With the number of Indian expatriates in the United Arab Emirates increasing every year, a large number of Indians will be buying their first cars in UAE and Dubai. While there is no dearth of public transport facilities in the UAE, the freedom that driving your own car affords you is second to none. However, to drive a car anywhere, you need a driver's license that is valid as per the rules and regulations of that place. Similarly, in the UAE, you are subject to the provisions of local laws regarding driving a car. We will discuss two common questions that come to the minds of NRIs in the UAE – Is your Indian Driving License valid in the UAE? How can I get a driving license in the UAE?
Is Your Indian Driving License Valid in the UAE?
While a number of countries across the world will allow you to drive for a certain period of time with your Indian driving license, the laws of the UAE do not allow this. In Dubai and the rest of UAE, you will require an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive any kind of car.
Once you have a valid International Driving Permit, also referred to as an International Driving License, you may drive your car in any country that recognises the International Driving Permit, including the UAE. You need not appear for any additional driving tests in the UAE and may claim insurance in the unfortunate event your car meets with an accident while you are driving abroad.
Your International Driving Permit is valid in UAE for a period of 1 year from the date of issue or the existing validity of your Indian driving license, whichever comes first.
In case you are caught driving in the UAE without a valid International Driving License, you may be liable for penalties including steep fines, impounding of your vehicle and also be at risk of facing detention, depending on the discretion of the authorities in the UAE and the circumstances surrounding such a discovery. Your car will be towed away and impounded at a police station, and you may even face legal action and conviction. Also, remember that if you meet with an accident while driving without an International Driving License, you will be liable to pay for all the damages yourself as your insurance policy will not cover the damages.
Eligibility Criteria for an International Driving Permit (License) and the Process of Application
You may apply for an International Driving License by fulfilling the following criteria:
You must be holding a valid permanent Indian driving license.
You must compulsorily be holding a valid Indian passport and a visa for a foreign country.
The address mentioned on your driving license must match that on your passport.
You may apply for your International Driving Permit online at the official Parivahan service portal of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, or at the Regional Transport Office (RTO) from where your domestic Indian driving license has been issued.
The fee for an International Driving Permit is Rs 1000 for issuance and Rs 2000 for every subsequent renewal.
A crucial point to note is that an International Driving Permit is not issued for NRIs. While you may avail of an International Driving License when you initially shift to the UAE, you would legally not be able to renew it once you attain the status of an NRI when you stay abroad for 183 days or more in a year. At this stage, you will need to apply for a driving license in the UAE to continue driving there.
How Can I Get a UAE Driving License?
The legal age to apply for a driving license in the UAE is 18. Between the ages of 18 and 21 years, you qualify for a probationary license. An application for a driving license is required to be submitted to the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). This application must be in Arabic, which will be handled by the authorised driving school in the UAE you apply through. You will be issued a temporary driving license, which you must compulsorily carry while you are in your training period.
In order to apply for a driving license in the UAE, as an Indian, you will need to submit the following documents:
- Copy of your Passport
- A copy and the original Emirates ID card
- 2 copies of your latest passport-sized photograph
- The results of your eye test
- In case you are asked for it, you may need to submit a no-objection letter from your sponsor.
Process of Application for a Driving License in the UAE
- Register for a driving license at an authorised driving school by submitting the relevant documents.
- Get your eyes tested either at an optician or at the driving school.
- You are then issued a learner’s permit or a temporary driving license, and your training commences.
- Complete your training in the theory at the driving school or online.
- Appear for your theory examination, usually at the driving school where you have enrolled. This test is carried out on a computer with a touch screen and may be taken in English, Arabic or Urdu. In case you are not familiar with any of these languages then you may appear for the examination orally. You need to score 30 out of the 40 questions asked to pass the examination.
- Once you successfully pass the RTA theory examination, you may start your classes in highway and city road driving.
- You need to appear for a fully automated parking test, usually conducted in the smart yard of the driving school where you have enrolled. There are five steps in this examination, and you are tested on your ability to park on slopes or hills, apply the emergency brakes, park at an angle of 60 degrees, perpendicular parking and parallel parking. In case you do not pass this test in 5 consecutive attempts, you will have to take the internal assessment again.
- The final and most challenging step in your journey to get a driving license in the UAE is the RTA road test assessment. This testing is carried out by an RTA examiner who will determine whether your driving skills are sufficient to allow you to obtain a driving license. You will know the results of your test immediately and if unfortunately, you fail the test, you are required to complete 7 additional classes before you are allowed to reappear for your RTA examination.
- If you pass the examination, you must take the approval paper given to you by the examiner and submit it, along with your ID documents and the fees for the driving license at the Pass Counter.
- The Pass Counter will hand you over your driving file and you need to submit this file at the Control Counter.
- Pay your license fees and get your photograph taken in the photo area. You will get your UAE driving license soon.
Fees for Driving License in UAE
The fees for a driver's license in Dubai vary depending on the driving school you choose and whether you pass the tests on the first attempt. The fees range between AED 4,500 and AED 7,000. Additional classes, in case you fail, are chargeable at the discretion of your driving institute.
Which are the Best Driving Institutes in the United Arab Emirates?
You need to choose a good driving institute as it is a crucial factor in passing your driving test. Look for driving institutes based on their reputation, the quality of their instruction and reviews by their students. Keeping these factors in mind, the top 5 driving institutes in the UAE are listed below:
Name of Driving Institute | Locations Present | USP of Driving Institute |
Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah & Al Ain | This is one of the most reputed and oldest driving schools in this region. They offer a number of training options and a number of courses such as LMV Car Driving, Platinum Driving Course, Gold Excellence, Youth Driving Course, Affordable Driving Course and Golden Visa Driving Course. | |
Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Al Ain | This is one of the largest driving institutes in the region. They also train people to drive heavy vehicles and automatic cars. | |
Dubai | The environment is comfortable, and their instructors are vastly experienced. | |
Dubai & Abu Dhabi | This driving institute provides intensive courses and specialises in efficient training quickly. | |
Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Sharjah | Al Ahli has highly experienced multilingual instructors. They also offer complimentary pick-up and drop services from home and office, WiFi at all locations, online learning tools with mock tests, and also eye-test registration. |
Conclusion
Your Indian driving license is valid with an International Driving Permit in the UAE, but only for up to 1 year. As an NRI you cannot renew your International Driving License, and you would need to eventually apply for a driving license in the UAE. The training process is very thorough. Once you complete your training and pass your assessments, you will be able to drive freely all over the UAE. You can then consider buying your first car.
