Residents of Abu Dhabi enjoy many public transport options. However, many people still prefer to drive their own vehicle. Driving without a valid license isn’t allowed in the UAE, because of strict laws and a heavy focus on road safety. When you’re getting your driving license in Abu Dhabi, make sure you know the facts and regulations.
Before moving towards an eye test for a driving license in Abu Dhabi you must know about license rules.
To lend you a hand, here is a step-by-step guide to obtaining your driving license in Abu Dhabi.
Eligibility
To apply for a driving license you must be fulfilling the below criteria:
- Must be a UAE resident
- Must be 18 years to drive a car or light vehicle
- Must be 17 years for a motorcycle
- Must be 20+ years for commercial driving
- Must be 21 years for commercial bus driving
People applying for a driving license have two categories:
- Individuals with a valid international driving license from selected countries
- Individuals who want a fresh license
Let us discuss both in detail:
Process For Applicants with Valid International Driving License
Applicants who hold valid licenses from the following countries may obtain their Abu Dhabi license more conveniently:
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahrain
- Belgium
- Canada
- Denmark
- France
- Finland
- Germany
- Greece
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Kuwait
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Oman
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Saudi Arabia
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- UK
If you’re a citizen of an approved country and have a valid license, you only need a day to convert your home license into an Emirati one. The process is about as easy as falling asleep.
The process includes:
- Have photocopies made of your passport, visa page for Abu Dhabi residency, work license, and Emirates ID.
- Please include one passport size photo.
- A NOC from a Visa sponsor or workplace.
- Translation of your driving license from an Abu Dhabi translation outlet or typing center.
- Your Eye Test Result.
- The cost of the eye test is 100 AED and the processing fee for the license is 250 AED.
Process For First Time Applicant
If you do not have a valid license from one of the countries on the list and you are applying for your first license, the process is going to be slightly different. This is what you need to do:
- You have to take a driving class and training.
- If you’re ready to take some tests, you can go through the first step by opening a driving file with the Emirates Driving Company (you can’t attempt any theoretical or practical tests without one).
- The Abu Dhabi Driving Course requires students to study eight units, including:
- Traffic rules, road markings, and road signs.
- Inside city limits
- Outside city limits
- Driving under difficult conditions
- Dealing with critical situations
- Driving behavior and road manners
- Vehicle knowledge
- Safety
- The video lessons are 2 hours each. Once you’ve done these units, you’ll take a theory test to get your learner’s permit.
- The theory test measures your understanding of driving laws followed in the country. It has 35 questions.
- After you’ve passed your theory test, your instructor will tell you if you’re ready to go on the road for a practical driving test. After that, you’ll be given a Card of Readiness.
- After producing a certificate, you can book a practical driving test with the Emirates Driving Company.
- To get a driver’s license, a person must pass certain tests. The first test is your Eyesight test. And second is the parking test, followed by a road test. All these driving tests are taken inside a driving rink, where new drivers are protected from accidents.
- When you’ve successfully completed the driving tests, you can take your certificate to the Drivers and Vehicles Licensing Department to prove that you’ve finished the necessary requirements.
Now all the procedures have been explained but the most important step of them all is to get an eye test.
Where to Take The Eye Test From?
In Abu Dhabi, you need to visit the Drivers and Vehicles Licensing Department with all of the documents mentioned above to take an eye test. It’s a quick process that takes only 5 minutes or so. You’ll need to clear this test in order to get a driver’s license here.
The fee for taking the eye test is AED 100 (as of the date you are reading this sentence), which may change with time; therefore, it is always useful to check with the official website of the driving license authority.
Location: 9th Street, Near Emirates Transport Workshop, M40, Mussafah, Abu Dhabi
Contact details: 800-3333
Timings: Saturday – Wednesday (8:00 am to 7:00 pm), Thursday (8:00 am to 2:30 pm). Closed on Friday.
There are also other authorized eye shops from where you can get your eyesight test.
RTA Approved Centres for Conducting Eye Tests
Following are some centers through which you can also get your eye test done near you:
Magrabi Optical
The UAE Ministry of Interior has licensed Magrabi Optical as one of the first optical stores that can conduct driving license eye tests – available at all nine outlets in Dubai. The company has also diversified into optometry and contact lenses services in all its outlets. With many years of experience in the field of vision, the team at Magrabi Optical takes pride in providing personalized services to its customers.
Yateem Opticians
Yateem Opticians is a member of the Universal Eye Associates, UK, and is an authorized driving license eye test center in Dubai. The optical store caters to eye tests for both, new driving license issuance and renewal processes. After conducting the test, the optical store uploads eye test results on the relevant RTA portal. Whether in Al Barsha, City Walk, or any other area of Dubai, our fully-trained technicians are ready to serve you with high-quality services at all times. Our optical store caters to a large client base including but not limited to families, big companies, and police forces in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
So you can get your eye test done either through these third-party opticians or you can go directly to Emirates Driving Company.
Want to read about how car insurance works in UAE, check out our complete guide here.
