Required documents

UAE residents holding a residence visa cannot drive with a foreign or international licence. Your licence must be valid for the vehicle class.

Required to verify your identity and residence status.

With a licence issued by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain or Oman, you may drive light vehicles while visiting the UAE. If you take up residence in the UAE, you must exchange it for a UAE licence.

GCC nationals may use their national ID; residents of GCC countries of other nationalities need a passport and UAE entry visa.

Visitors may drive in the UAE while on a visit visa or entry stamp.

You need your original licence. No International Driving Permit is required for licences issued by: the GCC countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia), Turkey, the United Kingdom, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, South Africa and many countries in Europe and Central Asia. The current list is set by the RTA; ask us if you are not sure.

If your licence was not issued by one of the countries above, you need a valid International Driving Permit together with your home licence. It must be obtained in the country that issued your licence before you travel.