How to Get an International Driving Permit in the UAE (International Driving License 2026)

Planning to drive abroad from the UAE? Many countries and car rental companies ask for an international driving permit, and getting one from the UAE can be quicker than most people expect.

This guide explains how to get an international driving permit in the UAE, also called an international driving license: who can apply, how it works in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, what can block your application and where the permit is valid.

What Is an International Driving Permit?

An international driving permit, or IDP, is a document that translates your UAE driving license so you can drive in other countries. It does not replace your license: you carry it together with your original UAE license.

It is also called an international driving permit license, an international driving license or IDL. In the UAE, the RTA calls it the International Driving Licence service.

Who Can Apply for an International Driving Permit in the UAE?

Citizens and residents who hold a valid UAE driving license can apply. Tourists cannot.

For the RTA service in Dubai, your license must be issued in Dubai, and the RTA does not accept a temporary or interim license.

How to Get an International Driving Permit in Dubai

If your license was issued in Dubai, apply on the RTA international driving license service. The process has eight steps:

1. Open the service page and enter your Emirates ID number and its expiry date.
2. Confirm the one time password sent to your registered phone number.
3. Pay your fines, if any. The RTA asks for all driving license fines to be paid, including the unpayable ones.
4. Select or upload your photo. It must have a white background and a straight head position.
5. Choose how to receive the license: collect it from a Customer Happiness Centre in Deira or Al Barsha, or use the delivery service.
6. Pay the fees. The amounts are listed below.
7. Wait for the license. The RTA gives the service time as two working days.
8. Receive your permit by the method you chose.

Good to know:

• You must be present in person to collect the license.
• If you upload a new photo, you must collect the license from the Customer Happiness Centre in Deira or Al Barsha, and the support team checks the photo within two working days.
• If the photo is wrong, the support team contacts you to send it again.
• You cannot cancel the application after you submit it and pay the fees.

How Much Does an International Driving Permit Cost?

When we checked the RTA service page on 27 October 2026, the fee was AED 197: AED 177 for the license and AED 20 for the Knowledge and Innovation fee.

If you choose delivery, the RTA lists extra fees: standard delivery AED 20, same day delivery AED 35, delivery within two hours AED 50 and international delivery to GCC countries AED 50. Collecting the license from a Customer Happiness Centre has no delivery fee.

Fees can change, so confirm the current amounts on the RTA international driving license service before you pay.

Can You Get an International Driving Permit Online in the UAE?

Yes. If your license was issued in Dubai, you can get an international driving permit online through the RTA service page. Anyone with a valid UAE license can also apply through the MOI UAE app.

The application is online, but the permit itself is a physical document, so you collect it at a Customer Happiness Centre or receive it by delivery.

Apply Through the MOI UAE App

Citizens and residents can also apply through the MOI UAE app, which is the Ministry of Interior’s official service for driving abroad.

Log in with UAE Pass, choose the International Driving Licence service and enter your details, including nationality, the emirate that issued your license, your license category and your contact information. Check the current steps on the Ministry of Interior service, because the process can be updated.

International Driving Permit in Abu Dhabi and Other Emirates

Residents of Abu Dhabi can apply through the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE, at its branches, at selected Emirates Post offices or online, as well as through the MOI UAE app.

The requirements are similar: a valid UAE license, your Emirates ID and passport, photos and the application form. Details and times can differ by emirate, so confirm them on the service you use.

Where Is the International Driving Permit Valid?

According to the RTA, you can use your international driving license in all countries except the UAE. In the UAE, you drive with your UAE license.

Whether you need the permit depends on the country you visit and on the car rental company. Some countries accept a UAE license on its own, while others require a permit, so check the rules before you travel.

The permit is generally valid for one year from the issue date, so check the date printed on it. To use a valid international driving license abroad, your UAE license must be valid too.

Clear Your Fines Before You Apply

Unpaid fines are a common reason for getting stuck, because the application will not go through until they are paid, including the ones that cannot be paid online.

Our guide on how to check traffic fines in the UAE shows how to find them, and our guide to black points in the UAE explains what happens when a fine comes with an impound.

New to the UAE and Still Driving on a Foreign License?

If you have moved to the UAE with a foreign license, you may not need a permit at all. Check whether your country is on the approved list in our guide to driving license conversion in the UAE.

Thinking About Your Next Car?

If you are planning to replace your car before your next trip, you can browse the cars available at Ready2Ride Motors.