Countries eligible for UAE driving licence exchange, along with key requirements and exceptions.
Dubai: For many expatriates relocating to Dubai, getting behind the wheel is often a top priority. The good news is that residents holding driving licences from certain approved countries may not need to begin the process from scratch.
Roads and Transport Authority allows eligible residents to exchange their foreign driving licence for a Dubai driving licence, helping them save time, money and effort compared to undergoing driving lessons and tests.
In 2025, the Roads and Transport Authority said 58,082 foreign driving licences were exchanged during the year. The conversions involved licences issued in more than 50 countries officially recognised for exchange to a UAE driving licence.
Who can exchange a foreign driving licence in Dubai?
The list of countries eligible for driving licence exchange includes:
The eligible countries include:
- Five GCC countries
- 38 European countries
- 13 Asian and Latin American countries
- One African country
If your driving licence was issued in one of these countries and meets the required conditions, you can apply directly for a Dubai driving licence without enrolling in a driving institute.
If you qualify and would like a step-by-step guide to the process, you can find it here.
List of countries eligible for UAE driving licence exchange
Europe
Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Britain, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Montenegro and Ukraine.
GCC countries
Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Asia
Azerbaijan, Hong Kong, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, People’s Republic of China, South Korea, Turkey and Uzbekistan.
Australia and New Zealand
Australia and New Zealand.
Africa
South Africa.
North America
Canada, the United States and Texas (USA).Important note: Some driving licences issued by certain countries require additional documents or official translations. Applicants are advised to check the Roads and Transport Authority website for country-specific requirements before applying.
For example, driving licences issued in the Republic of Turkey require a Driving Licence Data Certificate issued by the relevant consulate or embassy.
What if your country is not on the list?
If your country is not included in the approved exchange list, you can still obtain a Dubai driving licence. However, you will need to follow the standard procedure, which includes enrolling at an Roads and Transport Authority-approved driving institute and completing the required training and driving tests.
General requirements for exchanging a driving licence
To exchange a foreign driving licence in Dubai, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- The foreign driving licence must be valid
- An eye test is mandatory
- The eye test can be completed at accredited Eye Test Centres, Customer Happiness Centres or driving institutes
- The eye test fee typically ranges from Dh140 to Dh180, depending on the centre
- If the driving licence does not contain security features, applicants may need to provide a certificate from the issuing country’s consulate or embassy confirming the licence details
Driving licences that cannot be exchanged in Dubai
Driving licences issued by the following countries or territories cannot be exchanged in Dubai: Guam, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and Andorra.
Rules for GCC nationals
GCC nationals may exchange their driving licence in Dubai provided that:
- The licence is valid
- The original licence is surrendered
If you hold a GCC passport and a driving licence issued by the same country — or by one of the approved exception countries — you may exchange it in Dubai regardless of where your Emirates ID was issued.
This article was originally published on January 23, 2026.
