Essential Guide for Renewing Your Driving License in Dubai

by Yango Team | February 02, 2025

We’ve talked about how to rent a car, where to go with your family, and how to spend holidays in the Gulf Tiger city. It’s about time to learn how to renew your Dubai driving license.

Statistics say that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the second-largest source of cars among the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council. In Dubai, the country's most progressive city, you will almost certainly be getting around by car, so it's essential to have your driving license updated accordingly.

Renewing a driving license in Dubai is a pretty straightforward process that helps you stay compliant and avoid legal consequences. Are you scouring the web with queries like “driving license Dubai renewal” or “renewal driving license Dubai”? Read this essential guide to learn more about the Dubai driving license renewal online process, required documents, fees, and more.

Why Renewing Your Dubai Driving License is Important

Driving with an expired license in Dubai can lead to fines, penalties, and even vehicle impoundment, all of which mean one thing: stress. The good news is that staying updated with the renewal of driving license in Dubai is now easier and quicker. The government has already improved the renewal process by adding multiple renewal methods.

Dubai Driving License Renewal: The Requirements to Bring

To renew your Dubai driving license, you’ll need two sets of documents: mandatory and additional.

Mandatory Documents for All Nationalities (As per the Government of Dubai):

Original Emirates ID: All government services in Dubai require people to present or submit this type of ID.
Your current driving license: The authority may inspect your current driving license for verification purposes.
Eye test results: The certification must not be older than 2 years upon your submission, and it must be provided by a government-approved clinic.

Additional Documents (if applicable):

People with Driving Professions: A medical fitness test done in a hospital accredited by the Road and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai.
Diplomats: A Ministry of Foreign Affairs letter, Emirates ID (if there’s any), and a diplomatic card.
People with disability: Licensing-agency-issued copy of the certificate of transfer to their doctor.
Holders of Emirati passports, without a family book: Original valid passport and a valid Marsoom copy.
Holders of Emirati passports, sons of Emirati women: Valid passport copy and a letter that states the applicant’s mother is Emirati, coming from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs.

Please note that this process only applies to individual applicants, citizens, residents, taxi drivers, and government employees in Dubai. They must also be of legal age. The process is different for those with residence visas in other emirates, tourists who want to convert their licenses, and even those with Dubai residence visas.

Steps to Renew Your Driving License in Dubai

Steps to renew a driving license in Dubai are simple; it can be done in multiple ways. See the guides below for the channels you can use.

Contacting the RTA Contact Centre

The first step for those with urgent needs and questions is to contact the government’s hotline, which can be reached in various ways. The RTA’s team can always provide more specific/case-by-case questions 24/7, whether you’re in Dubai or abroad. Here are the agency’s contact details:

Dubai 24/7 hotline: 800 90 90
24/7 hotline for overseas callers: +971 4 605 1414
The RTA’s telephone number: +971 4 284 4444 (Reachable from Monday to Thursday from 07:30 a.m. to 03:30 p.m.; on Fridays, from 08:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Fax: +971 4 206 5555
E-mail: ASK@rta.ae

Visiting Customer Happiness and Service Centres

The purpose of visiting an RTA Customer Happiness Centre is to use the agency’s self-service machines for your license renewal. Popular locations include:

Al Barsha: Near Mall of the Emirates
Deira: Close to the Gold Souk
Umm Ramool: Near Dubai International Airport

You may also visit the center’s branches in Al Manarah, Al Twar, and Al Kifaf, or go to self-service machines located in the following venues:

Wasel Vehicle Testing - Al Jaddaf
Barsha Tasjeel
Tasjeel Al Tawar
Muhaisna Shamil
Tamam Vehicle Testing
Al Qusais Tasjeel

Bring the required documents as you go to one of these locations, and the staff will guide you through the process.

Using the RTA Dubai Official Website

Before you visit the RTA website to renew your driving license, you should go to one of the accredited eye test centers and have your electronic eye test done. There, you’ll be asked to provide either your Emirates ID, license details, or traffic file number. Then, your data will be retrieved automatically, and the system will send a one-time password to your registered number.

Once you have the link, you can then go to the website and follow these steps:

Select the “Renewing a Driving Licence” from the list of options.
Check and confirm whether the details in your passport are correct.
Select a delivery method for your new license.
Pay the fees and, if applicable, traffic fines.

Once done, you’ll receive a temporary license via email while you wait for the new one. The RTA website is user-friendly and available 24/7, too. However, please note that the renewal process is different for those with licenses that expired 10 years ago.

Accessing the Dubai Drive Mobile Application

Dubai’s Smart Apps can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play, and you can use it to check your license status, upload documents, and pay fees and fines. Here’s how you can renew using the app:

Take an eye test in an accredited center.
Click on the renewal service on your app.
Scan the QR code on your license or enter your license number, the issue date, your birth year, and your traffic code number.
Settle fees and fines.
Receive a temporary license via email or via your Apple Wallet (for Apple device users).

Finding an Eye Test Center in Dubai for License Renewal

As we’ve mentioned before, these tests are always a requirement for the renewal of a driving license in Dubai. Approved centers include:

Prime Medical Center - Dubai International Airport - Terminal 1, Departures Hall - First Floor
Dubai Optical
Emirates Driving Institute - Eye Test
Executive Optics
Magrabi Optical

For a full list of test centers, visit the RTA’s website.

Fees Associated with Dubai Driving License Renewal

How much you spend when you renew a driving license in Dubai varies based on different factors:

Applicant’s age: AED 100 for those younger than 21 years old; AED 300 for those older than 21
Renewal delay period: AED 500 in delay fees and AED 300 for the renewal for those who haven’t renewed for more than 10 years; an additional AED 550 for other fees; there’s also a fine of AED 10 per month for each month your renewal is delayed, which starts when you don’t renew it within a month after its expiry
Preferred delivery method: 20 AED for standard delivery, AED 35 for same-day delivery, AED 50 for deliveries made within 2 hours, and AED 50 for international shipping
Where you get your eye tests: From AED 140 to AED 180
Additional fees: AED 20 for knowledge and innovation fees

Payments can be made online and via the app.

Processing Times and Validity for License Renewal in Dubai

As per the RTA’s website, all of the channels you choose have an average waiting time tagged as “Instantly.” That’s because whichever method you choose, you get to have a temporary driving license sent to you via email. For the physical license, the earliest you can get it is within 2 hours, and the rest varies depending on which delivery service you choose, or if you’re in another country.

A temporary license can be valid for up to 15 days, depending on the period you select when processing the renewal.

Compared to a new driving license’s validity that lasts for 2 years, a renewed Dubai driving license is valid for 10 years for citizens of UAE and other GCC countries, and for 5 years for residents.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is it Possible to Renew My Dubai Driving License Without a Residence Visa?

No, you cannot renew your Dubai driving license without a valid residence visa and Emirates ID.

Can I Renew My Dubai Driving License While in Abu Dhabi?

Yes, you can renew your Dubai driving license online in Abu Dhabi. You can do so by going to the Traffic and Licensing Department in Abu Dhabi if you have a mission accredited to the UAE.