By Contents
Overview
The UAE is known for having one of the best transport systems in the world. There are many transport options one can use from buses, metro train, taxis, ferris, etc. Majority of expats who have been in the UAE for some time have their own cars. Having your own car in the UAE gives you more flexibility to explore all that the country offers. With a car you can travel to different places, different emirates exploring a wide range of attractions easily.
For most people not having a driver’s license is what stops them from owning personal cars. Some can argue that getting a license in UAE is more difficult than getting a car.
In this article I will go through all the steps involved in getting a driver’s license in UAE and all that is involved.
Converting your home country’s driver’s license
Firstly you need to know that if you have a license from selected countries you can easily just convert the license to a UAE license. The process is fairly easy, you will just pay a service fee and you will get the license. You can check the RTA website for a full list of all countries accepted.
Choosing a driving school
The driving school that you sign up with is important for your journey of getting a driver’s license. There are many driving schools in UAE but it’s always important to go with reputable and more established schools. Below are some of the most recommended driving schools in Dubai.
- Emirates Driving Institute
- Galadari Driving School
- Belhasa Driving Center
- Dubai Driving Center
- Al Ahli Driving School
How much do you need to get a license
This is a very common question for people planning to get a driver’s license in UAE. It’s fair to say getting a license in UAE is not cheap, which discourages many people who wish to own cars in UAE. How much you will spend largely depends on how many tries it will take you to get the license. There are 4 tests you will go through and every time you fail you will need to book for more classes and that’s adding to the cost. The tests, especially the final test is not so easy and because of this many people take many tries before passing to get the driver’s license.
Each driving school has it’s own rates and the prices also depend on how many classes you will take. Usually they offer 20 hours package for beginners, 15 hours and 10 hours package for people with a home country license for over 5 years. Also the time when you will take the lessons has an effect on the price, there is regular training, night and weekend training which is more expensive. To give a rough estimate for a beginner you need between 6000AED to 8000AED to get a license. You can check exact prices from the driving schools.
Roadmap to getting a driver’s license
File Opening
This is the first thing you do when you join a driving school, you open the file by registering and paying required fees as well as going through eye tests. Once you register they will give you access to their online platform.
Theory Classes
You will start by attending theory classes where you will learn about road rules and road signs. You can do the classes online or attend classes at the driving school at scheduled times.
Theory Test
When you finish the theory classes and you feel that you are ready you can then book a theory Test which is provided by RTA. You will do this at the driving school. Theory test is not so difficult and most people easily pass it at the first try.
Pre-evaluation Test
For students with driving experience you will go through a pre evaluation road test, this is when the driving school will test your driving skills to see if you really have driving experience. If you fail this test you will have to enroll for the beginner package which is usually 20 hours.
Practical Training
Now you will start your lessons depending on the schedule you get from the school, you will be assigned an instructor who will be with you throughout. Make sure you get comfortable with your instructor and feel free to ask any questions at any time until you understand.
Assessment Test
This will be the first of the 4 tests that you take. Assessment test is done by the driving school and it’s a road test where they will test how you drive and follow the road rules.
If by any chance you fail this test you will have to go through extra lessons before you can retake the test again
Assessment Parking Test
Here you will be tested on the 5 parking maneuvers which are garage parking, angle parking, parallel parking, hill start and emergency brake. This is done at the school yard with an examiner from the driving school inspecting you.
RTA Smart Yard Parking Test
During the smart yard parking test you will go through the 5 parking maneuvers but this time the car that you will use will have cameras and sensors so everything will be inspected automatically.
RTA Road Final Exam
This is the final test and the most important test because when you pass this you get the license. For the final test an examiner from RTA will be with you in the car as you go through instructed routes. Many people fail the final test and have to do it over and over again. If you fail the test you will need to book at least 4 more lessons before you do the retest. So the more you fail the more expensive it will be for you.
After passing the final exam you will get your driver’s license immediately, the license will be valid for 2 years and can be renewed after that.
Conclusion
Getting a driver’s license in Dubai is very important as it gives you the ability to own a car and have the freedom to explore the country. It’s important to be prepared financially for all the costs involved because the process can be very expensive.
