Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, and in a step reflecting the continuous advancement of Dubai’s traffic services ecosystem, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced that 58,082 foreign driving licenses were replaced with UAE driving licenses over the past year.

This initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to simplify procedures and enhance quality of life and ease of mobility for residents and visitors across the emirate.
According to Sultan Al Akraf, Director of the Drivers Licensing Department at RTA’s Licensing Agency, the service is implemented under approved ministerial resolutions and memoranda of understanding signed between the UAE and several countries, allowing eligible drivers to exchange their licenses without additional driving tests while maintaining traffic safety standards.

Al Akraf explained that the list of recognized countries includes 57 countries worldwide, covering five GCC countries—Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman—as well as 38 European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Ireland, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland, Montenegro, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Ukraine, Croatia, North Macedonia, and Kosovo.

The list also includes Asian countries such as Japan, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Turkey, Israel, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, and Kyrgyzstan, in addition to countries from other regions, including the United States of America (including the state of Texas), Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Al Akraf emphasized that the continuous expansion of the recognized countries list reflects Dubai’s strategic focus on international cooperation and delivering flexible, customer-oriented government services that support its position as a leading global destination for living and working.

He added that the driving license exchange service is available through the RTA website or via Customer Happiness Centers across Dubai. Applicants must complete an approved eye test, submit the original valid driving license, pay the required fees, and appear in person to finalize the process.

This initiative aligns with the UAE’s broader vision of developing proactive and efficient government services, strengthening mobility, and enhancing overall quality of life.