There’s no stopping the Dubai RTA! Dubai’s Road Transport Authorities are doing every bit to ensure driving around the city is an easy and seamless experience. After launching a new initiative which permits people from certain countries to give the driving test without having to take lessons. And now, authorities have launched yet another new service through which Dubai residents can get their driving licences and vehicle registration cards delivered in two hours. Want to know more? Read on.
Also Read: Your Guide To Getting A Driving License In Dubai
What is the new service?
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has announced the introduction of new services for delivering driving licenses and vehicle registration cards. Under the new service offering, driving licenses and vehicle registration cards can be delivered in two hours within Dubai, and on the same day to Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. A new service has been added for forwarding consignments to overseas clients.
RTA seeks to make people happier and sustain the ongoing improvements in serving motorists applying for the renewal of driving licenses, renewal of vehicle registration or replacement of damaged/lost driving licenses or vehicle registration cards and the issuance of international driving licenses.
Delivery Services Statistics
During the first quarter of this year, RTA processed 134,640 transactions relating to various transactions including: 107,054 vehicle-renewal transactions, 25,500 driving license renewal transactions, 939 transactions for replacing damaged or lost driving licenses. In additions to 732 international driving licenses issuance transactions, and 415 damaged or lost vehicle registration cards replacement transactions.
Also Read: HH Sheikh Mohammed Issues New Law On Driverless Vehicles; AED50,000 Fine Announced For Violators
How Can You Apply For RTA’s Golden Initiative?
As per the RTA’s new ‘Golden Initiative’, Dubai residents who wish to surpass the classes must hold a valid licence from their home countries. In addition, they must also pass the RTA driving exams- both theory and road test — in one take. The new initiative came into effect on 1 April.
The new initiative gives expats a one time chance to breeze through the process of obtaining a driving licence in the UAE, which can otherwise be quite tedious. Residents who fail the one-time test, will have to enrol for regular classes.
To apply for the Golden Chance initiative, you can visit a driving centre. The cost for the process will vary depending on the driving school you pick. However, this would approximately be around AED2,200. The cost will cover the costs of opening a file, tests, licence issuance etc.
In case you wish to take prior training before the test, you can do so at an additional cost.
Residents From Which Countries Are Exempt From A Driving Licence Test In The UAE?
The Ministry of Interior (MoI) offers a service that facilitates the exchange of driving licenses within the ‘Markhoos’ initiative. The new rule applies to select few countries whose licence-holders are exempt from it and allowed to drive in the country. Visitors from select countries have the right to drive with their national driving license or exchange it with a UAE license if they hold a residence permit.
According to a list posted on the MoI’s website, licence-holders from these 43 countries are allowed to swap a driving licence from their home country for a UAE licence:
- Estonia
- Albania
- Portugal
- China
- Hungary
- Greece
- Ukraine
- Bulgaria
- Slovak
- Slovenia
- Serbia
- Cyprus
- Latvia
- Luxembourg
- Lithuania
- Malta
- Iceland
- Montenegro
- United State of America
- France
- Japan
- Belgium
- Switzerland
- Germany
- Italy
- Sweden
- Ireland
- Spain
- Norway
- New Zealand
- Romania
- Singapore
- Hong Kong
- Netherlands
- Denmark
- Austria
- Finland
- United Kingdom
- Turkey
- Canada
- Poland
- South Africa
- Australia
Also Read: Licence Issued For The UAE’s First Ever Electric Cargo Aircraft
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