Illustration by Megan Eloise/The Gazelle
Step by step: How to Get a Driver’s License in Abu Dhabi
Racing down the highway towards Dubai, road-tripping across all seven emirates, escaping Saadiyat Island without waiting for the right shuttle — who ...
Oct 3, 2015
Racing down the highway towards Dubai, road-tripping across all seven emirates, escaping Saadiyat Island without waiting for the right shuttle — who hasn’t dreamt about driving in Abu Dhabi? If having a car means freedom, then getting a valid license is the first step. Here is how to do it:
Converting a license
If you already have a valid driving license from home or an International Driver’s License, converting it to an Emirati license is simple and can easily be done in an afternoon.
It is important to note, however, that only licenses from the following countries can be directly converted without taking a road test:
Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.
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Gather all your documents, with photocopies. You’ll need your passport, visa page, Emirates ID and current driver’s license.
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Some sources say you will also need a letter of no objection from NYU Abu Dhabi. From anecdotal experience, this letter has not been required. However, if you want to play it safe and bring one with you just in case, NYUAD’s immigration office can issue you one.
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Likewise, some sources say you need an eye test, which can be done at any clinic or opticians office. But based on student experience, this is rarely requested.
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You will need a legal translation of your current driver’s license if it is not already in Arabic. There are numerous translation offices around the city; one that is often recommended is Abu Afeefa Typing and Photocopy Office.
The small, pink-signed shop is located behind Madinat Zayed. From the back entrance of Madinat Zayed, at the door closest to Lulu’s Hypermarket, exit straight for a block and turn to the left at Al Siraj jewelry store. Ask a security guard in the mall to point you in the right direction if you are unsure. A translation costs 50 AED and takes an hour or so to complete.
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Head to the Traffic and Licensing Department, which is located behind Mushrif Mall. It’s roughly a 15-minute taxi drive from Madinat Zayed.
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Once at the Licensing Department, take a number and wait in line. There is a separate line for women that is quicker but the general wait should not be more than half an hour.
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Present your license, passport, Emirates ID, the translation and pay 200 AED. A picture will be taken of you and you’ll have your new UAE license in hand within 15 minutes.
Obtaining a license
If you do not yet have a license from home or your license is not from one of the approved countries, you will need to take lessons and a driving test.
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Open a driving file with Emirates Driving Company; this will allow you to register for a driving theory course. You will need to bring your passport, Emirates ID, two passport pictures and a visa page with photocopies. The EDC, the only recognized driving school in Abu Dhabi, is located in Musaffah Industrial Area. The theoretical course costs 830 AED.
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Once you have completed the required eight theory classes, you must pass the written test. The test costs an additional 50 AED.
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If you do not have a driver’s license at all, you must also take a practical driving course of five lessons. The cost, depending on the intensity of the course you choose, ranges from 650 to 2250 AED.
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If you have a valid license but from a country that is not on the automatic transfer list, you do not need to take a practical driving course and can skip straight to the practical test.
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To take the practical driving test, you need to make an appointment at the Traffic and Licensing Department, which is located behind Mushrif Mall. Bring your passport, Emirates ID and proof of passing the theory test. It costs 50 AED to schedule a practical driving test appointment.
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Once you have passed the road test, back at the Emirates Driving Company you can apply for your Emirati drivers license.
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Go back to the Drivers Licensing Department with a certificate of having passed the test, passport and 200 AED. Your photo will be taken and license printed.
Once you have a valid driver’s license, you are free to drive in any of the seven emirates. If you are over 21, you can rent a car. Europcar, which has a rental booth on the ground floor of the Campus Center, charges 150 AED per day for a car with unlimited miles for NYUAD students.
Update: As of Feb. 18, 2018 the list of countries whose citizens are eligible to convert their national driver's licenses without taking additional tests include the Gulf Cooperation Council member states and the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Japan, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Greece, Spain, Sweden, Ireland, Norway, Turkey, Canada, Poland, South Korea, Finland, South Africa, Australia, Romania, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Austria, Slovakia, Luxembourg and Serbia.
It is now also possible to complete a part of the driver's license application process online, through the MOI UAE app made available by the Ministry of Interior of the UAE.
Clare Hennig is managing editor. Email her at feedback@thegazelle.org.
Additional reporting done by Ji Young Kim.
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