UAE Driving Licence Exchange Rules Explained: Which Countries Qualify and What Expats in Dubai Need to Know

For many expatriates settling in Dubai, getting behind the wheel is one of the first priorities. The good news is that residents holding driving licences from certain approved countries may not need to start the licensing process from scratch.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) allows eligible residents to exchange their foreign driving licences for a UAE driving licence, helping them save time, money and effort otherwise spent on driving classes and road tests.

In 2025 alone, the RTA replaced 58,082 foreign driving licences issued across more than 50 recognised countries.

Who is eligible for a UAE driving licence exchange?

Residents holding valid licences from approved countries can directly apply for a Dubai driving licence without enrolling in a driving institute.

The approved list includes:

• Five GCC countries
• 38 European countries
• 13 Asian and Latin American countries
• One African country
  
  

Countries eligible for driving licence exchange

Europe

Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Britain, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Montenegro and Ukraine.

GCC countries

Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Asia

Azerbaijan, Hong Kong, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, People’s Republic of China, South Korea, Turkey and Uzbekistan.

Australia and New Zealand

Australia and New Zealand.

Africa

South Africa.

North America

Canada and the United States, including Texas.

Additional requirements and exceptions

Some countries require extra documentation or certified translations before a licence can be exchanged. Applicants are advised to check the RTA’s country-specific requirements before applying.

For instance, holders of Turkish driving licences must submit a Driving Licence Data Certificate issued by the relevant embassy or consulate.

What if your country is not listed?

Residents from countries not included in the approved exchange list can still obtain a UAE driving licence. However, they must follow the standard procedure, which includes:

• Enrolling at an RTA-approved driving institute
• Completing mandatory driving lessons
• Passing theory and road tests
  
  

General requirements for licence exchange

Applicants must meet the following conditions:

• The foreign driving licence must be valid
• An eye test is mandatory
• Eye tests can be completed at accredited eye test centres, Customer Happiness Centres or driving institutes
• Eye test fees generally range from Dh140 to Dh180
• Additional embassy or consulate verification may be required if the licence lacks security features
  
  

Licences that cannot be exchanged

Driving licences issued in the following countries or territories are not eligible for exchange in Dubai:

Guam, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and Andorra.

Rules for GCC nationals

GCC nationals can exchange their licences in Dubai if:

• The licence is valid
• The original licence is surrendered
  
  

Those holding a GCC passport and a driving licence issued either by the same GCC country or by an approved exception country may exchange the licence regardless of where their Emirates ID was issued.

 

For any enquiries or information, contact ask@tlr.ae or call us on +971 52 644 3004. Follow The Law Reporters on WhatsApp Channels.