If your licence was issued in an eligible country, you can convert your foreign driving licence (driving license) into a Dubai licence without lessons or tests. Apply on the RTA website with your Emirates ID, pass an electronic eye test, hand in your original licence if required, and pay a total of AED 1,050: traffic file AED 200, licence AED 600, handbook AED 50, eye test AED 180 and Knowledge and Innovation fee AED 20. RTA lists the service time as instant once you pay, and you get a digital licence straight away.
Do this next to exchange your licence
- Check that your licence country is on the RTA list below.
- Get your Emirates ID; residents need a valid one to apply.
- Book an eye test at an RTA-accredited eye test centre.
- Get a legal translation if your licence is not in English or Arabic and RTA asks for it.
Countries eligible for licence exchange in Dubai
RTA’s licence exchange service lists these licence origins:
| Region | Eligible licence origins |
|---|---|
| GCC | Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia |
| Western Europe | Austria, Belgium, Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland |
| Central and Eastern Europe | Albania, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine |
| Central Asia and Caucasus | Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan |
| Asia Pacific | Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, People’s Republic of China, South Korea |
| Americas | Canada, United States of America (Texas is listed separately) |
| Middle East and Africa | Israel, South Africa, Turkey |
The list can change, so select your licence origin in RTA’s service page before applying. Some countries need extra documents, such as a legalised translation or a certificate confirming the licence data from the country’s consulate or embassy.
Who can exchange a licence?
| Applicant | Requirements listed by RTA |
|---|---|
| Resident with a Dubai visa | Valid Emirates ID, valid electronic eye test, original licence from an eligible country |
| Resident with a visa from another emirate | Separate requirements in RTA’s service; check before applying |
| Diplomat | Diplomatic requirements in RTA’s service |
| Holder of a licence from an eligible country that is not their nationality | Knowledge test and road test results |
That last rule matters: if, for example, you are an Indian national with a UK licence, RTA lists knowledge and road test results as requirements, so the exchange is not automatic. Check your case in the RTA service before you apply.
Licence exchange fees in Dubai
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Traffic file | AED 200 |
| Driving licence | AED 600 |
| Handbook manual | AED 50 |
| Electronic eye test at eye test centres | AED 180 |
| Knowledge and Innovation fee | AED 20 |
| Total | AED 1,050 |
| Optional licence delivery | AED 20 standard, AED 35 same day, AED 50 within 2 hours, AED 50 to GCC countries |
How to exchange your licence on the RTA website
- Open RTA’s service Apply for a New Driving Licence or a New Category Based on Exchanging Licences.
- Enter your Emirates ID, passport or UAE PASS details, then the OTP sent to your registered mobile.
- Enter your personal information and upload the documents.
- Submit and receive a reference number.
- Enter the details of your existing licence and upload a copy, with its legalised translation if needed.
- Submit again and receive the new reference number.
- Take the eye test at an accredited eye test centre.
- Present your original licence at an RTA customer happiness centre and hand it over, if required.
- When you receive an SMS, log in to the RTA website, choose Licensing Services, then Driving Licence, then Pay Now, select delivery and pay.
You receive a digital driving licence in the RTA Dubai app (My Docs), which you can add to Apple or Samsung Wallet, and the physical card through self-service machines or delivery.
How long is the exchanged licence valid?
RTA issues a UAE licence valid for 1 year if you are under 21 and 2 years if you are 21 or older. If you are adding a new category based on an exchanged licence, the new licence keeps the remaining validity of your existing one. When it expires, renew it as normal; see our guide on how to renew your driving licence in Dubai.
People of determination
If you hold a Sanad card from Dubai’s Community Development Authority, the service refers you automatically to the Dubai Health Authority for a medical report for the vehicle category. Holders of a card from the Ministry of Community Empowerment submit a medical report with their documents, and RTA reviews the request within 3 working days before referring them for the medical report.
If your country is not eligible
If your licence country is not on the list, you need to get a UAE licence the standard way: open a traffic file, register with a driving institute, take theory and practical lessons, and pass the knowledge test, parking or yard test and road test. Your foreign driving experience may still help you learn faster, and some institutes offer shorter courses for experienced drivers.
Driving before you exchange
- Tourists and visitors from many countries can drive rental cars with their home licence or an international driving permit, depending on nationality.
- Residents must drive on a UAE licence once they hold residence, so exchange your licence soon after your Emirates ID is issued.
- Check that your car is insured and registered in your name if you buy one; see our guide on checking car insurance in the UAE.
Other emirates
Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the other emirates run their own licence exchange through their police and transport authorities, with similar but not identical country lists and fees. If your residence visa is from another emirate, RTA treats you as a separate category, so check its requirements, or apply in the emirate that issued your visa. In Abu Dhabi, use TAMM and Abu Dhabi Police; once you drive there, our Darb toll guide covers road tolls.
Official source: RTA’s licence exchange service, updated 20 October 2026. Fees and the eligible country list can change, so check before you apply.
Can I convert my foreign driving licence in the UAE?
Yes, if it was issued in a country on RTA’s eligible list. You exchange it without lessons or tests after an eye test and paying the fees.
How much does it cost to convert a driving licence in Dubai?
AED 1,050 in total: traffic file AED 200, licence AED 600, handbook AED 50, eye test AED 180 and Knowledge and Innovation fee AED 20, plus optional delivery.
Which countries can exchange their driving licence in Dubai?
GCC countries, most European countries, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Turkey, South Africa, Israel and several Central Asian countries, as listed in RTA’s service.
Can I exchange my licence if it is from a different country than my nationality?
RTA lists knowledge and road test results as requirements for holders of a licence from an eligible country that is not their nationality.
Can Indians or Pakistanis convert their licence in Dubai?
Licences issued in India or Pakistan are not on RTA’s exchange list, so holders get a UAE licence through a driving institute and tests.
How long does the licence exchange take?
RTA lists the service time as instant once the steps and payment are complete, and you receive a digital licence in the RTA app.
How long is the exchanged licence valid?
One year if you are under 21 and two years if you are 21 or older.
Do I need to surrender my foreign licence?
You present the original at an RTA customer happiness centre and hand it over if RTA requires it for your licence origin.
This guide is part of our UAE Traffic Fines and Vehicle Guide.
Author: The DubaiHowto Editorial Team
DubaiHowto is an independent informational platform created to help UAE residents and visitors understand everyday services such as public transport, telecom, government procedures, visas, fines, and utility systems.
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Last reviewed: February 2026. Sources: Official UAE portals and service providers