Dubai driving licence renewal: Key timelines, documents and fees.
If you hold a Dubai driving licence issued by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), you can renew it before it expires. The renewal window, validity of the new licence, required documents and fees depend on your age and how long the licence has been expired.
Here’s what you need to know about renewing your Dubai driving licence, including when you can renew, the documents required, how to renew online or through RTA self-service machines, the fees involved and what happens if your licence has expired.
When do you need to renew a Dubai driving licence?
For holders of Dubai RTA driving licences:
- Drivers aged 21 and above: The licence can be renewed up to six months before its expiry date.
- Drivers under 21: The licence can be renewed up to three months before expiry.
- UAE/GCC citizens aged 21 and above: The renewed licence is valid for 10 years.
- UAE residents aged 21 and above: The renewed licence is valid for five years.
- Drivers under 21: The renewed licence is valid for one year.
Importantly, the RTA calculates the new licence validity from the date the renewal application is submitted, rather than from the previous expiry date.
What do you need to renew a Dubai driving licence?
For a standard Dubai RTA licence renewal, you will need:
- A valid Emirates ID
- A valid eye test
- Payment of any outstanding fines linked to the driving licence
The eye test must be completed at an RTA-approved eye-test centre. RTA currently lists the electronic eye-test fee at Dh140 to Dh180, depending on the centre or service.
Professional drivers have an additional requirement: a medical fitness test at an RTA-accredited hospital.
How can you renew a Dubai driving licence?
You can renew your Dubai driving licence through several RTA channels, including:
- The RTA website
- The RTA Dubai app
- DubaiNow
- RTA self-service machines
- Approved optical stores in Dubai
RTA self-service machines are available at RTA Customer Happiness Centres in Al Barsha, Kifaf, Twar, Al Manarah, Deira and Umm Ramool, as well as at Tasjeel Centres across Dubai.
How to renew a Dubai driving licence
The renewal process is broadly as follows:
1. Take an eye test
Before applying for renewal, the driver needs to complete an eye test at an RTA-approved eye-test centre.
The result is sent electronically to the RTA, so there is generally no need to submit a paper certificate. The RTA says the eye-test result is valid for three years.
2. Make sure your Emirates ID is valid
A valid Emirates ID is required to renew a Dubai driving licence.
Visitors cannot renew an expired Dubai driving licence, as the RTA requires applicants to have a valid Emirates ID.
3. Apply for renewal
You can apply through the RTA website or the RTA Dubai app, among other channels.
On the RTA website, log in using your Emirates ID, passport or UAE Pass and complete the OTP verification. Then select Drivers Licensing Services → Renew Driving Licence and confirm your licence details before proceeding.
On the RTA Dubai app, you can scan the QR code on your driving licence or enter your licence number, issue date, year of birth and traffic file number.
4. Check and pay fines
Any fines linked to the driving licence must be paid before the renewal can be completed.
The RTA also requires payment of the applicable renewal fees as part of the process.
5. Confirm your details and pay
The system displays the driver’s licence information for review. Check the details carefully, then proceed with payment of the renewal fees.
You can then choose how you want to receive the renewed licence and pay the applicable fees.
For drivers aged 21 and above, the standard licence renewal fee is Dh300, plus a Dh20 Knowledge and Innovation fee.
6. Receive the renewed licence
The renewed licence is issued instantly once the renewal process is completed.
RTA provides a digital driving licence through the RTA Dubai app, which can also be added to Apple Wallet or Samsung Wallet.
If you prefer a physical card, you can have it delivered or print it at an RTA self-service machine.
Delivery options are:
- Dh20 for standard delivery
- Dh35 for same-day delivery
- Dh50 for delivery within two hours
If you complete the renewal through an RTA self-service machine, you can finish the process and receive the renewed physical card on the spot. The machine prints the renewed licence immediately.
RTA lists the self-service machine as an option for receiving the original physical renewed licence, while the digital version is available through the RTA Dubai app. If you choose home delivery for the physical card, you will need to wait for it to arrive.
Dubai driving licence renewal fees
The fees depend on whether the licence is still valid, has been expired for less than 10 years or has been expired for more than 10 years.
If the licence expired more than 10 years ago
- Training file: Dh200
- Learning application: Dh100
- Handbook manual: Dh50
- Evaluation test: Dh200
- Electronic eye test at an approved eye-test centre: Dh140 to Dh180
- Renewal delay fine: Dh500
- Licence renewal: Dh300
- Knowledge and Innovation fee: Dh20
If your driving licence has been expired for more than 10 years, you must take an evaluation test before it can be renewed.
If your licence has more than one category and has been expired for more than 10 years, you only need to take the evaluation test for the light vehicle category. Once you pass, all existing categories can be included on the renewed licence without taking separate tests for each category.
Valid, or expired for less than 10 years
- Licence — under 21: Dh100
- Licence — 21 or older: Dh300
- Electronic eye test at an approved eye-test centre: Dh140 to Dh180
- Medical test: According to the hospital
- Knowledge and Innovation fee: Dh20
What happens if your Dubai driving licence expires?
You can still renew an expired Dubai RTA driving licence. You do not need to start the licensing process again simply because your licence has expired.
However, a renewal delay fine of Dh10 per month applies from the licence expiry date, up to a maximum of Dh500.
This means you can still renew an expired Dubai driving licence, but any applicable delay fine must be paid before the renewal can be completed.
