Dubai: For many expats moving to Dubai, one of the first priorities is getting on the road. The good news is that if you already hold a driving licence from certain approved countries, you may not need to start from scratch.Who can exchange a foreign driving licence in Dubai?The list of countries eligible for driving licence exchange includes:Five GCC countries38 European countries13 Asian and Latin American countriesOne African countryIf your licence was issued in one of these countries and meets the requirements, you can apply directly for a Dubai driving licence without attending a driving institute.List of countries eligible for UAE driving licence exchangeEuropeAlbania, 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, UkraineGCC countriesBahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi ArabiaAsiaAzerbaijan, Hong Kong, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, People’s Republic of China, South Korea, Turkey, UzbekistanAustralia and New ZealandAustralia, New ZealandAfricaSouth AfricaNorth AmericaCanada, USA, Texas (USA)Important note: Some driving licences issued by certain countries require additional documentation or official translation. Applicants are advised to check the RTA 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 process, which involves enrolling at an RTA-approved driving institute and completing mandatory training and tests.General requirements for exchanging a driving licenceTo exchange a foreign driving licence in Dubai, applicants must meet the following requirements:The foreign driving licence must be validAn eye test is mandatoryThis can be completed at accredited Eye Test Centres, Customer Happiness Centres, or driving institutesThe eye test fee typically ranges between Dh140 and Dh180, depending on the centreIf the driving licence does not include security features, a certificate from the issuing country’s consulate or embassy confirming the licence data may be requiredDriving licences that cannot be exchanged in DubaiDriving licences issued by the following countries or territories cannot be exchanged: Guam, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, AndorraRules for GCC nationalsGCC nationals may exchange their driving licence in Dubai provided that:The licence is validThe original licence must be surrenderedIf 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.