Dubai golden visa holders can now skip extra driving lessons to get licence

People with a licence already are no longer required to sit extra lessons before taking UAE test

Learning to drive from scratch involves passing a theory course then at least 10 lessons lasting two-hours. You must pass a practical road test at the end to get your licence. Christopher Pike / The National

An instructor pictured at Emirates Driving Institute's Al Qusais campus. Rory's tip is to book your lessons for rush hour so you get used to the hectic roads. Christopher Pike / The National

Part of the learning process involves manoeuvers in a closed car park, followed by lessons on the roads. Leslie Pableo for The National

A masked instructor gives a student pointers. Going over the basics again and again is the key to passing the test. Leslie Pableo for The National

The whole process takes about two months, depending on how many attempts it takes to pass. Most driving schools offer fast-track courses. Leslie Pableo for The National

Taleb Mahmoud Ayub, head of operations at Emirates Driving Institute, talks to an instructor during a tour for The National. Leslie Pableo for The National

Foreign residents in Dubai who have a golden visa and a driving licence from their home country can now take a UAE test without needing extra lessons, the government has said.

Normally residents must take lessons before taking a local driving test, depending on the country they passed in.

If they have a licence from one of 32 approved countries they are automatically eligible for a UAE licence – but everyone else has to take lessons.

This would include people from countries including India, Pakistan and the Philippines.

The approved countries include the US, the UK, Australia, Italy, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, New Zealand, Qatar, Kuwait and Ireland.

A golden visa holder from any country can now forgo the lessons and go straight to their driving test.

“Did you get the golden visa and want to get a driving licence in Dubai?” the RTA tweeted.

“Present your previous driving licence approved in your country and issue a new one from the RTA at the driving institutes after passing the knowledge and roads tests without needing training.”

An RTA spokesman said if a golden visa holder failed their driving test they would have to take at least four hours of lessons before reapplying.

Golden visas, which are valid for up to 10 years, were introduced to encourage “exceptional workers and foreign investors” to put down deeper roots in the UAE.