A complete Abu Dhabi driving licence guide

• Process
• Documents and Cost
• Emirates Driving Company
• FAQs

Have you been scouring online sources for ‘driving licence Abu Dhabi procedures’? Worry not; we have all the information you need right here! Getting a driving licence in the capital is a huge milestone. If you are a resident, having a licence makes life extremely easy as you don’t always have to rely on public transportation for your commute. We have all the information you need here if you are looking at the step-by-step process for getting a driving licence in Abu Dhabi. 

Abu Dhabi driving licence: Step-by-Step Process

Most people want to get their driving licence when they turn 18. Having a licence also enhances your professional profile, especially if you are looking for jobs in sales. However, it is not always simple. This Abu Dhabi driving licence guide provides a step-by-step process to help you achieve your goal.

Eligibility criteria for a driving licence in Abu Dhabi

People who are medically fit and above the legal age can apply for a new driving licence in Abi Dhabi. The legal age for driving depends on the vehicle you want to drive.

Type of vehicle	Minimum age
Type of vehicle Motorcycle	Minimum age 17
Type of vehicle Light vehicle	Minimum age 18
Type of vehicle Light bus	Minimum age 21
Type of vehicle Heavy bus	Minimum age 21
Type of vehicle Light mechanical vehicle	Minimum age 20
Type of vehicle Heavy mechanical vehicle	Minimum age 20
Type of vehicle Heavy truck	Minimum age 20

Applicant categories for a driving licence in Abu Dhabi

Those applying for an Abu Dhabi drivers licence are divided into two sub-categories:

• First-time Emirati applicants or first-time expat applicants
• Expats who have a licence from a foreign country.

You need to identify to which category you belong, as the process for both can differ.

How to get a driving licence in Abu Dhabi for first-time applicants

First-time driving licence applicants have to pass the following stages before they can obtain a licence:

1. Training and lessons
2. Theory test – Learners Permit
3. Yard Parking Exam – Internal Test
4. Road test
5. Issuance

Here is an easy-to-follow guide that you can follow to acquiring a driver’s licence in the capital when applying through TAMM:

STEP ONE: EYE TEST FOR DRIVING LICENCE IN ABU DHABI

An eye test will be the first step on your licencing journey. You will need to bring your original Emirates ID for this. The test must be carried out by a licensed optician approved by the traffic department or the emirate’s licencing authority.

STEP TWO: OPEN A TRAFFIC FILE

There are two options through which you can open a traffic file in the emirate:

• Abu Dhabi Police mobile application
• TAMM

TAMM is the capital’s official services portal. After visiting the TAMM website, navigate to the pertinent page and start the process.

• Next, enter the details via your UAE Pass to log in.
• After that, type in your traffic file number.
• Click on the Vehicles and Transportation section and then Driving Services
• Next, select Request to Open a Driving Licence File
• Initiate login authentication with the UAE Pass

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• Select your chosen mode of transport
• Select New as the chosen category
• Choose a driving testing centre. This will be a branch of the Abu Dhabi Police Traffic and Licencing Department. Mention whether you prefer manual or automatic transmission
• Fill in your personal information like the number on your Emirates ID, birth date and email address

After finishing the process, upload the required documents and pay for the file.

STEP THREE: INTERNAL PRACTICE AND THEORY

The next step in your quest is to visit the Emirates Driving Company (EDC) in Abu Dhabi. Your traffic file number is a requirement for registration for the practical and theory exams.

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Other requirements include a copy of your residency visa, passport and latest photo. Applicants aged 17 will need an NOC or No Objection Certificate.

STEP FOUR: BOOK A TEST DATE

You will have to book the test date yourself. Fortunately, this is easily done via the TAMM website. After logging in and entering your file number, confirm your chosen test location and pay the fee. A text message confirming the location and date will be sent to you shortly. You will also be given a training card after the date confirmation.

STEP FIVE: MINIMUM HOURS FOR TRAINING ON THE ROAD

Your training will include practical and external road sessions. All applicants from official centres like the Emirates Driving Company must complete a total of six hours of training classes.

STEP SIX: ROAD TEST

After external road training, head to your chosen traffic licencing branch as indicated in Step Two. Here, your driving skills will be assessed via a road test. You will be given your driving licence after successful completion.

STEP SEVEN: GET YOUR LICENCE

You can apply for a physical or electronic driving licence (E-Driving Licence). After passing your road test, you will receive the former within 10 days at the provided collection point. The electronic version will be sent to your email address or via SMS.

Residents with foreign licences from a list of approved countries can transfer their licences in Abu Dhabi

If you already have a foreign driving licence, chances are your process is simpler. The government offers an easier process to people who have a licence from the following countries:

• GCC Countries
• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Canada
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• South Africa
• Spain
• South Korean
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Turkey
• UK
• USA

* If you don’t have a licence from these countries, you will be considered a first-time applicant.

Process for International Driving Licence Abu Dhabi

If you have a driving licence from any of the countries mentioned above, you need not apply for a new Abu Dhabi driving licence as your foreign licence can be transferred.

The first step is to visit any official typing or translation centre to get an Arabic translation for your foreign licence. Next, visit the licencing centre with the necessary documents (details below). Here, you can get your eye test, and other formalities will also be conducted. If your eye test is successful, you will be given your driving licence in Abu Dhabi.

You can also apply online via TAMM.

Documents and Cost for Driving Licence in Abu Dhabi

• Single passport-size photo
• Passport original and photocopy
• Emirates ID
• Foreign driving licence original and photocopy
• A valid Abu Dhabi residency visa photocopy
• NOC from your employer or visa sponsor
• Arabic translation foreign driving licence

While submitting a copy of your residency visa, ensure it has a minimum six-month validity. Here’s the process for making a UAE visa status enquiry.

Abu Dhabi driving licence fees

• Driving licence Abu Dhabi cost: AED 600
• Driving licence renewal in Abu Dhabi cost: AED 300
• Adding a new category to the driving licence: AED 200

This process will wrap up your Emirates driving licence Abu Dhabi guide if you are lucky. However, if you are about to get your first Abu Dhabi driving licence or don’t have one from the aforementioned countries, continue reading our guide.

To start your training in Abu Dhabi, you must visit the Emirates Transport Driving Institute (details below) and open a driving file in your name.

Emirates Driving Company

EDC is the first certified driving and road safety institute in Abu Dhabi. Its competent trainers offer courses in various driving licence categories: light vehicle, motorcycle, heavy vehicle, and heavy bus. EDC operates centres in Mussafah in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. 

Driving School location and contact

Emirates Driving Company is the only school in Abu Dhabi. The address is Street no. 17 Mussafah Industrial Area, Abu Dhabi and the contact number (toll-free) is +971-600-588-880.

Documents Required for Training at Emirates Driving Company

Local applicants only have to present their Emirates ID. Foreigners living in Abu Dhabi, however, have to present the following documents:

• Emirates ID (copy and original)
• Passport (copy)
• Passport-size photos
• Eye test results
• No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your sponsor

Emirates Driving Company Courses

The Emirates Driving Company (EDC) course is based on eight units (lessons), each of which requires completing and passing the theory test. The classes are two hours long.

• Traffic rules, road markings and road signs.
• Inside city limits
• Outside city limits
• Driving under difficult conditions
• Dealing with critical situations
• Driving behaviour and road manners
• Vehicle knowledge
• Safety

Once you have completed the training, prepare for the theory test. The same applies for a motorcycle licence in Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi Driving Licence Theory Test

There are 35 questions designed to gauge your understanding of the country’s driving laws. The test has three segments:

• 17 Questions about traffic situations – Passing criteria: 11 correct answers minimum.
• 18 Questions about driving licence specifics – Passing criteria: 12 correct answers minimum.
• The third segment is about Risk Recognition – You are shown videos about environmental conditions and have to propose solutions.

* The test is conducted either in English or Arabic. You can take an oral exam if you are unfamiliar with both languages.

Theory Test Tips

• Follow the driving handbook
• Remember all road and traffic signs
• Take the online mock test to prepare yourself

Practical driving course

Following the theory test, applicants undergo rigorous training for practical sessions using simulators and other tools.

The first step after the theory test is the parking test. Following this, you are required to undergo a road test. The number of sessions depends on how much work you need to reach the desired level. All lessons are conducted in a driving rink designed to be secure for first-time drivers.

The Practical Test

When the instructor feels you are ready for your test, you will be given a “certificate of readiness.” The certificate is necessary to register for the Road or Practical Test.

The practical test is the most challenging part of acquiring your Abu Dhabi licence. You will have 15 to 20 minutes to prove your driving skills to the examiner. The examiner will inform you of the result straight after. If you fail, you must undergo seven more hours of training.

If you pass, an approval paper will be provided, which you can then submit to the Pass Counter with ID documentation and the Abu Dhabi licence fee. Get your photograph taken from the photo area, and voila! You will have your licence in the next fifteen minutes.

Documents required for Practical Test

You will be assigned a time and a date for the test. Please arrive on time with the following documents.

• Emirates ID
• Driving file
• Two passport-sized photographs

Practical Test Tips Abu Dhabi Driving Licence

• Be formally dressed.
• Don’t wear sunglasses; examiners monitor your eye movements during the drive.
• Don’t talk to the examiner unnecessarily.
• Obey instructions.
• Adjust the seat and mirrors and put on the seat belt before you start.
• Check the handbrake and the gear right before you start.
• Drive moderately, below the speed limit.
• Follow road signs.
• Maintain a safe distance between your car and the car ahead of you.
• Check lanes with side and rearview mirrors before switching lanes.
• Use the indicator before changing lanes. 
• Don’t apply brakes unless it’s an emergency.
• Park the car on the side when instructed.

FAQs

How to pass the driving test in Abu Dhabi?

The best way to do so is to prepare yourself for what’s to come.

• Familiarise yourself with the test routes
• Practice parking and learn the rules of the road
• Learn from your mistakes
• Keep your documents in order

How long does it take to get a driving licence in Abu Dhabi?

After paying the Abu Dhabi driving licence file opening fees, applicants can receive their driving licences in the capital in as little as two months.

What is the procedure for renewing a driving licence in Abu Dhabi?

The UAE driving licence has to be renewed periodically. For UAE and GCC citizens, the renewal term is every ten years, and for other foreign expats, it must be renewed every five years. If you delay the Abu Dhabi driving licence renewal, a penalty of AED 10 is imposed every month after the grace period of one month. 

WHAT IS THE CAR OWNERSHIP TRANSFER PROCESS IN THE UAE?

If you wish to buy a used car after getting your licence, go through our guide on car ownership transfer in the UAE.

That’s the end of our Abu Dhabi driving licence guide. Good news for those moving to Dubai! You can also transfer your driving licence from one emirate to another. This streamlined process eliminates the need to begin the application process anew, saving you valuable time and resources.

Do you know? Expats with a valid Dubai driving licence have a better chance of landing certain jobs in the UAE. If you frequently travel to different countries, you can also get an international driving licence in Dubai.

Are you thinking it’s time to wave goodbye to Dubai’s public transport and say hello to freedom? Our guide to the best driving schools in Dubai is the perfect place to start your journey.

*Please note that the required documents, licence fees, and costs mentioned above can vary over time.