All it takes is a photo, a bit of paperwork, and a visit to the traffic authority in the emirate you live in, and there it is your brand-new UAE driving license. There are no theory or practical tests, and you can zoom away while the ink is still drying.
The service, however, isn’t for everyone. This service, however, isn’t for every individual. In terms of the validity of an original license and the rigor of their testing processes, UAE authorities trust some countries more than others. The following 34 countries can have their home driving licenses converted into UAE ones: the five other GCC states, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Finland, France, Ireland, Norway, the Netherlands, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, as well as the US, Canada, South Africa, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, New Zealand, and Australia.
A passport, residence visa, driving license, and eye test certificate are required, along with two passport photos. Eye tests are conducted at the Traffic and Licensing Department in Mushrif in Abu Dhabi.
In some countries and certain emirates, more documentation is required: In Dubai, holders of licenses from Greece, Canada, Cyprus, Poland, Turkey, Japan, and South Korea must have their licenses translated into Arabic or English by their respective consulates. It is possible to produce an international driving license in English and/or a translation of the original translated by an authorized translator in the home country, which is certified by the UAE embassy.
Depending on your profession and the emirate, the licensing center may ask for a non-objection letter from your employer. Dubai and Abu Dhabi both require this.
Foreign driving licenses must also be translated into Arabic in Abu Dhabi, regardless of where they are issued. The conversion fee is Dh410 in Dubai and Dh380 in Abu Dhabi (which includes an eye test).
Foreign license holders whose countries are not on the list of accredited countries need not despair. If they pass the knowledge test and road test on their first attempt, they will be awarded a UAE driving license. If they do not pass the test, they will have to take at least eight lessons (advanced level training) at a driving school before taking the test again.