If you were a UAE resident before and you are returning to the UAE on a visit, your driver’s license may still be valid. However, the question is, are you allowed to drive in the UAE with that license?
And the answer is “As long as the visitor has a valid UAE driver’s license he or she is able to use it.”
What is the validity period of a UAE driving license?
Among citizens, GCC nationals, and other nationalities, a new driving license is valid for two years. You can renew your driving license for 10 years if you are from the UAE or the Gulf Cooperation Council and for five years if you are a resident of the United Arab Emirates.
As per MOI, you can only renew your driving license if you hold a valid UAE residence visa and Emirates ID.
What are the driving restrictions in the UAE?
You still have options to drive in the UAE, regardless of whether you are a former resident or not:
1. International driver’s license
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) website state that if you are on a visit to the UAE and possess a valid international driving license, you can drive a car registered to your name or a first-degree relative’s name.
2. Driver’s license issued by certain countries
You can drive on your home country’s license if you hold a driving license from one of the following countries:
- All the GCC nations
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Spain
- Germany
- France
- Ireland
- Netherlands
- Italy
- United Kingdom
- Turkey
- Greece
- Switzerland
- Norway
- Denmark
- Sweden
- Romania
- Poland
- Finland
- Portugal
- Canada
- United States
- South Korea
- Hong Kong
- Singapore
- Japan
- New Zealand
- South Africa
