The UAE’s Ministry of Interior has launched the Markhoo’s Initiative, which exempts expats from 43 countries, including the United Kingdom from having to take a driving test in order to exchange their driving licenses for a UAE driving license. This initiative is great news for UK expats who are planning to move to Dubai or are already living there, as they can now exchange their UK driving licenses for a UAE driving license without having to take a driving test.
As well as the UK, other countries that are eligible for this initiative include the USA, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia and New Zealand, South Africa. Expats from these countries can exchange their driving licenses at any of the service centres of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) or through its website. The process is said to be straightforward and requires the submission of the original driving license, a translation of the license if it is not in English or Arabic, a copy of a residency visa, and a passport-sized photograph.
In addition to the Markhoo’s Initiative, the RTA is also offering a “Golden Chance” for expats who have never had a driving license before. This initiative allows UK expats to obtain a driving license without having to pay the training and testing fees, which can cost up to AED 5,500. Applicants only have one chance to take advantage of this “Golden Chance” and if they fail they will then need to apply for enrolment for practical driving lessons.
It’s important to note that while this excludes UK expats from the requirement to take a driving test, they are still required to pass an eye test and a medical fitness test. The eye test can be taken at any of the RTA’s approved optical centres, while the medical fitness test can be taken at any of the approved medical fitness centres.
This new ruling, as well as benefiting UK expats who are living in Dubai and would like to have the opportunity to drive themselves around the UAE without needing to take a driving test, but is also expected to be a boost for tourism, making it easier for UK tourists to rent a car to see the sights themselves.
If you are moving to Dubai, Abu Dhabi or another area of the UAE and would like to ship your car from the UK then Autoshippers has a regular service to all of the main ports. Get a free quote to ship your car to the UAE or find out more about our car shipping services to Dubai for more information.
Autoshippers has been exporting vehicles to the UAE for 25 years, if you have a specific requirement then you can complete our quotation form found on this page, give us a call on 0800 389 0784 / 0117 982 8123 or fill out the form on our contact us page.
