As a first-time driver, I am so proud to congratulate myself for passing Road Test on my first try! I was also surprised that I miraculously fulfill it and got my license last 28th July 2020.
So now, I am more than happy to share my journey to all those who are aspiring to become a licensed driver in the UAE in 9 steps, and I hope this helps.
Firstly, choose your school.
Before anything else, of course, one should choose a Driving Center. In Dubai, here are the FIVE best driving institutions you might want to consider
Emirates Driving School is Dubai’s one of the most successful driving institutes operating since 1991. It consists of almost 1000 qualified instructors of different nationalities so that it is easier to communicate with students in their primary language.
Galadari Motor Driving Centre was established in the year 2004 and also one of the cheapest driving schools in Dubai.
Belhasa Driving Center was established in 2001 with almost 700 modern vehicles of any class.
Dubai Driving Center was established in 2003 to bring the very highest standards of International Driver Training to the people of Dubai.
Al Ahli Driving School was established in 2006, since then it has established around 18 branches in Dubai and is still continuing to expand it across Dubai.
In my case, I have chosen Belhasa Driving Center for my own convenience since they have one outlet just beside my office which is located in International City. Due to the proximity of their location, it was not difficult for me to communicate with them anytime. They have even offered free pick-up and drop-off service from their outlet to one of their main brances in Nadd Al Hamar during my driving classes.
You can find their branches here and contact details here, specifically, below is their outlet where I did my registration. Mr. Adnan will be there to answer all your questions in full details! 🙂
Belhasa Driving Center
Ground flr, Shop # 17,Building # X12, England Cluster, Dubai International City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
04 4358052
Second, register your file with RTA.
Belhasa helped me with the Roads and Transportation Authority (RTA) registration process. All they need are the below documents:
- Original Emirates ID
- 2 passport size photographs
- Copy of valid passport
- Valid Dubai residence Visa
- Copy of eye test report**
- No objection letter from sponsor/company***
**I got my eye test last 13-Mar-2020 at an RTA Trusted Agent-Optician inside Burjuman Center. I went there without a scheduled appointment, checked my vision using their Opthalmoscope, Snellen Chart for testing visual acuity and Ishihara Plates for detecting color blindness. Then, I paid for the fees and got the paper right after few minutes.
***UAE residents can now take driving lessons without no-objection letter from employer. [mfn] Source: The National UAE [/mfn]
Then, I paid fees for the registration, learning permit, theory lecture and theory test last 18-Mar-2020. After payment, they provided me the receipts together with the soft copy of the ‘RTA Light Motor Vehicle Handbook 2019’ and instructed me to login through their Belhasa website and obtain the online 8-part lecture. After completion of this lecture only I could book my Theory Test.
Third, pass the RTA Theory Test.
After finishing the 8-hour online lecture provided by the driving center, we proceeded to book the RTA Theory Test which was on 26-Mar-2020. It was held inside the Belhasa Driving Institute in Nadd Al Hamar, Dubai.
The test consists of 40 questions and one must answer more than 30 questions correctly in order to pass it, and luckily, I passed it!
If you would really want to pass it on first try, you should take it seriously especially if you are a beginner like me! You might want to answer practice questions which can be found online in Google and YouTube. There’s a vast selection of tests you can indulge in!
Fourth, schedule and start the Driving Lessons.
Passing the RTA Theory Test is a prerequisite to start the driving lessons. Hence, you have to pass it before you can start practical driving.
During my time (’cause I’m not sure if this has been removed), RTA considers if you are bearing a valid Driving License from your home country for 3 years or more. If you do, you will only have to take 10 hours of driving lessons.
While if you are a beginner like me and having no license from home country valid for 3 years or more, then you have to take 20-hour driving lessons.
During my training with Belhasa Driving Institute, I have learned all the basic and advanced points a driver should know specifically the UAE Driving Rules and Regulations. I have taken a 2-hour class every Sunday and Wednesday, total of 10 days with my driving instructor, Mr. Johny.
In my opinion, anybody can learn how to drive, it is practically easy. The only challenge is to know the rules when driving on the road and it does make a lot of difference! Even expert drivers or those who are already driving for several years are also prone to road accidents.
Fifth, schedule the Assessment Road Test (Initial) and pass it!
After my 8th day of driving lessons, I scheduled my Assessment for Road Test, which I gladly passed even after having few minor mistakes. The examiner was a lady and she was very polite and forgiving. I feel so lucky to have her as my examiner and I think I also did my best despite the nervousness I felt while driving.
It is true that you cannot avoid being nervous while on-the-road, you just need to keep your mind alert and focus for any possible hazards while following instructions by the examiner.
Sixth, schedule the Smart Yard Assessment Test (Initial) and pass it!
The smart yard test comprises of five steps: parallel parking, angle parking, garage parking, hill stop and emergency braking. The smart testing yard enables the monitoring of multiple examinees at a time, improves accuracy and ensures fairness in assessing the test result.
The smart testing yard is fitted with five surveillance cameras; four outside the testing vehicle to guide the examinee to the five manoeuvres, and one camera on board to verify the identity of the driver undertaking the test.
Mine was scheduled after my 9th day of driving lessons, and I gladly passed it. The key is to remain calm and being calm during this test was easier since there is no examiner inside the car with you. Examiners will be watching remotely inside their office.
Seventh, schedule the Smart Yard Test (Final) and again, pass it!
Final tests (parking and on-road) are done by the RTA authorities, unlike the assessment tests (parking and on-road) which are implemented by the driving institute, though both are executed inside/outside the driving institute.
On my Final Smart Yard Test, I passed all steps except for the garage parking. Hence, I have to retake it and pay the full amount. Painful, isn’t it?
I have failed because I exceeded the allotted time by 19 seconds to perform the manouvre for garage parking. Time is indeed very important in this test, you must keep track of it.
So, I scheduled for a retake which was four (4) days after I failed. That day, I only performed the garage parking where I previously went wrong, and with good grace, I passed!
Eighth, schedule the Final Road Test (Super Final) and pass it!
On the same day after I passed my smart yard test (garage parking), I scheduled for my Final Road Test. Luckily, I have got a very good schedule which was just three (3) days away considering they are being fully booked.
I prepared myself for it by watching YouTube videos, reading driving tips and techniques whatever you could find in Google and asked for advise from my father, friends and colleagues who are licensed drivers.
After 3 days of meditation and prayers, I went to the institute to take the test. I was told that since I am a lady, my examiner would also be a lady, but since the lady examiner at that time needs to go somewhere important (I think, or maybe she was on a lunch break), I was then appraised by a male examiner, which was totally fine with me. He was the same guy who assessed my final parking (garage) test and he was like an angel to me. He was very calm and patient during my test. He instructed me diligently making me feel more restful with full self-control and undisturbed presence of mind.
I tried my best to play it cool and chill, just try to act and perform like a skillful driver, and voila! I passed!
To pass the road test, an examinee should NOT have (1) or more major failures and should have less than twelve (12) minor failures. Having one (1) major failure is considered as an ‘immediate fail’. In my case, I have had zero (0) major and five (5) minor mistakes.
IMMEDIATE FAILS (Any one of the below)
- Failure to stop at RED SIGNAL, STOP SIGN, or STOP LINE.
- Colliding with any mobile or immobile object, or making an action causing collision or triggering intervention of the examiner or causing any other motorist to swerve to avoid collision.
- Not Adhering to Traffic Sign or examiner directions (entering No Entry Sign or Yellow Box Junction) or driving on the wrong side of the road.
- Lack of Vehicle Control to the extent that proceeding with the test is deemed hazardous, or failure to follow the required manoeuvre.
- Failure to ensure the road, lane or roundabout is clear before entering/proceeding.
MINOR FAULTS
- Pre-Drive Checks
- Mirrors and Observation
- Signals
- Lane Change
- Overtaking
- Approach
- Position Stop
- Judgement
- Left Turns (R/A and U-Turn)
- Right Turns
- Progress
- Position on Road
- Gear Usage
- Safety Margin
- Parking (In)
- Parking (Out)
Source: RTA
Ninth, get your Driving License!
Right after passing the road test, inside the driving institute (I actually forgot the department name, but something related to customer service), you will get your driving license ID card in just 10 minutes! You just have to settle all your balances, wait for few minutes for them to print the card and that’s it! You will get your “golden” license! 🙂
I am also happy to share my journey’s timeline as follows:
Timetable
| March 13 (Fri) | Eye Test from RTA Licensed Clinic |
| March 18 (Wed) | Registered File with RTA |
| March 26 (Thurs) | RTA Theory Test (Passed) |
| Mar 29 – May 27 | Lockdown due to COVID19 (Driving Center Closed) |
| June 21 (Sun) | 1st Day Driving Lessons |
| June 24 (Wed) | 2nd Day Driving Lessons |
| June 28 (Sun) | 3rd Day Driving Lessons |
| July 1 (Wed) | 4th Day Driving Lessons |
| July 5 (Sun) | 5th Day Driving Lessons |
| July 8 (Wed) | 6th Day Driving Lessons |
| July 12 (Sun) | 7th Day Driving Lessons |
| July 15 (Wed) | 8th Day Driving Lessons |
| July 16 (Thurs) | Assessment – Road Test – Initial (Passed) |
| July 19 (Sun) | 9th Day Driving Lessons |
| July 20 (Mon) | Assessment – Parking Test – Initial (Passed) |
| July 22 (Wed) AM | RTA Parking Test – Final (Failed – Garage Parking) |
| July 22 (Wed) PM | 10th Day Driving Lessons |
| July 26 (Sun) | RTA Parking Test – Final (Retake – Passed) |
| July 28 (Tues) | RTA Road Test – Final (Passed) |
| July 28 (Tues) | Got the Driver’s License |
While, below is an estimate of the expenses I have spent for getting the license.
Estimated Accumulated Expenses
| DESCRIPTION | AMOUNT |
| EYE TEST | AED 120.00 |
| RTA FILE REGISTRATION | AED 300.00** |
| RTA HANDBOOK | AED 50.00 |
| RTA THEORY TEST | AED 250.00** |
| BELHASA FILE OPENING | AED 400.00** |
| BELHASA THEORY LECTURE | AED 400.00** |
| TEST ROOM + VAT | AED 120.00** |
| ONLINE THEORY LECTURES | AED 450.00** |
| RTA THEORY TEST | AED 50.00** |
| DRIVING CLASSES | AED 2,000.00** |
| ROAD TEST – INITIAL ASSESSMENT (16/07/2020) | AED 150.00** |
| PARKING ASSESSMENT – INITIAL (20/07/2020) | 0.00 |
| PARKING TEST – FINAL (22/07/2020) | AED 300.00** |
| PARKING TEST – (GARAGE) FINAL (26/07/2020) | AED 300.00** |
| ROAD TEST – FINAL (28/07/2020) | AED 200.00** |
| 1-HR CLASS BEFORE ROAD TEST (27/07/2020) | AED 200.00** |
| DRIVER’S LICENSE | AED 425.00 |
| TOTAL | AED 5,715.00** |
Hey! It’s a once in a lifetime experience so make the most out of it! Once you passed, you never get to do it again! And once you have a license in the UAE, you can use it on other countries too.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation (MoFAIC), here is the complete list of countries which accept the driving license issued by the UAE:
| Belgium | Egypt |
| France | South Africa |
| Denmark | Sweden |
| Netherlands | Germany |
| Austria | Comoros |
| China | Slovakia |
| Switzerland | Spain |
| Italy | USA |
| Canada | Turkey |
| New Zealand | Lithuania |
| Finland | Jordan |
| Saudi Arabia | Bahrain |
| Singapore | Poland |
| Portugal | Serbia |
| Norway | Latvia |
| Morocco | Ireland |
| Lebanon | Hungary |
| Mauritania | Greece |
| Kuwait | Iraq |
| Somalia | Yemen |
| Palestine | UK |
| Tunisia | Syria |
| Oman | Algeria |
| Luxembourg | Sudan |
| Djibouti | Qatar |
Please bear in mind that the above list can be changed in case of new law. So don’t forget to check for legal requirements before visiting the country.
Tips on How to Pass Your Road Test
- Ensure a good night of rest before the driving test day to be fully focused on the road.
- Dress appropriately, to give a good impression to the examiner, but also to feel comfortable while driving. Be sure to wear closed shoes, and not slippers. Driving barefoot is also prohibited during the test.
- Check doors, adjust your seat, mirrors and fasten your seat belt, before moving the car. Do not forget to direct others people sitting in the rear seat, to fasten their seat belt as well.
- If you did not hear well what your examiner asked you to do, do not be shy to make him repeat. This is always preferable rather than doing a wrong maneuver.
- Drive confidently at a good speed. You may fail the test if you were driving too slow as you become a hazard for other drivers on the road.
- Do not apply either too hard or too soft brakes, as both are a reason for failing the test. Remember to always check the rear view mirror before braking. Try to ensure that your examiner notices you regularly check this mirror.
- Do not forget to check blind spots while entering the road or at any point while driving. Do a proper over the shoulder check.
- Overall, confidence is the key to success. Maintain a fair level of confidence at all times but do not show over confidence as it can lead to major mistakes.
This article might also help!
Simple ‘tricks’ you can use to pass UAE driving test
Don’t worry if you fail the first time. Rather, view it as one of your life challenges; we know that a challenge most of the time leads to success if we work hard for it and do our best. Don’t ever give up. Driving is a practical skill which everybody can learn patiently. It takes a lifetime to master it. So be patient! 😉
Congrats on getting your license! The process is a little different here in the US.
Thank you! And yes I’ve heard US have a different process for getting a driver’s license.