Public transport is not developed in all regions of the UAE. If you can still live in Dubai without your car, using the metro or buses, in Abu Dhabi, Ajman, or Sharjah it’s quite difficult to move around the city without a personal vehicle. Of course, if you want to experience all the charm of luxury life in Dubai, you can choose the best VIP vehicle for you, and drive around the cities for your pleasure.
Also, you can use a taxi, but the more economical and convenient option is owning your car.
So, having decided to drive a car on your own in the UAE, you need first to take care of it to get a local driving license. There are no particular difficulties in this matter, but if you know the nuances of this procedure, it’ll help you to do without retakes.
Is it Possible to do Without the Driving License Obtained in the UAE?
If you come to the UAE for a long or short time and want to drive a car here, you must obtain a local license. However, there are exceptions.
Let’s take a look at some ways to drive without a local license.
- If you are coming on a tourist visa.
When going to the UAE for a tourist visa, you should already have an international driving license. Therefore, in case your trip is up to a month, you can review the Dubai Ferrari rental price, select an appropriate variant for you to ride in luxury around the city, and feel calm even if a police officer stops you. In a completely different way, law enforcement officers react to residents driving a car who don’t have a local license.
- Your driver’s license was issued in the following countries:
USA, Austria, Australia, Great Britain, Spain, Turkey, Bahrain, South Africa, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Switzerland, Finland, France, Spain, Germany, Kuwait, Sweden, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Netherlands, Poland, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia.
In this case, you need to obtain a driving license. But, always find out in advance, as the list of countries and the conditions for obtaining a license for citizens of different countries change.
Residents of the United Arab Emirates are intransigent towards those who try to violate the laws of this country. The police are very respected here, so you rarely see a person arguing with a law enforcement officer or trying to prove his case with fists. Even an innocent touch on the police officer’s shoulder can end up in jail for the offender.
If you are a resident, driving a car based on an international license obtained in your country, then you are breaking the law and acting at your peril and risk. If a police officer stops you and checks your documents, then get ready to be punished: a fine or even imprisonment if you dare to prove your case.
How to get a license in the UAE?
Residents are equated in rights and obligations with citizens of the UAE, therefore, you must have local documents, including a driver’s license. You can get them if you graduated from a driving school in your home country and have driving experience, and if you are only going to learn from scratch.
Even if you have a decent driving experience (both in your own country and in the UAE), the easiest way to get a local license is still through a driving school. But there are some nuances here:
- In some emirates, only a woman can teach a woman to drive;
- If the examiner thinks that you are not yet ready to drive a car on your own, then you should not only purchase a few more practical lessons with an instructor but also pay for the exam again;
- Keep in mind that driving schools are taught in Arabic and English languages here;
- Although the seven emirates are united into one country, the conditions for obtaining some documents in them often differ. To avoid problems, get a driver’s license in the region where you were issued a resident visa.
The procedure for obtaining a driver’s license in the UAE seems rather complicated from the habit, and there are legends about strict Arab examiners. But, if you perfectly master both theory and practice, you can soon get behind the wheel of your car.
