Over the last two decades, Dubai has cemented its status among the world’s most fantastical destinations for business and leisure. But as any insider will tell you, having a car at your disposal remains one of the most convenient and economical ways of getting around, especially if you have a packed itinerary or don’t fancy spending hours on end riding or waiting on public transport.
Luckily, whether you’re visiting Dubai for just a day or two, or staying much longer, the rules and regulations around driving are fairly straightforward (and of course, renting a car from Udrive is even simpler).
Travelers in Dubai on visit visas can drive light vehicles (cars, SUVs, vans, and pickups) if they have a valid international driving permit issued outside of UAE. Also, driving licenses from certain approved countries can be exchanged for a UAE license, allowing visitors to drive legally in Dubai.
A few additional restrictions and limitations also apply when driving in Dubai with an international permit. In this guide, Udrive simplifies everything you need to know as a foreigner about driving and licensing in Dubai.
How to Drive as a Tourist in Dubai
Although Dubai has several transportation options including metros, buses, ferries, and cabs, rental cars remain one of the most preferred choices for tourists, owing to affordability, convenience, and practicality. (See our detailed comparison of cost and convenience of the transportation options in Dubai.)
Dubai has a left-hand traffic system, and the first thing you need to drive as a traveler in Dubai (other than a great car, of course) is a valid international driving permit. Keep in mind that an international permit is just a translated version of your primary license that’s widely accepted across the world; it is not a separate license in and of itself.
In order for an international driving permit to be considered valid, it needs to be used in conjunction with your primary license, and in order to drive legally in Dubai, neither document should have lapsed or expired.
Also, an international permit can only be procured in the same country as the country of origin of your primary driving license. For example, if your primary license was issued in the US, you can only obtain an international permit in the US.
In other words, you have to get your international permit before you come to Dubai. See the table below for more on how to get an international permit in your country to drive in Dubai.
Visitors already in Dubai without a valid international driving permit issued outside the UAE can still legally drive if they hold a valid driving license from one of the 49 approved “exception” countries. This requires converting / exchanging the approved license for a UAE license.
Restrictions / Limitations of International Driving Licenses in Dubai
Even if you do have a valid international driving license, keep in mind these additional conditions when driving in Dubai:
- International driving licenses are only valid for visit visas; holders of residence and Golden visas are not permitted to drive with an international driving license.
- Visitors with transit visas require additional approval from the vehicle’s insurance company.
- Visitors with international driving licenses are only permitted to drive rental vehicles or vehicles registered to a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or spouse).
- Additional documentation, including but not limited to a Carnet de Passage en Douane (CPD) is required to cross international borders with UAE-registered vehicles.
- Individual car rental companies may have further requirements on top of these, and may or may not accept international licenses from certain countries. (uDrive accepts international driving licenses from over 50 countries, and has the simplest documentation process, with photocopies of only two documents required.)
Workarounds for Foreigners in Dubai Without an International Driving License
As mentioned earlier, if you forgot to obtain an international driving license before coming to the UAE, you may be eligible to convert your driving license to a UAE license, provided that your original license is from one of the following countries:
Albania, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China (PRC), Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, Ukraine, USA.
Note: Depending on their nationality, holders of driving licenses from Albania, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine may be required to turn in their original license in order to exchange it for a UAE license.
Getting an International Permit to Drive in Dubai / UAE as a Visitor
To drive in Dubai or the UAE with an international driving license, you need to have obtained the international license outside the UAE. If you hold driving licenses in more than one country, it is ideal to obtain your international license from the country that matches your passport, as this simplifies documentation when renting cars or converting your license in the UAE.
The table below offers helpful links of where to apply for an international driving license.