Driving is a vital part of life in Dubai, known for its excellent infrastructure and strict driving laws along with its increasing population. It is essential to keep your driving license valid and understand the renewal process. If your license is about to expire, you can renew it through several RTA-provided channels. Remember, all outstanding traffic fines must be cleared before renewal. Here’s a step-by-step guide to renewing your Dubai driving license.

 

Eligibility Criteria:

Citizens, residents, and individual customers can apply to renew their driving licences.

Required Documents:

To meet the RTA requirements for renewing your driving licence in Dubai, you need:

• Emirates ID for applicants of all ages
• Eye testing report for applicants over 21 years old

The eye test must be conducted at an RTA-approved eye testing centre or a Customer Happiness Centre.

Eye Test Centres in Dubai

A valid eye test is essential for completing the Dubai driving licence renewal process for applicants over 21 years old. Eye test fees range from AED 130 to AED 170, depending on the centre. Here is a list of approved eye test centres along with their contact details:

Dubai Optical

• Address: 402, Apricot Tower, Dubai Silicon Oasis
• Contact: +971 4 3976549

Yateem Optician

• Address: Al Quoz 4, Dubai
• Contact: +971 4 5066000

Malak Typing – Photocopying & Optical

• Address: Shaikh Zayed Road, Al Quoz Industrial Area 2, Dubai

Emirates Driving Institute – Eye Test Facility

• Address: P.O Box: 20948, Al Qusais
• Contact: +971 4 2631100

Salik Optical

• Address: 66 18 C St – Al SafaAl Safa 2, Dubai

Barakat Optical

• Address: Dubai Outlet Mall, Dubai-Al Ain Road (E 66 Road)
• Contact: +971 4 4259816

Belhasa Driving Centre

• Contact: 800 2354272

Prime Medical Center

• Address: First Floor, Dubai International Airport, Terminal 1, Departures Hall
• Contact: +971 4 7070999

Other RTA-approved centres include Barakat Optical, Al Jaber Optical Centre, Executive Optical Centre, International Optical, Leen Optics, Grand Optics, Rivoli Eye Zone, and Magrabi Optical.

Service Charges for Dubai Driving Licence Renewal

The fees for renewing a driving licence in Dubai vary by age.

• Applicants over 21 years old must pay AED 300 for the renewal, plus AED 20 for Knowledge and Innovation fees.
• Applicants under 21 years old are charged AED 100 for the renewal plus AED 20 for Knowledge and Innovation fees.

Penalties for Delaying Driving Licence Renewal in Dubai

• If you delay renewing your driving licence in Dubai for less than 10 years, you will be fined AED 10 per month, up to a maximum of AED 500.
• For licences expired over 10 years, renewal is only permitted after passing a mandatory road test, with a renewal fee of AED 1,370.

How to Renew Your Driving Licence in Dubai

The section below covers the how and where to renew your driving licence in Dubai. 
RTA offers several online options for convenience. Here’s how you can renew your driving licence through various channels:

RTA Dubai Official Website

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) website provides a user-friendly tool for renewing your Dubai driving licence. Follow these steps:

1. Complete a mandatory eye test at an approved centre.
2. Visit the RTA official website and navigate to the Driver and Car Owner services tab.
3. Select the Driving Licence Services tab for renewal options.
4. Enter your Emirates ID or driving licence details to retrieve your data.
5. Upload the necessary documents.
6. Pay any outstanding fees or fines.
7. You will receive a temporary licence to print, valid for 5 to 15 working days, until your original licence is ready.
8. Collect your new driving licence from Happiness Centres at Al Barsha or Deira, or opt for delivery:

• Standard delivery: AED 20
• Same-day delivery: AED 35
• Delivery within 2 hours: AED 50
• International delivery: AED 50

Dubai Drive App

The RTA Dubai Drive App provides a convenient way to renew your driver's licence and the overall process is identical to the process on the website. This app is particularly useful for drivers in Dubai, offeringing a range of helpful features and it is available in both iOS and Android.

Customer Happiness Centers and Service Centers

Dubai has numerous driving licence renewal centers, some of which also offer eye testing facilities, streamlining the renewal process.

Renewing your driver’s licence in Dubai is a straightforward process. Begin by visiting any eye test centre to have your eyes examined. Once your tests are cleared, proceed with the renewal application, ensuring all necessary fees and fines are paid. You'll then receive a temporary licence printout from any Customer Happiness Center.

Here's a list of areas housing Customer Happiness Centers with Self Service Machines:

• Umm Ramool
• Deira
• Al Barsha
• Al Manara
• Al Twar
• Al Kifaf Tasjeel
• Al Twar
• Barsha Tasjeel
• Muhaisnah Shamil
• Al Qusais Tasjeel
• Tamam Vehicle Testing
• Wasel Vehicle Testing – Al Jaddaf

RTA Kiosks

Apart from online services and RTA Service centres, another option is to apply for renewal at RTA kiosks, following the same procedure as at service centres.

Here are various kiosk locations for driver’s licence renewal in Dubai:

• Customer Happiness Centre in Umm Ramool
• Customer Happiness Centre in Deira
• Customer Happiness Centre in Al Barsha
• Customer Happiness Centre in Al Manarah
• Customer Happiness Centre in Al Towar
• Customer Happiness Centre in Al Aweer
• Customer Happiness Centre in Al Kifaf
• Tasjeel Al Tawar
• Barsha Tasjeel
• Wasel Belhasa
• Quick Cars Testing
• Muhaisnah Shamil
• Tamam Vehicle Testing
   

Mahboub Chatbot

You can also renew your Dubai licence via the Mahboub Chatbot. Follow these steps for online renewal:

1. Open the Mahboub chat window and type “Renew Driving Licence.”
2. Enter your traffic file number, licence issuance date, birth year, and driver’s licence number.
3. Select “Electronic document sent to the customer’s registered email” as your preferred delivery method. Additional delivery charges ranging from AED 20 to AED 50 may apply.

Processing Time and Validity for Dubai Licence

The processing time for driving licence renewal in Dubai is typically 3 to 5 working days.

The validity of the licence varies:

• 1 year for applicants below 21 years old
• 10 years for Emirati and GCC citizens aged 21 and above
• 5 years for residents of other nationalities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Driving Licence Renewal Dubai:

Can I renew my driving licence in Dubai online?
  Yes, you can renew your Dubai licence online via the official RTA website.
  
Can I drive without a licence in Dubai?
  No, it's not recommended to drive without a valid licence in Dubai, as it may result in legal consequences and fines.

Can I get Dubai Driving License Revewal without a Residence Visa or on Visit Visa?
  No, you must have a residence visa to apply for a Dubai driving licence renewal. An Emirates ID is a mandatory requirement for obtaining and renewing a driving licence.

How long does it take to get a Dubai licence?
  Typically, it takes 3 to 5 working days to receive your licence. For urgent processing, a home-delivered licence can be obtained within 2 hours for an additional charge of AED 50.

Can Dubai Driving Licence be renewed if holder has visa from another emirate?
  As per the RTA, residents with visas issued in other emirate can renew their Dubai based driving licence.

  
What is the age limit for a driving licence in Dubai?
  Anyone over 18 can apply for a driver’s licence if they meet the required criteria.

Stay tuned to GetBetterCars for more for more information on the happenings in UAE related to vehicles, latest rules and regulations and much more.