Dubai: According to the Ministry’s latest announcement, residents of 52 nationalities are now allowed to drive motorcycles and light vehicles in the UAE using their valid national driving licenses while on a visit. This new policy applies to non-residents only and eliminates the need for both theoretical and practical testing.

For those who become legal residents, the Ministry has also streamlined the process of exchanging a foreign license for a UAE-issued one under specific conditions. This includes holding a valid residency visa, passing an eye test, meeting the legal driving age, and—in some cases—surrendering the original license based on mutual agreements between the UAE and the issuing country.

The move comes under the new federal traffic and road law and is part of the UAE’s wider effort to improve mobility, boost tourism, and facilitate expat life. The law also exempts certain groups, such as holders of international licenses or permits, and drivers of foreign-registered vehicles recognized by the UAE, from needing a UAE license during their visit.

The Ministry has detailed six primary conditions for exchanging a foreign license for a UAE one:

License must be from an eligible country.

Applicant must meet legal age requirements.

License must be valid.

Applicant must hold UAE residency or provide proof of residence.

Applicant must pass a vision test.

Some nationalities may need to surrender the original license based on bilateral agreements.

The license exchange service is available digitally through the “MuroorKhous” initiative. The fee for the service is Dh600, and applicants are required to submit a legal translation and a copy of their original license. The UAE license can be issued electronically or delivered via courier.

This flexibility also works both ways. UAE citizens can use their national licenses abroad and exchange them for local licenses when residing in partner countries.

List of nationalities
The list of 52 nationalities whose holders are allowed to use their driving licenses issued by their countries while visiting the UAE, or exchange them for a UAE license when residing in the UAE, includes: Estonia, Albania, Portugal, China, Hungary, Greece, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia, Cyprus, Latvia, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Malta, Iceland, Montenegro, Israel, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Uzbekistan, the United States of America, France, Japan, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Ireland, Spain, Norway, New Zealand, Romania, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, Finland, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Canada, Poland, South Africa, Australia, Croatia, Texas, the Republic of North Macedonia, the Republic of Kosovo, the Kyrgyz Republic, in addition to citizens of South Korea, who can only exchange their driving licenses issued by their countries for a UAE license when residing in the UAE.