Driving in the UAE: List of Accepted International Licenses (2025 Update)

When in the UAE and you would like to see the region better, you should have personal transport rather than travel in public transport, as it can cost you much of your time. UAE is neither a village nor a city but a place with a lively urban life, an unlimited number of tourist attractions, and even some principal business centers. Therefore, the people around the globe are attracted to this region of the world to entertain and to work here.

However, to operate your own car or a rented car, you must possess a valid license in the UAE. Quite luckily, the list of the countries the driving licenses of which are accepted by the Road and Transport Authority (RTA) of the UAE, is enormous.

Driving in the UAE as a Foreigner

The question, Can I drive with my foreign license, answers most of the time when one is living in the UAE, working in the UAE or visiting the UAE. Worldwide this varies by the type of visa you have and which country gave you the license:

• Visitors with a visit visa are allowed to drive using some international driving permits, some of which do not require an International Driving Permit (IDP).
• People (including gold visa holders) that possess a foreign license valid in certain countries can drop this license and make use of an UAE license – through the RTA Golden Chance is frequent.
• The others may need a valid UAE driving license, which is obtained by completing all RTA tests, usually after 6 months of residency, or instantly in case one has a foreign license that is not included in the exchange list.

Tourists & Visitors: Using Your Foreign License

Supposing you are in the UAE based on a visit visa and have no intention of remaining in the country, you can drive using the original foreign licence, occasionally supplemented by an IDP and/or translation. However, on gaining entry into UAE on a residence visa you are obligated to make an application of a UAE license rather than a tourist entry permit.

Countries Whose Licenses Can Be Used Without an IDP

Most of the western and GCC countries have their licenses automatically accepted by visitors. Rental services such as Lavish Cars indicate that the following countries licenses are accepted without an IDP to drive as a tourist:

• Europe: UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, Netherlands, Norway, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia.
• USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Israel, Cyprus, Iceland, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, UAE itself.

Notes on Exceptions

• Some nationalities (e.g., Japan, South Korea, Turkey, Greece) may need a certified English/Arabic translation of their license
• If your country isn’t on the list, you’re required to get an International Driving Permit (IDP) valid at least six months, alongside your license
• Staying longer than six months means switching to a UAE license.

Residents & Golden Visa Holders:

After you have acquired the status of a UAE resident (as well as other Golden Visa owners), the regulations change dramatically.

A Golden Chance has been granted by the UAE Ministry of Interior (via Markhoos) and RTA on the upgrading of permissible foreign licenses without tests as long as some requirements are fulfilled:

• Nationality must match or be from a qualifying country.
• Licenses must be from one of the 43 countries listed in 2024/2025.
• Subject to residency visa/Emirates ID and application.

Countries on the 43‑Nation Exchange List (2024–25)

The following countries legalise a direct conversion with no driving tests:

• Europe: Estonia, Albania, Portugal, China, Hungary, Greece, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia, Cyprus, Latvia, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Malta, Iceland, Montenegro
• North America: USA, Canada
• Western Europe: France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Ireland, Spain, Norway, UK, Denmark, Netherlands, Finland, Austria
• Oceania: New Zealand, Australia
• Asia: Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong
• Others: Turkey, South Africa.

International Driving Permit (IDP)

An IDP is a translation of your home license also recognized by the UN, valid one year, that can be used by residents to drive in foreign countries, and in some cases, even by non listed nationals where there is no specific agreement between that bilateral country and your own.

• Tourists from non-covered-countries  should take some valid passport like the IDP endorsement message and original license. And it does not exist as an independent document.
• Residents are not allowed to use an IDP on a post residency basis- they must obtain a local UAE license.

Cost & Process in the UAE

Conclusion

The blog Driving in the UAE: List of Accepted International Licenses (2025 Update) contains the detailed instructions about how foreign driving licenses can be used or converted in the UAE by tourists and residents. It describes which license to drive on without an International Driving Permit (IDP), how the residents together with Golden Visa holders swap their licenses as part of the RTA Golden Chance, and the full UAE driving test needs of the other people. It even outlines approved countries, expenses, frequent problems, and suggestions on trouble-free driving and abidance by the year 2025 requirements. The guide serves to make driving in the Emirates according to the law and stress-free.