UAE Driving Licence Exchange 2025: Full List Of 52 Countries (No Test Required)

Licence Exchange: AED 600-1,100 Only

If you have just landed in the UAE and are staring at your foreign driving licence wondering whether you can swap it without lessons or tests, you are not alone. Confusing lists of 43 vs 52 countries, different rules by emirate, and scattered updates leave many new residents guessing. That is not ideal when expats make up around 88% of the UAE population, according to recent demographic reports.

This 2025 guide pulls together what actually matters, using the latest RTA, MOI Markhoos/MuroorKhous, and TAMM information as of December 2025. You will find:

• A clear 52 country eligibility list
• The real differences between visitor recognition and resident exchange
• Step by step processes for Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah/Northern Emirates
• Typical fees, timelines, and workarounds if you are not on the list

In 2025, the UAE Ministry of Interior expanded the Markhoos initiative to cover 52 countries. Visitors from these countries can drive on valid home licences, and residents can exchange those licences without theory or road tests, provided they meet the conditions. Dubai RTA usually completes eligible exchanges the same day, Abu Dhabi TAMM handles most of it online, while Sharjah and the Northern Emirates lean more on MOI platforms with stricter translation rules.

According to MOI communications about Markhoos, the system now eases exchanges for over 50 nationalities, which has quietly made life much easier for a lot of expatriates who do not want to sit through full driving courses again.

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UAE Driving Licence Exchange Vs Recognition: What Actually Changes?

Visitor Recognition (Drive On Foreign Licence)

If you are a tourist or short term visitor from one of the 52 approved countries, you can normally drive a light motor vehicle (LMV) or motorcycle using:

• Your valid home licence
• Your passport
• An International Driving Permit (IDP) if your licence is not in English or Arabic

This is usually valid for up to 3 months or for the duration of your visa, whichever is shorter. You do not exchange your licence in this case; you just drive on it. The rule applies across the UAE, but your insurance must explicitly cover foreign licences.

The 2025 Markhoos update confirmed that visitors from eligible countries do not need a local licence during those first months. Just remember, an IDP is a translation booklet, not a licence by itself, and it cannot be converted into a UAE licence.

Also, keep a passport copy or original with you when driving. Police can issue fines of around AED 3,000 for non compliance and lack of proper documents.

Resident Exchange (No Test Required)

Once you become a resident, the rules flip. You cannot rely on visitor recognition; you are expected to hold a UAE licence linked to your Emirates ID.

If your licence is from an approved country, you can usually:

• Swap your foreign licence directly through RTA, TAMM, or MOI
• Skip theory and road tests
• Only do an eye test

You typically receive a 5 year UAE licence if you are an expat, or 10 years if you are a UAE citizen. It is valid across all emirates.

The MOI confirms that exchange is only possible after your residency visa is stamped. New licence applicants who are not on the approved list must still go through full training and testing. For those on the list, skipping that training and testing saves easily AED 2,000+ in course fees.

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Eligibility Criteria: MOI’s 6 Conditions For 2025 Exchange

You might be on the country list and still get rejected. That usually comes down to one of these six conditions being missed.

Condition 1: Approved Country Licence

Your licence must be issued by one of the 52 eligible countries (listed fully below, based on RTA PDF and MOI Markhoos 2025). The list excludes territories such as Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Eligibility is tied to issuing country, not your passport. So an Indian passport holder with a US licence is evaluated based on the US licence, but in practice, this mix often leads to extra scrutiny or even a requirement to take tests.

Condition 2: Legal Age & Category Match

You must meet UAE minimum ages and category rules:

• 17+ for LMV
• Category must correspond to UAE types (LMV, motorcycle, etc.)
• Automatic vs manual can be reflected on your UAE licence

If your home licence is restricted or limited, the UAE licence will mirror that.

Condition 3: Valid, Non Expired Licence

You must present your original licence. If the licence is not in English or Arabic, a legal translation is required.

Key points:

• Temporary or provisional licences are usually rejected
• MOI insists the licence must be valid at the time of application
• If it is expired, renew it in the issuing country first, which is a surprisingly common rejection point

Condition 4: UAE Residency Visa / Emirates ID

Resident status must appear in the system for the emirate where you apply:

• Golden Visa and employment visa holders qualify once visas are stamped
• Tourists cannot exchange licences
• Company sponsored visas are fine, but the costs are usually paid by the individual driver, unless the employer agrees to reimburse

Condition 5: Pass Eye Test

An eye test is mandatory. Typical prices:

• AED 140-180 at approved centres such as Al Jaber Optical, Yateem Optician, or Grand Optics

The results are sent electronically to RTA or TAMM, depending on your emirate.

Condition 6: Surrender Original (Some Countries)

For certain countries, you must surrender the original licence when you exchange it. This regularly applies to:

• GCC countries
• Turkey
• South Korea
• USA in some cases

Bilateral agreements and MoUs determine this. RTA then keeps the original once the UAE licence is issued.

Quick Eligibility Checker Table (Popular Nationalities)

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Full Official 2025 List: 52 Countries For UAE Licence Exchange (No Test)

As of December 2025, the official RTA / MOI list, accessed through Markhoos / MuroorKhous, confirms 52 countries in total.

That is:

• 5 GCC countries
• 47 other countries

The list was expanded from 43 in the 2023 RTA PDF after new MoUs. It mainly covers LMV and motorcycles. For high risk categories like heavy vehicles or buses, separate approvals may apply. For safety, double check through the RTA portal or TAMM before you book anything.

Last verified references: RTA service ID 121 and MOI Markhoos PDFs.

1-5: GCC Countries

1. Saudi Arabia
2. Oman
3. Qatar
4. Kuwait
5. Bahrain

6-50: Other Approved Countries (47 Total)

These countries are generally approved for licence exchange for LMV and motorcycles:

Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Switzerland, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea (resident exchange only), Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States (with Texas treated differently in some cases).

Key Notes

• Territories like Guam and Puerto Rico are specifically excluded from exchange.
• MOI officials have stated that Markhoos now streamlines exchanges for over 50 nationalities.
• South Korea is approved for resident exchange but not for visitor driving in some scenarios.
• USA / Texas licences sometimes trigger extra documentation or a different path, so be prepared for additional checks.

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Step By Step: How To Exchange A Foreign Licence In UAE (2025)

The basic idea is the same everywhere, but each emirate has its own quirks.

Dubai (RTA): Usually Same Day

1. Check eligibility
   Confirm that your issuing country appears on the latest list via the RTA Dubai app or website. Prepare:

   
   

   • Emirates ID
   • Passport and visa copy
   • Original foreign licence
   • Legal translation if not in English or Arabic, ideally MoJ approved
   • 3 photos
   • NOC from sponsor in rare cases where it is requested




2. Do the eye test
   Visit an approved centre, such as Al Jaber, Yateem, or Grand Optics.

   
   

   • Cost: around AED 140-180
   • Results are sent to RTA automatically




3. Book appointment
   Through the RTA Dubai app or website, choose "Exchange Driving Licence". You can upload documents in advance or take them to a centre such as Al Manara or Umm Ramool.




4. Submit and pay
   Typical fees:

   
   

   • Around AED 200 for file opening
   • Around AED 600 for licence issuance

   
   

   Combined, you are looking at total costs in the range of AED 950-1,100 depending on minor extras.




5. Collect licence
   You usually get an SMS within 1-2 hours. The licence can be printed at the counter or accessed through the digital wallet. It is worth avoiding the mid morning rush (9 11 am) if you want to get in and out quickly.

Abu Dhabi (TAMM): Mostly Online

1. Log in to TAMM
   Use UAE Pass, search for "Replace Driving Licence Issued By Another Country".




2. Upload documents
   You will need:

   
   

   • Emirates ID
   • Original foreign licence
   • Approved translation if necessary
   • Eye test result from an approved centre (about AED 140 180)
   • Passport and visa page




3. Submit application
   The system checks eligibility in the background.




4. Pay fees
   Standard fee is around AED 600, paid by card. Some foreign cards are rejected for security reasons, so have a local card handy or be ready to visit a centre to pay.




5. Processing time
   Many applicants receive approval the same day, often within a few hours, and get an electronic licence through the TAMM app. Physical collection, if needed, is usually done within 1 day.

Sharjah & Northern Emirates (MOI / MuroorKhous)

1. Access MuroorKhous
   Log in to the MOI app or website using UAE Pass.




2. Eye test
   Complete your test at a local approved centre.

   
   

   • Typical cost: AED 140-200




3. Submit documents
   These emirates often enforce stricter translation rules:

   
   

   • Emirates ID
   • Licence
   • Visa page
   • Ministry Of Justice translated and sometimes UAE Embassy attested documents if needed




4. Pay fees
   Fees generally range from AED 600-800 depending on the emirate and service channel.




5. Collection
   You may receive the licence via courier or collect it at a traffic department. Processing times are usually 1-2 days.

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UAE Driving Licence Exchange Fees & Processing Time 2025

Here is what most residents actually end up paying.

These figures come from 2025 fee schedules published by RTA, TAMM, and MOI. There have been no major fee changes in the past 12 months.

In practice:

• Dubai: often 1 2 hours from submitting to walking out with a licence
• Abu Dhabi: typically same day through TAMM, especially if documents are clean
• Sharjah / Northern Emirates: usually 1-2 days

Employers seldom cover these costs by default, although some larger companies do reimburse sponsored employees.

Also read: How To Renew Driving License In Dubai 2025 Step By Step Guide With Fees Online App And Kiosk Solutions

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Common Pitfalls & What To Do If You Are Not Eligible

Typical Rejection Triggers

Even people from approved countries get turned away for reasons like:

• Mismatch between nationality and licence issuing country
  • Example: Indian national with a US licence may be asked to test
• Expired foreign licence
• No residency visa or Emirates ID appearing in the system
• Translation not done through MoJ or a recognised translator
• Missing or outdated eye test

Driving without a valid UAE licence can attract heavy penalties, with police fines going north of AED 5,000 in some cases. Territories such as Guam and Puerto Rico remain non exchangeable, so those drivers must take the full course.

There is also a persistent myth about IDPs being convertible into UAE licences. They are not. An IDP is only a temporary document for visitors.

If You Are Not On The List: Full Training Route

When your country is not on the list, or you do not meet the conditions, you go through the standard route:

• Open a driving file, which costs around AED 200
• Pay for theory and road tests, typically AED 600-1,000 in total

Once you add up:

• Registration
• Classes
• Internal assessments
• Final RTA or police tests

You are realistically looking at AED 2,000-4,000 all in. For example, Emirates Driving Institute (EDI) in Dubai quotes around AED 2,545 for a standard LMV course, and that is before counting retest fees.

Most people complete the process within 1-2 weeks if they pass the tests at the first attempt.

There is also the Golden Chance route in some emirates. This is a one time, theory and road test combination offered to some non eligible licence holders, letting them try to skip full training. You must check with RTA or local traffic authorities, as rules and eligibility criteria shift from year to year.

A simple scenario comparison:

• A British expat in Dubai with a valid UK licence often exchanges it the same day, spends AED 950-1,100, and gets a 5 year UAE licence without any classes.
• An Indian resident, arriving with only an Indian licence, typically pays AED 2,500+, spends a couple of weeks going to classes, and must pass multiple tests before getting the same card.

Also read: How To Clear Black Points From Your Uae Driving Licence The Ultimate 2025 Guide

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Wrap Up: What You Really Need To Remember

To stay on the road legally and avoid wasting money in 2025, you can work through this short checklist:

1. Confirm if your licence issuing country is among the official 52 in the RTA / MOI list.
2. Check that your licence is valid, not temporary, and correctly translated if necessary.
3. Make sure your residency visa is stamped and your Emirates ID is active.
4. Book and pass an eye test at an approved centre.
5. Budget around AED 950-1,500 if you are eligible for an exchange without tests.

If you tick those boxes, the process with RTA, TAMM, or MOI is usually straightforward, and often quicker than many people expect.

Summary Table: Quick Eligibility Checker

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People Also Ask

Which Countries Can Exchange Driving Licence In UAE Without Test?

There are 52 countries in the 2025 RTA / MOI list, including the 5 GCC states and 47 other mainly European, Asian, and OECD countries. You can see the full list in the country section above.

How To Exchange Foreign Driving License In UAE Without Test?

You complete an eye test, gather your documents, then apply through RTA (Dubai), TAMM (Abu Dhabi), or MOI / MuroorKhous (Sharjah and Northern Emirates). If your licence is from an approved country and all details check out, you typically get the licence the same day.

UAE Driving Licence Exchange Countries List 2025?

The list was expanded from 43 to 52 countries between 2023 and 2025, based on new MOUs and the Markhoos initiative. It includes the GCC and a strong set of Europe / Asia and OECD states.

UAE Driving Licence Exchange Eligibility Criteria?

MOI outlines 6 main conditions: approved issuing country, legal driving age, valid non expired licence, active UAE residency, successful eye test, and surrender of the original licence for certain countries under bilateral agreements.

UAE Driving Licence Exchange Fees And Processing Time?

Most eligible drivers pay about AED 950 1,500 for the no test exchange. Processing is typically 1 2 hours in Dubai, same day in Abu Dhabi, and up to 2 days in Sharjah and the Northern Emirates.

Where Can I Find Assistance For UAE Driving Licence Exchange Process?

Alba Cars offers reliable assistance for UAE driving licence exchange at Alba Cars.