Driving in Dubai with a US license

Thorn Tree forumCountry forumsMiddle EastUnited Arab Emirates
Enter custom title (optional)
This topic is locked
Last reply was
16.4k
…
Send as an e-mail
Send as an e-mail
tnfalpha
tnfalpha

Hi,

My dad works in Dubai and recently got sick so I'm going to have to go take care of him while he's in the hospital. I figure I'll be there for 3 weeks. He'll be confined to the hospital, but I'll need to get around to sleep at his place, get food, and eventually, bring him back to his apartment once he's discharged. My dad owns a car, but we're not sure if I'll be able to drive it with a US licence. All of this is very sudden (I'm leaving tomorrow) so I don't have time to get an international drivers license. I'd appreciate any help with the following questions:

Is it legal for me to drive in Dubai (or UAE in general) with a US license (state of MA)?

If not, does anyone have any suggestions on how I can make sure I can legally drive while I'm there.

Thanks in advance for the help.

View last reply
Report
1
nyk_1981
nyk_1981

if u are on visit visa, you can drive on international license in u.a.e. if u are on residency visa , you have to get a drivers license by giving a test (signal and road test)

previously , there was a list of countries mentioned by RTA (road transport authority) ,if you belonged to any of them, you could just swap your country's license for uae license, but this practise has been stopped since over a year.
you can also check more about this on http://www.rta.ae/wpsv5/wps/portal

cheers !!
nyk

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
2
gemcap
gemcap

Read the section on Temporary Driving License on this website.
http://www.dubaifaqs.com/driving-licence-in-dubai.php

If you do not have an IDL, the tricky part is where it says "your licence and passport are supposed to be from the same country"

They can be reasonable though...all the best. Hope your dad gets better soon.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
3
wandabug
wandabug

RTA regulations allow a visitor to drive a private car on a US licence, however that does not guaranteed you will be insured - you need to ask his insurance company if they allow you to drive his car. If not then you cannot drive it and you will have to hire a car yourself. Hire companies are supposed to ask for an International License but they rarely do.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
4
cetacea9
cetacea9

It's a good idea to get an international license from your nearest AAA office before you leave for Dubai. Bring your current driver's license and two passport photos. It costs about $10 and the procedure should take no more than 10 minutes.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
5
ctown
ctown

When you get off the plane and are through customs there are a ton of Rental car places ask one of those counter people or ask a few and see if you get the same answer they should know the current laws.

Get on the net get the number for the PR department at the American University of Sharjah call and ask them that question they deal with it all the time.Tell them you are a new faculty if they ask.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
6
gemcap
gemcap

Get on the net get the number for the PR department at the American University of Sharjah call and ask

@5 ctown great way to get information :-)

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
7
arshtech
arshtech

See as much as I know every country has its own driving rules and the most important thing is language. I hope you must have resolved your problem. But for driving as much as I know traveling with license from your native place may be a bit problematic. If somebody is carrying an IDP then he/she is free to move anywhere. But yes your original driving license is must. I rented a car in US and had a great time.I got my IDP from here so you can always go for this in future.
http://www.idlservice.com/

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report

This topic has been locked by a moderator.

Pro tip
Lonely Planet
trusted partner