The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced a new licence that allows its citizens to drive vehicles in 25 countries without any conditions. The licence, which is valid for five years, is available to all UAE citizens who hold a valid UAE driving licence.
The list of countries includes Estonia, Albania, Portugal, Hungary, Greece, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia, Cyprus, Latvia, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Malta, Iceland, Montenegro, the United Kingdom, Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, Poland, Finland and China, in addition to the Republic of South Korea, are limited to recognizing the UAE driver’s license upon visit.
This is a major step forward for the UAE and its citizens, as it allows them to travel freely throughout these countries without the need for additional driving licences or permits. This will save time and money for UAE citizens who frequently travel to these countries, as well as make it easier for them to navigate the roads.
In the same context, the data of the licensed service, provided on the Ministry of Interior’s website, identified 43 nationalities around the world whose citizens can drive a vehicle with their national license without restrictions during their visit to the UAE.
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The service also identified 44 nationalities whose citizens can replace their national license with an Emirati license in the event of residency, after fulfilling a number of conditions.
Recognition of a foreign driving license means the use of national driving licenses in the UAE for purposes other than residency, while replacement means exchanging the national driving license for a UAE driving license during residency, according to the licensed service page on the ministry’s website.
The conditions for recognizing a foreign driving license and driving a vehicle on the country’s roads include:
The license must be valid.
The entry into the country is for a purpose other than residency.
The conditions for replacing a foreign driving license with an Emirati one include:
To be among the countries permitted to exchange a driver’s license.
To have a valid residence permit.
The national license of its owner must be permanent and valid.
Passing a medical examination and complying with other requirements to exchange driving licenses.
Fulfilling the legal age in accordance with the laws and regulations of the UAE.
The new licence is also expected to boost tourism and trade between the UAE and the 25 countries included in the agreement. This will benefit not only the citizens of the UAE, but also the citizens of the other countries.
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