Driving License Conversion in the UAE: Which Countries Can Exchange Without a Test? (2026)

Getting a driving license in the UAE from scratch is slow and expensive. Exchanging your foreign license can take a fraction of that, with no lessons and no driving test, if your country is on the approved list.

This guide explains driving license conversion in the UAE: which countries can exchange, whether you keep your foreign license, what you need, the steps and what to do if your country is not on the list. In our experience, drivers from recognised countries are not asked to take any driving test.

How Does Driving License Conversion Work in the UAE?

The RTA allows drivers from approved countries to replace a foreign driving license with a UAE license, without driving school and without a driving test. This is also called driving license exchange.

In January 2026, the RTA reported that it recognises licenses from 57 countries: five GCC countries, 38 European countries, 13 Asian and Latin American countries and one African country. The list has grown since then: the list on the RTA website, which we checked on 27 October 2026, shows 59 countries and territories.

The RTA license exchange service has a tool where you enter your country and it tells you whether your country is on the list. Use it before you plan anything, because the list changes as new agreements are signed.

Which Countries Can Exchange Their Driving License?

How a foreign license exchange works depends on your country. There are three groups.

The list keeps growing. According to the Dubai Government Media Office, the most recent additions include Kyrgyzstan, Kosovo, North Macedonia, the State of Texas and Croatia.

Countries Where You Keep Your Foreign License

For 20 countries, the RTA does not withdraw your foreign license, and all categories can be replaced: Austria, Belgium, Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United States.

Licenses from Hong Kong and Japan need a legalised translation, and Turkish licenses need a data certificate from the consulate or embassy.

Other Recognised Countries, Where the License Is Withdrawn

Other countries on the list, such as Croatia, Ukraine, Estonia and Albania, can also exchange without a test, but the foreign license is withdrawn and you receive a UAE license in its place. Check your country in the RTA tool for the exact rules.

If you hold a GCC passport and a license from the same country, you can exchange it in Dubai wherever your Emirates ID was issued, and GCC nationals have to surrender their GCC license.

Licenses That Cannot Be Replaced

The RTA does not replace licenses issued in Guam, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Monaco, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and Andorra.

Full List of Countries for UAE Driving License Conversion

This is the list of countries on the RTA exchange service page, which we downloaded and checked on 27 October 2026. The countries in bold are the 20 where the RTA does not withdraw your foreign license.

Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, People’s Republic of China, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Kazakhstan, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Texas (United States of America), Turkey, Ukraine, United States of America (with the exception of the State of Texas), Uzbekistan.

Texas is listed separately from the rest of the United States on the RTA page, so check its rules in the RTA tool. The list changes as new agreements are signed, so confirm your country on the official page before you apply.

Can You Exchange an Indian, Pakistani or Filipino Driving License?

The exchange depends on the country that issued your license, not on your passport. For the 20 countries where the foreign license is kept, the RTA table lists the eligible nationality as all countries, so an Indian, Pakistani or Filipino passport holder with a valid UK or US license can exchange it.

But if your license was issued in India, Pakistan or the Philippines, you cannot use the exchange. These countries are not on the RTA list that we checked on 27 October 2026. The same applies to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Russia, Nigeria and Singapore, which are not on the list either.

In that case you take the full programme at a licensed driving institute: classes, a knowledge test, practical training and a road test. In our experience this takes much longer and costs far more than an exchange, so check your country in the RTA tool before you plan.

Driving License Conversion Requirements: What You Need

To exchange a foreign driving license, you need:

• A valid foreign driving license
• An eye test, which you can take at an accredited eye test centre, a Customer Happiness Centre or a driving institute
• Your Emirates ID, passport or UAE Pass to apply
• A legalised translation, if your country requires one
• A certificate from the consulate or embassy confirming the license data, if your license does not have security signs

The RTA listed these fees for exchanging a driving license when we checked on 27 October 2026: traffic file AED 200, driving license AED 600, handbook manual AED 50, electronic eye test AED 180 and Knowledge and Innovation fee AED 20, a total of AED 1,050. The eye test fee can vary between AED 140 and AED 180 depending on the test center. Fees can change, so confirm the current amounts on the RTA exchange service page before you pay.

Driving License Conversion Step by Step

1. Check your country in the RTA tool.
2. Start the application on the RTA service page with your Emirates ID, passport or UAE Pass, and confirm the code sent to your phone.
3. Enter your details and upload your documents, including a copy of your foreign license and its translation if needed.
4. Take the eye test at an accredited centre.
5. Hand over your original license at a Customer Happiness Centre, if your country requires it.
6. Pay the fees through the RTA link sent to your phone.
7. Receive your license. In Dubai, the license is issued instantly as a digital license in the RTA Dubai app, and you can add it to your Apple or Samsung wallet. You can collect the original card from the self service machines or receive it by delivery.

In Abu Dhabi, you can start through TAMM, and the MOI services cover the other emirates. The steps can differ, so check them on the service you use.

The exchanged license is first issued for one year if you are under 21 and for two years if you are 21 or older, according to the RTA.

What If Your Country Is Not on the List?

Driving license conversion is only available for approved countries. If your country is not on the list, you take the full programme at a licensed driving institute: classes, a knowledge test, practical training and a road test.

In our experience, this takes much longer and costs far more than an exchange, which is why people hope their country is on the list. Check the official list before you plan, so there are no surprises.

Why You Need a UAE License If You Want a Car

A UAE license matters if you plan to buy a car. In practice, the RTA system checks the buyer’s license during the ownership transfer, and without one you cannot buy. Our list of documents required to sell a car in Dubai shows what else is checked.

Your license also carries your black points, so see our guide to black points in the UAE once you start driving.

Ready for Your First Car in the UAE?

When your license is ready, you can browse the cars available at Ready2Ride Motors.