- 04-11-2025
International Driving License UAE: Complete Guide 2025
If you are a frequent traveller or are someone who likes to spend time in an overseas location, driving is one of the most important things that would help make things easy for the most part. Furthermore, if you plan to travel overseas to work or study, then knowing how to drive would come in handy.
However, for international travel, there are some requirements, one of which is having an international driver's license. An International Driving License in Dubai or the UAE (IDL) in your pocket is a document of great comfort. For UAE residents, this small document gives you the right to drive in other countries, allowing you to explore the world easily from behind the wheel.
It is a sweet experience to be given the freedom of driving your own car, at your own speed, to your own location anywhere in the world, whether it is a convenience or the pleasure itself. And then there is the aspect that you do not have to wait to get cabs and pay high prices on them or use a public conveyance just because you have a driving license that would help you to travel in different places of the world.
In this guide, we will help you to get all the information about how to get an international driver's license in Dubai and other Emirates, which will simplify your life when travelling. We will answer all questions, starting with the discovery of its benefits to knowledge of the eligibility requirements and how to apply it to which countries accept it.
What does an International Driving License mean?
An International Driving License, or IDL, is an official document that enables UAE residents to drive a car in another country. It enables those who hold it to drive vehicles across borders without any applications or exams. Moreover, it's a testimony that you possess a valid driving License in the country that you inhabit.
In line with the United Nations convention, the IDL is a legal provision, the one that is acknowledged worldwide and is presented in ten languages. This is what you require to deal with smooth communication with the official authorities and the law enforcers in other countries.
Additionally, an IDL is also referred to as an International Driving Permit, or IDP. Having this at your side, then hiring a car in overseas countries will not be a hassle. Moreover, it also eliminates the different risks of complications and penalties to the official authorities in overseas destinations since it will make certain that you are adhering to the foreign road regulations.
Difference Between a Regular and an International Driving License in UAE
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai issues the regular license, enabling frequent visitors and residents to have a legal right to drive cars in all of the United Arab Emirates. It usually lasts 10 years for Emirati citizens and 5 years for residents and will, of course, require written and practical driving tests to be carried out along with a number of documents, including your Emirates ID, passport-sized photos, proof of residency, and medical fitness certificate. It is important as this license is the one required for normal driving in Dubai and all over the UAE, so it is the most basic document to have in order to drive legally on roads.
An International Driving License (IDL), however, is basically for those UAE residents intending to drive overseas. It is a translation of your UAE driving license and is valid in more than 100 countries, so you must carry your UAE driving license along with it while driving abroad. The International Driving License is a valid document for up to 1 year and is not valid in the issuing country (i.e., UAE).
Eligibility for Applicants of an International Driving License in UAE
To be able to apply to possess an IDL in Dubai, one has to have an active driving License issued in Dubai. The people and the citizens of Dubai can apply for the IDL service. As far as the pricing goes, the application cost for an international driving License in Dubai ranges from AED 170 to 200.
The license shall be issued to you instantly or even sent to you subsequently. In case you desire to avail delivery services, there are options for that, but it is at an extra fee.
Application of an International Driving License in the UAE
The UAE offers an easy procedure when one applies to obtain an International Driving License (IDL), which can be done online or offline. Following is a stepwise instructional guide that may guide you through the application process, the necessary documents, the mode of payment, and the application location.
How to Get an International Driver's License
It is possible to get an International Driving License either online or offline, which saves time for UAE residents. Applicants can also apply through official government sites like the RTA and the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE or by visiting authorised service centres in person. Here is a simple breakdown of the application process from both sides.
Online Application:
- Go to the official site of the RTA (Roads and Transport Authority) or the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE).
- Then, fill in the form of application with the required details.
- Provide the required documents (a copy of the passport, Emirates ID, UAE driving License, and photos).
- Make the payments using the safe and secure online payment gateway.
- The IDL, upon approval, will be delivered to your address, or it can be collected at a specified location.
Offline Application:
- Go to any of the permissible centres, like the RTA, Automobile and Touring Club of UAE (ATCUAE), or any other authorised service centre in your emirate.
- Present the necessary documents at the counter.
- Complete the application form that the centre provides.
- Make your payments either in cash or by card.
- You will get your international driving License instantly, or you will find it sent to you by mail in a few days.
Documents Required for Applying for an International Driving Permit in Dubai
To apply for an IDL in Dubai, you need to ensure that you have the original and photocopies of the following documents:
- IDL form
- Emirates ID
- Passport
- Valid Residency
- UAE driving License
- Two passport photos
Where to Apply for an International Driving License in Abu Dhabi, Dubai or other Emirates
It is easy to obtain an international driving license at a number of places:
- Roads and Transport Authority (RTA): they are offered at the RTA offices and on their online portal.
- Automobile and Touring Club of UAE (ATCUAE): It can be applied for online or by going to their offices in various locations in the UAE.
- Authorised Service Centres: There are also authorised customer service centres and typing offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and other emirates that receive applications.
- Emirates Post Offices: In the Emirates, it is possible to apply at special branches of the post offices.
How to Monitor your Application
Online: In case you used the RTA or ATCUAE portal to apply online, you will be provided with a tracking number. Enter this number to see the status of your application on their site or their app. It has an approximate processing time of 3-5 working days. You are free to either have it delivered home or pick up the License at the centre.
Offline: In face-to-face services, you could call the branch where you had received your documents and ask about the status or the time it is likely to be delivered. The License can be issued on the spot at the RTA or the ATCUAE branches. In the case of post offices or service centres, it can take 2-3 days.
Cost of Acquiring an International Driving License in the UAE
In the case of an application for the International Driving License (IDL) in the UAE, the prices might vary slightly according to the emirate, the place of application, and the request of any other service such as home delivery or fast-tracking. The costs that are incurred in obtaining an international driving License are detailed below. Here is the simple breakdown of charges that you must know.
Application Fee
As mentioned above, the average processing of an international driving License in the UAE costs AED 170 to AED 200. This is the starting price, and it includes the issuance of the IDL. In case you do not have passport-size photos, there are application centres that offer photograph services. The cost of taking a photo at the centre will be between AED 25 and AED 50. To save this additional expense, it is better to carry your own new passport-sized photos.
Fast-Track Service (Optional)
There are also those centres that offer expedited or fast-track processing at an extra charge. This service can come in handy when you have an urgent need for an international driving License. The cost of fast-track varies between AED 50 and AED 100 at different centres and emirates.
Delivery Fee
A delivery fee is applied for online applications. Plus, if you do not want to pick up the License personally, most centres offer home delivery services at an extra fee. The delivery fee normally varies between AED 20 and AED 30, based on the place and the service provider. Additionally,
Pricing Differences among Emirates
The overall fee of applying for an international driving License is the same in the UAE, but some minimal differences in fees may occur based on the emirate or the application center. This is typically in the service fee of the application aspects as listed above.
- Dubai: The charges are usually at the higher end of the spectrum, and the overall cost of the IDL is usually around AED 200 or more when one uses the premium service centres such as the RTA.
- Abu Dhabi: The pricing of an international driving License in Abu Dhabi is similar to Dubai, and the application fee is usually AED 170 - AED 200.
- Sharjah and Other Emirates: The charges may be slightly less (moving more towards AED 170), and other services, such as delivery offers, can be cheaper.
Validity of the issued UAE International Driving License
In Dubai or other emirates, the International Driving License is usually good for one year from the date it was issued. You will need to renew it if you want to keep driving internationally beyond this time.
How to Renew the License
If your Dubai International Driving License is about to run out, you can easily renew it. The process for renewing is the same as applying for a new IDL:
- Documents Required: You will need to send in a copy of your UAE driving License, your passport, your Emirates ID, and a passport-sized photo.
- Where to Renew: You can renew your membership online through the RTA or the Automobile and Touring Club of UAE (ATCUAE) websites, or in person at one of their branches or authorised centres.
- Cost: The charge to renew is around the same as the fee to apply for the first time, which is between AED 170 and AED 200.
- Time to Process: For online applications, renewal usually takes 3 to 5 business days. For in-person applications, it can be done right away at some centres.
Advantages of the UAE International Driving License
The IDL is associated with a wide range of advantages that allow not only driving to international destinations but also make the process convenient and smooth. You can take a glimpse at the most notable benefits of the international driving permit that you can claim.
Serve as a Primary Criteria to Drive Abroad
Needless to mention, the biggest advantage of the IDL is that you are allowed to drive in foreign nations. With this in hand, you need not bother to acquire or secure a local driving license.
There is no need to go through any application or test in a foreign country. It gives the liberty and freedom of mind to drive across the world. The IDL is the most valuable document that any person must have to be able to drive a vehicle or motor across international borders.
Zero Hassle of Language Barrier
Communicating in an alien country is daunting in case they do not speak your language. Fortunately, it is through an IDL that the language barrier is overcome, and it becomes easy to communicate smoothly with the law enforcement and the official authorities in foreign nations.
It is because the IDL is available to be printed in ten languages, such as Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Italian, Scandinavian, and Portuguese. Driving-related problems are thus a pain-free affair in any foreign country since at least one or a combination of these languages is known in those countries.
Evidence of Driving License in Home Country
With an IDL in hand, you are not only demonstrating that you can drive in other countries but also providing evidence of the fact that you have a driving License in the country in which you are being offered such an identity document.
Indicatively, taking an IDL in the UAE will mean that you can drive all over the world, and the document will also indicate in the UAE that your driver's License is valid. This is basically a translation of a local driving License.
Nations Accepting the UAE International Driver's License
The UAE IDL is a very varied document that is accepted in practically every country in the world. This is a list of countries where an IDL makes it easy to drive.
- United States of America
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- France
- Italy
- Australia
- Canada
- Japan
- South Korea
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- Spain
- Netherlands
- South Africa
- New Zealand
Final Words
While getting an IDL is not very difficult among the majority of UAE residents, there are slight aspects that may make it complex, and one of them is your driving record. Other issuing authorities might reject an IDP in case you have serious traffic violations or you are disqualified on your driving record.
And even though there are strictly some violations of a purely behavioural nature, many accidents and traffic offences in the UAE may be gathered as a result of neglect towards the vehicle itself: old brakes, underinflated tyres, poor lighting, or overdue maintenance. Perhaps one of the smartest things to do to safeguard your driving record and to save yourself a lot of needless hassle in the IDL process is to maintain your vehicle not only in the finest possible condition.
And that is where AutoFix, your multi brand car service and repair partner, comes in. We will assist in making sure that your car is roadworthy, through expert car inspections and diagnosis, preventive maintenance and oil change, which will minimise chances of breakdowns, preventable violations or reports of accidents that could impact on your record. Having a properly maintained car does not only drive better but also ensures your travel plans run smoothly and your driving privilege is safe in the international arena.