Foreign Nationals from Specific Countries Eligible to Convert Driving Licenses to Dubai License

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) allows eligible residents to exchange valid foreign driving licenses for a Dubai driving license, streamlining the process and eliminating the need for mandatory lessons or tests for recognized countries. In 2025, the RTA reported that 58,082 foreign licenses were successfully exchanged, covering more than 50 officially approved countries.

Eligible countries include five GCC nations, 38 European countries, 13 Asian and Latin American countries, as well as South Africa, Canada, the USA (including Texas), Australia, and New Zealand. Some countries, such as Turkey, require additional documentation or an official translation of the license. Licenses from Guam, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and Andorra cannot be exchanged.

Expat applicants must ensure their license is valid, pass a mandatory eye test at RTA-accredited centers, and submit any required certificates from their country’s consulate. For applicants from countries not on the approved list, the standard Dubai driving license procedure applies, which includes enrollment in an RTA-approved driving institute and completion of mandatory training and tests.

GCC nationals can exchange licenses issued in their home country or other approved exception countries if the license is valid. The RTA encourages residents to review country-specific requirements on its official website before applying to ensure a smooth license conversion process.

Eligible countries include:

Europe: Albania, 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, Ukraine.

GCC: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia.

Asia: Azerbaijan, Hong Kong, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, China, South Korea, Turkey, Uzbekistan.

Australia & New Zealand: Australia, New Zealand.

Africa: South Africa.

North America: Canada, USA (including Texas).

This license exchange scheme is part of Dubai’s efforts to simplify licensing for expatriates and ensure compliance with local driving regulations.