How to Convert a Driving License in Dubai

Good news, expats: the Dubai government has made it possible for some countries to get a local driving license by simply converting your existing one. This means you don’t have to undergo a driving test or attend driving school; you can simply convert your foreign driving license instead. Read on to learn how to convert a driving license in Dubai.

Related articles: 

How to get Dubai driving license

How to renew your driving license in Dubai

Eligible countries for converting to a Dubai driving license 

The citizens of the following countries can transfer their home country driving license to a Dubai driving license. 

Australia Austria Bahrain
Belgium Canada Denmark
Finland France Germany
Greece Holland Hong Kong
Ireland Italy Japan
Kuwait New Zealand Norway
Oman Poland Portugal
Qatar Romania Saudi Arabia
South Africa South Korea Singapore
Spain Sweden Switzerland
Turkey United Kingdom USA

Required documents to convert a foreign driving license into a Dubai driving license

While the documents required to covert a driving license in Dubai depends on where your original license is from, generally you’ll need:

  • Original driving licence and a copy
  • Electronic eye test
  • Original valid Emirates ID
  • Legalised translation of the licence if it was not in English or Arabic

For the full list of required documents to convert your driving license in Dubai, visit the RTA website here.

Required documents for UK driving license holders

If your original license is from the UK, you’ll only need the following documents to convert it to a Dubai driving license:

  • Passport (copy and original)
  • UK driving license (copy and original)
  • Emirates ID (copy and original)
How to convert a driving license in Dubai involves documents such as your UK  Driving Licence including original driving license document

Passport photographs are no longer required as the Dubai Road and Transport Authority (RTA) will take it from the Emirates ID. The No Objection Letter is also not required.

Fees for converting a foreign driving license to drive in Dubai

The fees for converting a driving license to a Dubai license is the same across all eligible countries:

  • 200 AED for opening a file
  • 600 AED for issuing the license
  • 50 AED for the handbook manual (your guide to driving safely in the UAE)
  • 20 AED Knowledge and Innovation fees (a standard fee added to all transactions to support cultural and educational projects)

Where to go to convert a driving license in Dubai

To convert your foreign driving license to drive in Dubai, you need to visit a Dubai Traffic Department with a driver licensing service. There, RTA officers will help you convert your driving license for Dubai.

Step-by-step guide to converting your driving license in Dubai

  1. Obtain an eye test from a recognised optician in Dubai.
  2. Gather your documents as required and go to any Dubai Traffic Department with a driver licensing service – the list of these is available here.
  3. There, fill in the form to convert a foreign driving license then submit the documents to an RTA officer at the office for their signature.
  4. Take the signed documents to the cashier to then make the payment of 360 AED.
  5. Once payment is done, go back to the RTA officer and submit your papers and payment receipt.
  6. Have a seat and wait until your name is called to take a photograph.
  7. Once your photograph has been taken, the license should be issued in just a few minutes.
Happy smiling woman with new transferred Dubai driving license is ready to drive after converting a foreign driving license to drive in Dubai.

Special cases and extra requirements

Certain countries have extra steps involved in order to convert a driving license into a Dubai one.

Driving licenses issued in Canada require a letter from the Canadian consulate to verify the license is genuine.

And the licenses issued from the following countries require translation from the respective country Consulate: 

  • Canada
  • Greece
  • Japan
  • Poland
  • South Korea 
  • Turkey

Now you’ve converted your license into a Dubai driving license, find your new car in the UAE

Find cars for sale across the UAE including in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman and more. Browse online today at DubiCars.

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