Which countries driving licenses are accepted in the UAE?
Driving license recognition in the UAE depends on the issuing country and the driver’s nationality or residency status.
The accepted licenses are classified into three categories as defined by the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
1. Any nationality with a driving license issued in this country
Visitors holding a valid driving license from these countries may drive in the UAE without an International Driving Permit (IDP).
- Austria
- Bahrain
- Belgium
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Hong Kong
- Iceland
- Italy
- Japan
- Kuwait
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Oman
- Poland
- Qatar
- Romania
- Saudi Arabia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
2. Only nationals or valid residence holders of the country where the license was issued
In this category, only citizens or legal residents of the listed countries are allowed to drive in the UAE using that licence.
For example, if a person holds a driving license from one of these countries but is not a citizen or legal resident there, the license will not be valid for driving in the UAE.
- Albania
- Australia
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- China
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Estonia
- Greece
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Israel
- Kosovo
- Kyrgyzstan
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Montenegro
- New Zealand
- North Macedonia
- Portugal
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Korea
- Ukraine
- Uzbekistan
3. Driving license must be accompanied by an International Driving Permit (IDP)
Tourists with a license issued from these countries may drive in the UAE only if they also hold a valid International Driving Permit. Both documents must be carried together while driving.
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Andorra
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Bahamas
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belize
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cabo Verde
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Chile
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Congo (Republic of the)
- Congo (Democratic Republic of the)
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Czech Republic (Czechia)
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini (Swaziland)
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Guam Island
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jamaica
- Jersey Island
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Liechtenstein
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mali
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- North Mariana
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Palestine
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Puerto Rico
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Solomon Islands
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Syria
- Taiwan
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkmenistan
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Uruguay
- Vanuatu
- Vatican
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Note:
This classification is based on the latest regulations issued by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai and the current UAE transport framework.
As requirements may change periodically, we recommend confirming with our team or checking the official UAE Government portal before renting.
This information is accurate as of 5 October 2025.
comments are closed .