in Abu Dhabi includes Al Khaleej diagnostic center, Al Salama, Al Ain and Al Mazrouy.

Requirement to Exchange Home License for UAE Permission

• Resident ID
• Passport with residence visa (copy and original)
• Current driving license from aforementioned countries (original and copy)
• Arabic translation of the foreign license
• Two passport photos with white background
• Eye test certificate
• No objection letter (A letter from an employer or sponsor stating that there is no objection to the covenants of the certificate. )

Abu Dhabi is the vanguard in bureaucracy reduction. so, instead of going in person, you can do all the procedures online through “Rta.ae”.

upload your documents and perform eye testing in accredited centers. To get new UAE deriving license you need to go to one of RTA’s customer service centers.

Note that in addition to Emiratis, individuals from GCC countries are luckily allowed to renew their driving license every 10 years.

Abu Dhabi Driving License for Tourists

Tourists need an International Driving Permit, unless they come from GCC countries. These travelers can drive with that permission issued by the country they reside in. IPD is valid only for one year.

If you are planning to drive regularly, your certificate needs to be annually renewed. Required document are as follows:

• Passport and residence visa page (Original and copy)
• Emirate ID card (Original and copy)
• Two passport photos.
• The request form downloaded from the website-ATCUAE.

With document mentioned above visit one the nearest Automobile and Touring club (ATCUAE), RTA offices or Emirate posts in Abu Dhabi. Interestingly, manual procedures for IDL are as fast as online ones.

How to Apply for the First- time Driving License in Abu Dhabi?

If for any reason you as a resident or newcomer are subject to the “first time applicant driving license” regulations, you are expected to go for accredited driving institutes.

1. Eligible age to drive light cars and vehicles is 18.
2. Opening Traffic File in one of registered driving centers in Abu Dhabi and submit required document (original and copy of emirates ID card, original and copy of Residency document, two colored photos and No objection letter)
3. Visiting one of the RTA approved centers to procedure Eyesight test.
4. Completing driving course; theory and practical (approximately 20 hours includes on-road driving lessons and stimulated practices)
5. Driving test (failing the test prolongs the process of getting license, as waiting period between each test is mandatory).

Driving License Costs and Fees in Abu Dhabi

The related cost varies from AED 5,000 to AED 8,000. In general, it depends on type of license you request for and your number of attempts.

End Note

Our last and most important recommendation is to adhere seriously to the traffic laws. Failure to follow the regulation can lead to unpleasant consequences and high traffic fines in the UAE and Abu Dhabi.

Driving without license will be answered by a fine of AED 6000 and vehicle impounding for 60 days. In case of repeating the crime, it will end up to three months of imprisonment. So, apply for the official driving permission as soon as possible.