How to Get an International Driving Permit (IDP) in the UAE
An International Driving Permit (IDP), also called an international driving license, lets a UAE license holder drive abroad. It is an official translation of your UAE driving license into several languages, recognised in many countries, valid for one year, and you carry it together with your UAE license. In the UAE it is issued by the Automobile and Touring Club (ATCUAE), the RTA, and Emirates Post.
You apply for it while you are in the UAE, before you travel. The IDP does not replace your UAE license and is not valid on its own, so the two documents always go together.
Who can get an IDP in the UAE?
UAE citizens and residents who hold a valid UAE driving license can apply. You must apply while you are in the UAE, so tourists cannot get a UAE permit. Visitors should obtain an IDP in their own country before they arrive.
Where and how to apply
You can apply online or in person. The Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE) issues the permit through its website and its offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Al Ain. You can also apply at RTA offices, Emirates Post, and through the Ministry of Interior app. An online application is delivered to your address in about 3 to 5 working days, while a counter application is usually ready in around 30 minutes.
What documents do you need?
You need:
- A completed IDP application form.
- A copy of your Emirates ID.
- A copy of your passport and valid residence visa.
- A copy of your valid UAE driving license.
- Two passport-size photographs.
How much does an IDP cost?
The fee depends on where you apply, from about AED 150 to AED 210.
| Issuer | Typical fee |
| ATCUAE | AED 200 to 210 |
| RTA | About AED 197 |
| Emirates Post | AED 150 to 180 |
Home delivery adds a small shipping fee of around AED 16. Confirm the current fee with the issuer when you apply.
How long is an IDP valid?
An IDP is valid for one year from the date of issue. It cannot be renewed, so you apply for a new one once it expires. Always carry it together with your UAE driving license, since the permit is not accepted on its own.
Which countries accept a UAE IDP?
A UAE International Driving Permit is recognised in a long list of countries. The table below groups the main ones.
| Region | Countries |
| A to C | Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Anguilla, Angola, Antigua, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde Islands, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Congo Dem. Rep., Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Curacao, Cyprus, Czech Republic |
| D to F | Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France and French Overseas Departments, French Polynesia |
| G to I | Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Guatemala, Guernsey, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy |
| J to L | Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea (Rep.), Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg |
| M to O | Macao, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman |
| P to R | Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal (incl. Madeira and the Azores), Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda |
| S to U | San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Kitts and Nevis, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay |
| V to Z | Vatican City, Venezuela, Windward Islands, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
Driving abroad with your UAE license
An IDP smooths things at checkpoints and rental desks, but some countries also accept your UAE license on its own for a period. See our country guides on driving in Georgia, the Philippines, Qatar, Azerbaijan, and Pakistan. If you have moved to the UAE, see how to convert a foreign license to a UAE license.