How to Get a UAE Driving License: Steps, Cost & Requirements
Getting a UAE driving license means enrolling at an approved driving school, passing an eye test, the RTA theory test, and a road test, then collecting your license. A new car license costs about AED 4,500 to AED 7,000 and takes roughly 2 to 3 months. Under the 2025 federal traffic law, you can apply from age 17.
In Dubai the process is run by the RTA, and each emirate has its own licensing authority. If you already hold a license from an approved country, you may be able to exchange it for a UAE license without taking the tests.
Who can apply for a UAE driving license?
You can apply from age 17 with a valid Emirates ID and UAE residency. First decide which license you need, since each one maps to a vehicle type in the UAE driving license categories. Most people apply for the car, or light vehicle, license, and choose between an automatic and a manual course.
How to get a UAE driving license step by step
The process runs through an approved driving school, which handles the RTA paperwork for you:
- Choose your vehicle category and enrol at an approved driving school.
- Take the eye test and open your RTA traffic file, which the school does with the RTA.
- Attend the theory lectures, around 8 sessions, available in several languages.
- Pass the RTA theory test.
- Complete your practical training. The RTA assessment sets the hours, usually 20 to 40.
- Pass the parking, or yard, test.
- Complete the highway and night-driving sessions.
- Pass the RTA road test on public roads.
- Pay the fee and collect your UAE driving license.
What documents do you need?
Bring the following when you register:
- Original Emirates ID.
- Passport copy with your residence visa page.
- Passport-size photographs.
- An eye test report from an approved center, which the school can arrange.
How much does a UAE driving license cost?
A car license costs about AED 4,500 to AED 7,000 if you pass each test on the first attempt. Training is the largest part, and the rest covers the file, tests, and license. The table below shows the typical breakdown.
| Item | Typical cost |
| Eye test | AED 100 to 180 |
| Traffic file and theory classes | AED 200 to 700 |
| RTA theory test | AED 200 per attempt |
| Practical training (20 to 40 hours) | AED 3,000 to 5,500 |
| Road test | AED 300 per attempt |
| License issue | AED 100 to 200 |
| Total, first attempt | AED 4,500 to 7,000 |
Prices vary by school and emirate. Failing the road test means extra training hours and a retest fee, which is why many drivers spend more than the first-attempt total.
How long does it take?
Most new drivers take about 2 to 3 months. The biggest variable is the wait for a road-test slot, which can run 6 to 8 weeks in busy periods, so book early and complete your training in good time.
How much training is required?
The RTA sets your training hours from an assessment, usually 20 to 40. New drivers with no license take the most, while holders of a valid license from another country take fewer. A manual course needs more practice than an automatic one, and most drivers choose automatic.
Other license categories and conversions
This guide covers the car license. Other categories have their own guides: motorcycle, heavy truck, and heavy bus. If you already drive on a license from an approved country, see how to convert a foreign license to a UAE license.
Getting a license in other emirates
The steps are similar across the UAE. In Dubai the RTA runs the process; in Abu Dhabi you use the TAMM platform under Abu Dhabi Police; and in Sharjah it is Sharjah Police. Al Ain, Ajman, and Fujairah follow the same pattern of eye test, theory test, training, and road test through their licensing authorities. Fees and waiting times vary by emirate.
Do you need to pass the theory test?
Yes. Every applicant passes the RTA theory test on road signs, rules, and hazards before the road test. Practise free with our RTA theory test mock tests so you clear it on your first attempt.
