If you live in the UAE on a Residential Visa / Work Permit, you need a valid UAE Driving License. To get a UAE Driving License, you need driving lessons and pass the driving test from an RTA-approved Driving Institute in UAE: Galadari | Belhasa | Emirates Driving Institute
If you are visiting the UAE as a tourist and want a rental car to get around, you need to have a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) a.k.a. International Driving License and your original Driving License, both from your home country.
Find out below if your country’s driving license is valid in the UAE.
Australia Austria Bahrain Belgium Belgium Brazil* Canada (Quebec*) China Croatia Cyprus Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany | Great Britain Greece Hong Kong Ireland Italy Japan* Kuwait Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Malaysia Netherland New Zealand Norway Oman | Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Saudi Arabia Singapore Slovakia* Slovenia South Africa South Korea* Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey USA |
*Original + Translated Copy required
For all other countries, an International Driving Permit is essential from the driving license holder’s home country.