Which countries’ driving licences are accepted in the UAE?

Driving licence recognition in the UAE depends on the issuing country, the driver’s nationality and immigration status.
For rental-document guidance, the applicable rules are grouped below into three practical categories based on current
Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) requirements.

Important: The use of a foreign or GCC driving licence generally applies to visitors and other eligible short-term visa holders.
A person who is working or residing in the UAE may be required to obtain or exchange for a UAE driving licence.
For rental purposes, this guidance relates to light vehicles.

1. Any nationality with a driving licence issued in this country

Subject to the applicable visa status and RTA requirements, holders of valid driving licences issued by the jurisdictions below
may drive without an International Driving Permit (IDP).

2. Driving licence acceptance is subject to nationality-specific conditions

For driving licences issued by the jurisdictions below, eligibility is nationality-specific.
The driver’s nationality should correspond to the country that issued the driving licence, subject to the applicable RTA rules.
A residence permit in the issuing country should not by itself be treated as equivalent to nationality unless eligibility is confirmed for the individual case.

3. Driving licence must be accompanied by an International Driving Permit (IDP)

Tourists holding a driving licence issued by the countries and jurisdictions below generally need to present a valid
International Driving Permit (IDP) together with their original valid driving licence.
Both documents must be carried together while driving.

Note:
This classification is based on current publicly available guidance issued by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai
and the applicable UAE transport framework. Driving eligibility may also depend on visa status, licence validity,
vehicle category and other applicable regulatory or insurance requirements.

As requirements and country-recognition arrangements may change periodically, we recommend confirming eligibility with our team
or checking the official RTA guidance before renting.

This information was reviewed and updated on 14 September 2026.