Getting a car licence in the UAE follows the same broad path in every emirate: open a file, pass an eye test, attend theory lessons, pass the theory test, then train and pass the practical tests. The details, fees and booking channels are set by each emirate's licensing authority. This guide walks through the steps as they work in Dubai, notes how Abu Dhabi and Sharjah differ, and links to the official pages so you can check the current rules.
Who can apply
You need a valid Emirates ID. In Dubai, the RTA's service page says you can open a traffic file from 17 years and 6 months, and the licence is issued once you have passed every test and turned 18. The federal traffic law that took effect in 2025 allows car licences from 17, but each emirate applies its own procedures, so check the current minimum age with your licensing authority before you register.
In Dubai, if your visa was issued by another emirate, you may also need proof that you live, work or study in Dubai.
Already have a licence from another country?
You may not need the full course. Residents with a valid licence from an eligible country can exchange it for a UAE licence after an eye test, without lessons or a theory test. Check whether your country is on the RTA licence exchange page or the UAE government portal.
If your licence cannot be exchanged, Dubai offers a "golden chance": you may take the theory test and road test once without the usual training hours. If you fail the road test, you go on to training, which can be shorter depending on how long you have held your licence.
The steps in Dubai
- Apply and choose a driving institute. Apply on the RTA website or app, or at an institute, using your Emirates ID or UAE Pass. The institute contacts you, and you receive a digital learning permit.
- Pass an eye test at an accredited optician or medical centre. The result is valid for three years.
- Attend the theory lectures. Cars need 8 hours of lectures before you can sit the theory test.
- Pass the theory (Knowledge) test. It covers traffic rules, road signs and safe driving, based on the material in the driver's handbook. See what happens on theory test day.
- Take your practical lessons with the institute, including the training it requires before your tests.
- Pass the yard (parking) test and the road test.
- Collect your licence. After you pass the road test and pay the licence fee, a temporary licence is emailed to you, valid for seven days, and you receive the licence in digital or physical form.
The order of the practical steps and the number of lessons depend on your institute and your progress. Fees change, so check the current amounts on the RTA new licence page before you start.
Abu Dhabi and Sharjah
Abu Dhabi: since October 2024, driver licensing has been handled by Abu Dhabi Mobility (the Integrated Transport Centre), with services on the TAMM platform. The steps are similar: eye test, open a traffic file, register with a driving school, theory classes and test, practical lessons and road test.
Sharjah: licensing is handled by Sharjah Police, with training through the emirate's driving institutes. Sharjah has also offered a remote "smart" theory test after training. Ask your institute whether it is available to you.
How long your first licence lasts
According to the UAE government portal, a first licence is valid for one year if you are under 21 and two years if you are 21 or older. After that you renew it.
Preparing for the theory test
The theory test is the step most learners worry about, and it is the one you can prepare for at home. This site has 557 free practice questions by chapter, all 153 road signs, a timed mock exam and a guide to the rules learners most often get wrong.
This is an independent guide, not an official source. It was checked against the RTA, Abu Dhabi Mobility and UAE government pages in October 2026. Procedures and fees change, so always confirm them with your licensing authority or driving institute.