Driving in UAE

Drive Safe Else Face it

Expatriates with valid residence visas who drive using driving licences issued in their home countries will be prosecuted.

As per Federal Traffic law number 21 for 1995, amended by Law No.12 for 2007 — Article No.51, individuals who drive without obtaining valid driving licences or are found to be driving categories of vehicles not specified in their licences will be jailed and fined.

There are 26 nationalities who are allowed to drive in the UAE using licences issued in their home countries but this exemption is granted only when they are visiting the country.

Whenever those people from the 26 nationalities obtain resident visas then they need to obtain UAE driving licences.
Only nationals of GCC countries are permitted to drive in the UAE with their home driving licences.

Expatriates of any nationality residing in any one of the GCC countries and visiting the UAE are also allowed to drive using their GCC driving licence.

Citizens of 26 nationalities who are allowed to drive with licences issued from their home countries during their visit to the UAE are: Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, Finland, Spain, Holland, Greece, Sweden, Romania, Belgium, Ireland, Turkey, Denmark, Austria, France, UK, Norway, US, Canada, Australia, Singapore, South Korea, New Zealand, Hong Kong and South Africa.

Nationals from Greece, Turkey, Canada, Japan and South Korea need to obtain the legal translation of driving licences from their home countries attested from their embassies or consulates in order to be able to drive in the UAE with such permits after their arrival in the country on a visit visa.