Golden visa holders can take advantage of special provisions that make it easier to obtain a driver’s license.
If you are a new resident in the UAE, getting a driver’s license is one of the first things you should do. To obtain a driver’s license, you must not only complete a series of theoretical and driving classes but also pass a series of tests. But what if you previously had a driver’s license in your native country or the country where you lived before moving to the UAE? Is it possible to change the license to a UAE driver’s license? Here’s everything you need to know.
What is the process of home country licenses being converted to UAE licenses?
You may be able to convert a driving license granted by another nation under particular circumstances. Certain countries’ residents’ driving licenses can be directly charged to a UAE driving license.
According to Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the list of countries includes:
- GCC Countries
- Lithuania
- Portugal
- Hungary
- Bulgaria
- Latvia
- Serbia
- Luxembourg
- Iceland
- Estonia
- Cyprus
- Slovakia
- Malta
- Albania
- Romania
- Germany
- Italy
- Switzerland
- Poland
- Finland
- Spain
- Holland
- Greece
- Sweden
- Belgium
- Ireland
- Turkey
- Denmark
- Austria
- France
- Britain
- Norway
- The Republic of Montenegro
- United States of America
- Canada
- Japan
- South Korea
- Hong Kong
- People’s Republic of China
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Singapore
- South Africa
If your driving license was issued by one of the exempted nations, but your nationality is not one of the mentioned countries, you must pass the following tests at a driving institute in the UAE:
- Knowledge test
- Driving test
- Yard test
The benefit of obtaining a driver’s license is that applicants can take the road test right away without having to take any driving lessons.
What if one’s home country is not on this list?
If your native country or prior place of residence isn’t listed above, you can still tell a driving school that you already have a driver’s license from another nation and be given the option of taking fewer driving lessons before taking the road test.
Also Read: Guide: UAE Driving License