How to exchange your country's driving licence for a UAE version

Residents can convert their driving licences through various online platforms in the UAE.

Some people who have a licence from another country need to pass a test in the UAE before being granted a licence.

For others, it is simply a case of converting their national driving licence to a UAE version.

The National breaks down the procedures involved in converting your licence in each of the emirates.

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi Police this month said drivers should check if their licence is from an accredited country and is still valid before submitting a request to convert it.

“Through this smart service, individuals can request for the replacement of driving licences issued by specific foreign and Gulf countries with driving licences issued by UAE,” said Abu Dhabi Police in a tweet.

Licences from the following countries and regions can be converted into the UAE version: GCC countries, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Turkey, Poland, UK, US, Portugal, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, South Africa and Romania.

What do you need to apply for the service in the UAE?

The first step is to take an eye test at an optician accredited by Abu Dhabi Police. You will need a valid original foreign licence, a legal Arabic translation of the foreign licence — if it is not already in Arabic — a copy of your passport and Emirates ID, and two personal photos with a white background.

How to apply for the service

The person must be an Abu Dhabi resident to apply, which you can do online through Abu Dhabi government's Tamm website or use the Abu Dhabi Police website or application.

You can also visit one of Tamm's customer service centres or the Traffic Licensing Department at Abu Dhabi Police to apply in person.

The cost of converting a driving licence is Dh600 ($163). For enquires, contact Awnak at 8003333.

Dubai

Driving instructor Zubeida inside a Bentley car instructing Nick Webster at the Emirates Driving Institute, Dubai. Leslie Pableo for The National

A Mini Cooper specially for women drivers at the Emirates Driving Institute, Dubai. Leslie Pableo for The National

A Mercedes and Tesla at the Emirates Driving Institute, Dubai. Leslie Pableo for The National

Instructor Sabia teaching a students pointers in driving at the Emirates Driving Institute, Dubai. Leslie Pableo for The National

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) offers driving licence exchanges through its website.

This service is available for citizens from the following countries and regions with licences from these countries: GCC countries, Lithuania, Portugal, Hungary, Bulgaria, Latvia, Serbia, Luxembourg, Estonia, Cyprus, Slovakia, Slovenia, Albania, Romania, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, Finland, Spain, the Netherlands, Greece, Sweden, Belgium, Ireland, Turkey, Denmark, Austria, France, UK, Norway, Montenegro, Ukraine, Canada, US, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, China, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and South Africa.

For some countries, the service is open only to citizens. For example, a driver with a Portuguese licence must be from Portugal to exchange the licence.

Driving licences issued from these countries or territories cannot be replaced: Puerto Rico (US), North Mariana (US), Guam island (US), Liechtenstein (Switzerland) Monaco (France) and Jersey island (Britain).

What do you need to apply for the service in Dubai?

An original driving licence from one of the aforementioned countries, an eye test, your Emirates ID and a legal translation of the driving licence, if it is not in English or Arabic.

If residents have a visa issued in another emirate but the company where they work has a branch in Dubai, they can apply through the RTA after providing a letter from the company certifying that they work in Dubai, as well as a trade licence copy from the branches in Dubai and the other emirate.

How to apply for the service

Go to the RTA website to access the service. Specify the country and driving licence source, and attach a copy of it.

Once the application is submitted, a reference number will be issued for all follow-up actions or queries.

The applicant must visit the RTA customer happiness centre with an original driving licence to verify it. The licence will then be printed and given to the customer.

Singaporean residents need to submit the application through driving institutes and present the required documents to book an appointment for the knowledge test.

The cost of converting the driving licence is Dh870. For Singaporean licence holders, the cost is Dh1,070.

For enquiries, contact RTA-Dubai 8009090 from inside the UAE and +97146051414 from outside the UAE or email ask@rta.ae

Other emirates

Residents in Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah can ask to convert their foreign licences through the Ministry of Interior website.

This service is available to licences issued in: GCC countries, Lithuania, Portugal, Hungary, Bulgaria, Latvia, Serbia, Luxembourg, Estonia, Cyprus, Slovakia, Slovenia, Albania, Romania, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, Finland, Spain, the Netherlands, Greece, Sweden, Belgium, Ireland, Turkey, Denmark, Austria, France, UK, Norway, Montenegro, Ukraine, Canada, US, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, China, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and South Africa.

Applicants need to submit a legal translation of the foreign driving licence, as well as their Emirates ID and take an eye test before logging on to the ministry’s website for the service.

After paying Dh600, customers need to approach the traffic licensing department in the emirate and present the receipt to receive their UAE licence.

For enquiries, contact the ministry at 8005000.

Tesla engineers hit Dubai desert for 'extreme heat and durability testing' - in pictures

Tesla field quality engineers have been in Dubai at the hottest time of the year, analysing the electric cars for their durability and performance in extreme temperatures. All photos: Tesla

Tesla posted about the tests on Instagram, saying the cars had experienced temperatures greater than 50°C.

The line-up of cars tested includes the Model Y, the refreshed Model X and the Model 3.

The engineers took on sand, mountain roads and gravel-strewn tracks.

Testing a car for durability requires it to be pushed to the limit.

The company does its cold weather testing in Alaska, the US.

The engineers may also have looked at the performance of the new heat pump, which was introduced into the Model Y last year.

Tesla field quality engineers will study the data to help improve the performance of the electric vehicles.

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DUBAI WORLD CUP RACE CARD

6.30pm Meydan Classic Trial US$100,000 (Turf) 1,400m

7.05pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,400m

7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,600m

8.15pm Dubai Sprint Listed Handicap $175,000 (T) 1,200m

8.50pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group Two $450,000 (D) 1,900m

9.25pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,800m

10pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,400m

The National selections

6.30pm Well Of Wisdom

7.05pm Summrghand

7.40pm Laser Show

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10pm: Beyond Reason

MATCH RESULT

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Engine: 3.7-litre V6
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”