How to get UAE driving license in Abu Dhabi

Generally, there are two important points that you must have to get UAE driving license. First, your age must be over 18 years old and second, your residency visa which registered in UAE are still valid.

Emirates driving company

How to get UAE driving license in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi as the largest emirates among seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates has high economy income so now this city transformed into one of metropolis city in the world. Furthermore, as the capital of the United Arab Emirates and Emirate of Abu Dhabi, this city is the center of industrial activities. Many residents and workers stay in Abu Dhabi. This conditions will be affected to public transportations in this city. Maybe if you are a citizen of Abu Dhabi, you can get your driving licence easier than residents. So, if you are residents who stay and need to work in Abu Dhabi for a long duration of time, there are two conditions that you must remember. First, you don't have any license at all. Second, if you have an international license but you want to hit the roads in UAE, example in Abu Dhabi so you must have an Abu Dhabi driving license.

How to get UAE driving license in Abu Dhabi if one of you have one of those two conditions? You must take a look deep into this article.

A. No Driving License

If you have no driving license at all, there are some steps to get driving licence.

1. Go to Emirates Driving Company

This company is located in at 17th street, Mussafah, Abu Dhabi, near Dalma Mall. You can contact or at look to its website, www.edcad.ae

2. Take a Course 

There is one important thing to do if you don't have any experiences about driving test. Learn a driving file for theoretical courses! In other words, you must to sit down for practice theory test first. After you come in to Emirates Driving Company and say that you have no driving license, they will give you a driving file to participate in course and theory test. You must prepare AED 830 for the light vehicle education and AED 50 for the theory test. If you're busy person and don't have much time to do all the course, you can offer more intensive course but you must prepare an extra fee AED 100. There are eight lessons that you must know in this course. 

• First : Road markings, road signs and traffic rules

• Second : Inside city limits

• Third : Outside city limits

• Fourth : Driving your vehicle under difficult conditions

• Fifth : Critical situations

• Sixth : Road manners and driving behaviour

• Seventh: Knowledge about vehicle

• Eighth : Safety

3. Sit a theoretical test over a two-hour in class

Some tips will help you to support theory test. First, you must read the handbook carefully. Second, practice theory test on some mobile apps. It will be very helpfully for you.Third, practice traffic sign test. Fourth, don't forget about common road signs.

4. Obtain learning permit

After you complete the theory course, you can test your knowledge. If you pass, you'll be obtained a learning permit. At this moment, you can start your practical lessons on the road.

5. Practical lessons

On this step, you can put all theories that you get into practical driving. Remember that you must take the lesson dependent on your ability. There are three levels drivers that you must remember because every driver has different practice lesson.

• For advanced driving students, you have ten hours practice the lesson

• For intermediate learners, you have twenty hours practice the lesson

• For beginners, you have thirty hours practice the lesson

6. Practical Test

Some tips will be very helpfully for your practical road test. Take a look below!

• Give a good look and impression as you look like you're busy person

• Obey your examiner whatever he says

• Don't ever try to wear sunglasses

• Remember the basic steps, such as fasten seat belt and adjust mirror and seat

• Keep 3 seconds at the "STOP" sign

• Keep stay in stable speed

• Safe a distance with the other car

• Don't ever park in front of any bus stop, gate or entrance, if your examiners asks you to park

7. Take approval paper

If you pass, you can take your approval paper from your inspector. But, if you fail, you have to register again to your driving school and take a new road practical test. 

8. Take proof of completion

After pass all steps, finally you can take your proof of your completion aka certificate in Abu Dhabi Driver's License Department, 2nd Al Dhafra Street, Al Mushrif. 

B. Have International License

What if you have an international driving license?

The first thing you know is that you must have an Abu Dhabi driving license no matter what. So, The United Arab Emirates Government give good solution for you. You can convert your international license into UAE driving license in Abu Dhabi.

Several steps to get UAE driving license in Abu Dhabi for you who have international license are given below.

1. Prepare all documents

There are several documents that you have to prepare for transferred your license. 

• Emirates ID

• Abu Dhabi residency visa. This document must be valid. You can give a copy verse to them, but must be valid!

• A passport photo

• Your international driving license in one copy and original

• Your driving license in arabic translation

• Your passport in one copy and original

• A letter of no objection from visa sponsor or your employer

• Eye test certificate

This test can be done at any hospital in UAE. Give your passport photos and tell them that you need this test for driving license. Eye test can be done in some optical store like Yateem Optician. They will upload the result on your behalf.

2. Go to Abu Dhabi Driving License Department

This department located in 2nd Al Dhafra Street, opposite Mushrif Mall, Al Mushrif. You can enter to this building from 7.30 am until 14.30 am on a working day. 

3. Fill up all application form carefully

4. Submit all your documents 

5. Write your signed in all documents 

6. Collect your Abu Dhabi driving license

The Validity of The driving License is 5 years.

You can apply for UAE driving license online too. I will post in separate article soon.

How to get UAE driving license in Dubai

Be a part of seven constituent emirates in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai is an important and amazing global city that have veto power in Federal Supreme Council to over critical matters. Dubai has business hub of Middle East so this city has so many transport for export-import also for tourist and passenger.

UAE Driving Licence

As one of the modern city in the world, Dubai becomes iconic with the attraction, industry, also expensive city in the world so this city has so many public transportations for citizen, residents or tourist. Although Dubai has several public transportations for tourist, or resident or citizen but drive with ownself still more cozy. This way is more efficient than if you use public transportations because you can go wherever also whenever you want. For resident that have job in Dubai for a while, this solution can be so greatful. But who residents that have qualifies to transferred their driving license?

You can get UAE driving license without taking a course or do some training if you are a citizen of these countries in these continent below : 

1. Africa : South Africa

2. America : Canada, United States

For citizens of Canada, you only need a letter from Canadian Consulate in Dubai to verify that your license is required and still valid. 

3. Asia : Bahrain, Canada,  Japan, Kuwait, Oman, South Korea, Turkey and Qatar

You have to translate your driving license if you are a citizen of Japan, South Korea and Turkey. 

4. Australia and Oceania : Australia, New Zealand

5. Europe : Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom

The Government of UAE need the translation version of your international driving licence if you're citizen of Cyprus, Greese and Poland. But, for citizen who are coming from GCC country such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, you still have to take some theory lectures, RTA knowledge test, the road test and parking test. Furthermore, if you're not citizen from all countries in the above list, you have to take training in Dubai to get your new UAE driving license. 

Some documents that you must prepare to convert your driving license are given below :

1. Arabic translation of your driving licence

2. Valid Dubai residency visa

3. Emirates ID

4. Copy and original passport 

5. Passport photo

6. Letter no objection from your visa sponsor or your employer

After you have all those documents, you must to get an eye test in any clinics or hospitals. Then, bring all your complete documents to Dubai Traffic Department Driving License Section in Al Ghusais. You can enter to the building from 7.30 am until 14.30 am on a working day. If you're women, you should go to the women section. Remember to fill up all the application form and submit all your documents. Furthermore, take signed documents and pay fee AED 360 to the cashier to processing your driving licence. The next step is submit all your documents at Data Entry Counter and soon your name will be called out to take your photograph. You have to wait in a few minutes later until finally you'll receive your driving licence. After that, you're welcome to get on Dubai road and any other Emirates.

But, what if you're not the citizen of those countries that mention above?

There are many stories about how difficult to get UAE driving license in Dubai. Some people aka residents can get their driving license after 5th, 9th or 11th attempt practice test. People in Dubai or UAE for generally are stricter to follow the rules. This is good manner and attitude for obey the rules and keep safe in road. So, if you want to get driving license, you must do these steps below.

1. Take course on driving schools

Emirates Driving Institute (EDI) is the most successful and the largest driving schools in Dubai that can help you to understand more about traffic roads in Dubai. This institute provides training courses of 1000 different vehicles, like motor cycle, car (light motor vehicle), shovel and etc. This institute also has more than 1000 qualified instructor who come from different nationalities so you can learn easier from them. 

2. Sit a theory test

There are 35 questions in total in this test such as about hazards, safety and road signs. 17 questions first for general traffic situations and you must answer the least of 11 correct, 18 questions about driving license and correctly answer least of 12, and the rest for the others topic. 

3. Do pre-evaluation test

Emirates Driving Company will book your test after your instructor give "certificate of readiness" to you on your pre-evaluation test. In addition, you can begin your practical training. If you don't have any driving licence yet from any country, you have to register for 40 classes training. If you have licence with two until five years old, you have to take 30 classes. But, if you are student that has country's driving licence more than five years old, you only take 20 classes. After your practical training finish, you have to book your parking and assessment test. In addition, you must be remember about your training before road test.

4. Road test

On the D-day for road test, remember to bring your documents, passport, and two photos for your RTA licence section. You must show your skills to inspector among the other candidates. You only have a few minutes to prove your driving skills. 

6. Take approval paper

If you pass, you can take your approval paper from your inspector. But, if you fail, you have to register again to your driving school and take a new road test. 

6. Submit your suitable ID and pay

Don't forget to fill up all empty options on an application form and send your pay AED 100. 

7. Collect the test file

8. Submit file into Control Counter

9. Pay the required fee

After all processing are success, you must be pay for the required fee. Wait for a few minutes, finally you'll receive your driving license

10. Take proof of completion

Your UAE Driving License valid for 5 years.

Congratulations! Now, you eligible to go to wherever you want in UAE. Enjoy your freedom!

HOW TO ORDER AN AMAZON PRODUCT AND GET IT DELIVERED IN UAE

Amazon.com is one of favorite overseas retailer in the United Arab Emirates. In Amazon, you can get all that you want such as computers, toys, DVDs, kitchen ware, electronics, books, apparel, etc. Then, Amazon can ship your products to UAE. There is souq.com which is own by amazon and provide some products of amazon global. But it has quite expensive shipping cost. So some expat still prefer to order some products from Amazon directly. Most of expat choose Amazon UK or USA.

How To Order Product From Amazon

Before you’re ready for shipping your product from Amazon.com, first you have to know the exact steps to buy your product. Here some steps that you can try, included :

1. Instead of going to the Amazon USA page, try using Amazon’s International homepage. Thought it pretty hard to navigate those page, so just bookmark those page so you can open it another time. Start your product searches from there, and find items that you need. 

2. Amazon will tell you what items that are eligible to be delivered to the UAE, by set up your 1-click address. Go to Manage Shipping Addresses and add your new default UAE address, then make sure you have turned on your 1-click address so that Amazon will only show you items that can be shipped to UAE.

3. Make sure your items are legally allowed to be transported, so you don’t have to return it or get some shipping charges. 

There are items that can’t be shipped from amazon.com, such as :

• Guns, real or replicas

• Tear gas or pepper spray

• Drugs that include Human Growth Hormone, synthetic, or steroids

• Lottery tickets

• Gun power, flares or matches

• Perishable foods 

• Skin or leathers of animals

• Caviar

• Live or dead animals

• and other product that can be dangerous to be shipped and easy to damage, etc.

In general, you can buy products such as apparel, electronic, computer, books, etc that can’t be damaged by simple shipping to UAE. This is some tutorials to buy a certain item, such as shoes for women. I’ve want to buy a pair of boots shoes for women.

• First, go to http://amazon.com/, and sign in with your account. If you have no account, then make new account and fill the data information from your profile.

• Then go to your bookmarked Amazon homepage, and type “Boots for Women” in the search bar.

• Refine your search to only items that can be shipped to the UAE.

• Choose one of shoes that you like, and look at the details of the items. Make sure that your items ships to United Arab Emirates.

• Choose your payment method and purchase your item.

• You can wait for your item delivered to your home

Shipping Cost And Tax

Standard shipping cost you can get from buy 1 item product is from 10-40 AED, which still cheap enough to buy. Meanwhile, import taxes on the item that you purchased to UAE is between 0-100% with average 4-5%. But, you don’t have to worry about extra shipping charges because Amazon had added this taxes charges onto total price that you purchase. Also some items are eligible for duty-free import, so you can more relaxed. And take a note that your total shopping will be added 5% VAT in UAE.

You can choose you’re priority deliver shipping in Shipping Method. Every method has certain shipping period. The fastest method can take 2-5 days and the longest time can take 14-30 days. But you have to pay extra if you want it delivered faster.

Shipping Method

If you have some items that Amazon can’t ship to the UAE, you can using a third-party package forwarder. You can get your items from other party who can orders your items on your behalf, and reships your package to your country. It means that you buy their service to ship your Amazon items for you. Your forwarder most likely some of virtual USA shipping address that you can trusted. All you have to do is update your Amazon shipping address and sent to the forwarder’s address. Some of US address that recommended for you, such as :

1. Shop And Ship

This is the most popular shipping method among expat living in UAE. This company basically is Aramex, one of the most popular courier company in UAE. They will provide you 23 personalized physical addresses in many country including UAE once you registered with them. You need to pay 45 USD for basic membership plan. This fee is once for lifetime. You can download their App as well from your mobile phone. Available for Android and iOS user.

This is how to use it :

1. Sign up to become a member at https://www.shopandship.com/en/home

2. Once you log in, you’ll have access to 24 personalized Shop & Ship addresses globally, such as Amazon in USA.

3. Choose your favorite items, then buy it. Submit your address as your delivery address.

4. Then you can wait your package at home.

5. The package arrives at their warehouse to calculate your data

6. They will start to calculate your package depend on weight, then inspect the shipment, prepare documents for export, and sent you relevant fees for shipping package

7. After you transfer your shipping fees to their secure online payment service, they will send your package to your address.

With this information, you can get all the products you want in popular retailed US online Amazon, with low price, and easy to get, wherever and whenever you want it.

2. Borderlinx

Another US virtual shipping address that you can used is Borderlinx. The company is a great Freight Forwarder service. It allows you to save on shipping cost, 24/7 customer support, repacking services, and express shipping service.

1. Register on Borderlinx Delivery Forwarding for free

2. After sign up with Borderlinx, your USA address will be sent via email to you immediately 

3. Start shopping on Amazon.com

4. Use your USA virtual address as the Shipping Address

5. Use your truly address in the United Arab Emirates as the Billing Address

6. After Amazon sent your order to your USA address, Borderlinx will inform you when your products or purchase arrive. 

7. If your purchase has arrived, sign into your Borderlinx account. On your account, you'll see the tax, shipping and also duties cost of your shipping to your truly address in the United Arab Emirates.

8. Process your purchase shipment. 

9. Don't forget to choose "shipment value protection" option

10. Select your shipping service and pay Borderlinx for the tax, shipping and duties cost

11. Wait your package at your home in UAE

3. Planet Express

Planet Express gives you solution to international shipping. Buy and purchase your product from any online retailers such Amazon, and shipped the packages to your Planet Express address. They’ll consolidate your packages and ship them to you using huge discount.

Planet Express gives you benefits that ease you to get your items, included :

- Gives you best savings up to 80% for shipping rates 

- Online ease access to your own account 

- Free photo of package and label, so you can more sure about originality of your package  

- Secure packing for safety of your items until delivered safely to your home 

- No hidden fees, so you can be more ease for payment 

- Gives you friendly service  

This is how to do it :

1. Sign up with a package forwarder. Open an account at http://planetexpress.com/. Planet Express will repack and combine your shipments, so you can ship your multiple items at once, and get your low price shipping cost.

2. Update your Amazon shipping address to the package forwarders's address, and you can buy your items at their USA warehouse.

3. Amazon will send your products to your US address in their warehouse.

4. They will send your products to you in UAE through package companies.

5. Shipping price from USPS, DHL, or FedEX is very low. You can look their discounts


That will work same on eBay or any other international online shop as well. So...enhoy shopping.

Please take a note, that you need to pay 5% VAT from your total shopping when they courier company deliver your packages. This is an import product tax.

Step By Step How To Apply Birth Certificate For Baby Born In Dubai

So...you just give birth to your baby in Dubai. Congratulation to you. And enjoy and celebrate the new born for some times. After that it is the time to think about what’s next. You need to get Birth Certificate for your baby. You have 30 days to apply it. From the hospital where your baby born, they will give you Notification of Birth Certificate. To get this paper, the hospital usually required you to give your Emirates ID (husband and wife) and copy of attested marriage certificate. After that you need to submit this paper and other documents to DHA (Dubai Health Authority) to get birth certificate from them. 

Dubai Birth Certificate

What Are The Documents Required

To get birth certificate for your baby, you need following documents:

1. Original and copy of passport of the parent

2. Original and copy of Resident Visa of the parent

3. Original and copy of Emirates ID of parent

4. Notification of Birth Certificate from the hospital

5. Copy of attested marriage certificate

Where To Submit And How

You need to submit the above mentioned documents to Ministry of Health at Al Baraha Hospital also known as Kuwaiti Hospital. You can check the location here. There, you need to fill a form and submit all the documents. They will give you a slip where it is mention when you need to collect the birth certificate (in Arabic). The fee is 50 dirham for Arabic version.

Alternative Place to Apply

Alternatively, you can apply birth certificate from public hospitals such as Dubai Hospital (04-7075805), Rashid Hospital (04-3371111) and Latifa Hospital (formerly Al Wasl Hospital 04-3241111). They have a counter which will issue the Arabic birth certificate immediately.

English Version of Birth Certificate

You can get the English version too if you need it. For that purpose, you need to go to Preventive Medicine Department at Al Baraha Hospital Dubai. Fill the application form there. There will be a translator who will type your application. Translation fee is 15 dirham. And then you will get English Birth Certificate that will cost you another 50 dirham.

Get The Birth Certificate Attested

Once you get your baby birth certificate, you need to get it attested by Ministry of Health. They have a counter in the same hospital. The fee is 20 dirham. And then get it attested by Ministry of Foreign Affair. The fee is 150 dirham. Once it's done then you are all set.

Ministry of Foreign Affair Located:

MoFAIC Office-Dubai 8:00 a.m - 3:00 p.m  

Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry 0ffice at Deira 8:00 a.m – 2:00 p.m  

Al Towar Center 8:00 a.m – 2:00 p.m  

Almanara Center (Sheikh Zayed Road) 8:00 a.m – 2:00 p.m

The fee is subject to change. Updated on March 2018.