UAE permits visitors from 50 countries to drive with their own licenses
The UAE Ministry of Interior has announced that visitors from over 50 countries can now legally drive in the UAE using their national driving licenses, without the need for additional theoretical or practical testing. This benefit applies strictly to non-residents visiting the UAE. For residents, the ministry has outlined a streamlined process to exchange their foreign driving licenses for UAE-issued licenses.
In a recent social media post, the ministry detailed six conditions under which eligible foreign driving licenses can be exchanged for UAE licenses upon obtaining residency.
Driving vs. License Exchange
The ministry clarified the distinction between “license recognition” and “license exchange”:
- License recognition allows non-residents to drive in the UAE using valid foreign licenses from recognized countries.
- License exchange refers to the process of replacing a foreign license with a UAE-issued license once legal residency is established.
Exemptions under the new law
The recently introduced federal traffic and road law exempts certain categories from obtaining UAE driving licenses:
- Drivers of vehicles registered and licensed in foreign countries exempt from UAE registration requirements, provided their foreign licenses are valid and recognized.
- Holders of valid international driving licenses, allowing driving during their visit or transit in the UAE.
- Individuals with temporary international or foreign driving permits.
- Non-residents are permitted to stay in the UAE under specific legal provisions.
Conditions for license exchange
For residents seeking to exchange foreign licenses for UAE licenses, the ministry outlined six key requirements:
- The license must be issued by a country eligible for exchange.
- The applicant must meet the legal driving age in the UAE.
- The foreign license must be valid.
- The applicant must hold a UAE residency visa or provide proof of residence, employment, or study in the relevant emirate.
- The applicant must pass a mandatory eye test.
- For some countries, the original foreign license must be surrendered based on existing memorandums of understanding.
Required documents and fees
- Legal translation of the foreign driving license.
- Copy of the original license.
- Exchange fee: AED 600 (approximately ₹13,200).
The Ministry of Interior provides this service digitally via its “MuroorKhous” initiative, allowing users to complete the process online and receive their UAE license electronically or by courier.
Driving in the UAE as a visitor
Visitors can use their foreign licenses to drive in the UAE provided:
- The foreign license is valid.
- Their visit is for non-residency purposes.
List of eligible countries
Visitors and residents from 52 countries are eligible to use their national licenses or exchange them for UAE licenses. These include:
Estonia, Albania, Portugal, China, Hungary, Greece, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia, Cyprus, Latvia, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Malta, Iceland, Montenegro, Israel, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Uzbekistan, USA, France, Japan, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Ireland, Spain, Norway, New Zealand, Romania, Singapore, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, Finland, UK, Turkey, Canada, Poland, South Africa, Australia, Croatia, Texas (USA), North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Kyrgyz Republic.
Notably, South Korean citizens may only exchange their licenses upon obtaining UAE residency.
The UAE’s updated regulations aim to simplify mobility for visitors and residents while ensuring safety and compliance with international standards. These initiatives are part of the broader “smart services” approach to improve convenience and efficiency for motorists.
