The type of licence you need depends on what kind of licence you hold in another country, which country it is, and what kind of visa you have. A full licence is required - provisional and learners' permits don't qualify, and it must have been issued in the same country as your passport. With a Visitor's visa, you can drive (and hire a car too) but you will need an International Driving Permit that has been issued in your own country.
The type of licence you need depends on what kind of licence you hold in another country, which country it is, and what kind of visa you have. A full licence is required - provisional and learners' permits don't qualify, and it must have been issued in the same country as your passport. With a Visitor's visa, you can drive (and hire a car too) but you will need an International Driving Permit that has been issued in your own country.
The type of licence you need depends on what kind of licence you hold in another country, which country it is, and what kind of visa you have. A full licence is required - provisional and learners' permits don't qualify, and it must have been issued in the same country as your passport. With a Visitor's visa, you can drive (and hire a car too) but you will need an International Driving Permit that has been issued in your own country.
If
you
don’t
have
any
kind
of
driving
licence
you’ll
have
to
take
a
test
in
the
usual
way
–
more
info
at
the
really
useful
Abu
Dhabi
Government
portal
at
www.abudhabi.ae.
Otherwise
the
type
of
licence
you
need
depends
on
what
kind
of
licence
you
hold
in
another
country,
which
country
it
is,
and
what
kind
of
visa
you
have.
• A
full
licence
is
required
–
provisional
and
learners’
permits
don’t
qualify,
and
it
must
have
been
issued
in
the
same
country
as
your
passport.
• The
UAE
recognises
the
validity
of
licences
issued
in
most
Western
countries.
There’s
a
full
list
on
the
driving
licence
pages
of
the
Government
website
at
www.abudhabi.ae.
• With
a
Visitor’s
visa,
you
can
drive
(and
hire
a
car
too)
–
but
you
will
need
an
International
Driving
Permit
that
has
been
issued
in
your
own
country.
(In
the
case
of
the
UK
,
you
can
get
one
for
£5
from
main
post
offices;
you’ll
need
a
passport
photo
and
your
existing
licence.).
With
a
Resident’s
visa,
you
can’t
use
an
International
Driving
Permit
at
all.
You
will
need
to
apply
for
a
UAE
driving
licence,
which
is
a
bureaucratic
but
not
particularly
troublesome
task.
(If
you
are
the
spouse
or
child
of
someone
employed
in
the
Emirate,
you
won’t
have
a
Residents
visa
but
you
can
still
apply
for
a
UAE
licence
if
you
can
provide
proof
of
residence
in
Abu
Dhabi.)
To apply for a licence ... You
will
need
these
documents:
1. Your
passport
and
a
photocopy
of
it
(including
the
page
with
your
visa)
2. A
legal
translation
of
your
driving
licence
(you’ll
find
lots
of
translation
bureaux
around
the
Lulu
Centre
on
Hamdam
Street
–
it
should
cost
AED50-‐100)
3. A
letter
from
your
employer
or
your
sponsor
stating
that
they
have
no
objection
to
your
having
a
driving
licence
4. Three
recent
passport-‐size
photographs
5. AED20
for
your
eye
test
6. AED200
as
the
licence
fee
Take
that
lot
to
the
Traffic
&
Driver
Licensing
Department
in
the
Muroor
area
between
Airport
Road
and
East
Road
(entrance
by
27th
street)
–
02
800
3333.
Go
up
the
steps
to
the
first
floor;
the
first
desk
you
see
is
a
photocopy
service,
which
is
handy
(there’s
also
an
ATM
there
if
you
need
cash).
The
main
reception
desk
is
beyond
it,
in
the
middle
of
the
room.
Hand
your
documents
over
to
one
of
the
clerks;
they’ll
check
them
and
if
they
are
ok
you’ll
be
given
a
number.
This
is
for
your
eye
test,
which
happens
in
a
room
opposite
the
photocopying
desk.
Join
the
queue
and
your
number
will
be
called
eventually.
Assuming
you
pass
the
eye
test,
go
back
to
the
reception
desk
with
your
eye
test
certificate
and
you’ll
be
given
another
number.
This
is
for
the
driving
licence
application
proper,
which
happens
at
the
booths
towards
the
rear
of
the
room.
Numbers
are
displayed
above
the
booths;
when
yours
appears,
go
to
the
relevant
chair
and
hand
over
all
your
documents.
Eventually
they
will
be
returned
and
you’ll
take
another
piece
of
paper
to
the
collection
room,
which
is
next
to
the
eye
test
room.
Hand
it
in,
go
and
wait,
and
eventually
a
man
will
emerge
with
a
collection
of
brand
new
licences.
He’ll
call
out
names,
one
of
which
hopefully
will
be
yours.
And
that’s
it.
Depending
on
how
busy
they
are,
the
whole
process
should
take
around
an
hour.