Hi
So here we are in Dubai, with no public transportation what so ever, and our life has started on a fast lane with no time to spare. I feel like back in Los Angeles, where you could hardly do anything without a car. Getting a car of course is easy provided you have money or are eligible for a loan, but can you drive it? Well if you happen to be unfortunate enough for being a Hungarian, you cannot unless you go through Driving school all over again. Read on for the adventure of getting a driver’s license in Dubai….
Mostly all countries in the developed world have an agreement with the UAE for license exchange, but Hungary unfortunately is among one of those few countries who have failed to achieve this. All the surrounding countries in Central-Eastern Europe have this agreement, but we don’t 
. Well enough said about that, I still needed to get the license, so I was off to the driving school.
I found a very good school through a contact, and went there to check it out. They told me I had to take 20 driving classes each 30 minutes, and the waiting list was over 2 months. I did the math, and quickly came to the conclusion, that this just isn’t right for my situation right then, so I started the negotiation process. They offered their VIP service, which costed double, but there is no waiting list and I would be done with the whole thing in just 3 weeks.
I was assigned an instructor, paid the fees of 4200 UAE Dirhams, equal to 1200-1300 US dollars, and I soon had the schedule in my hand. I knew driving 20 classes is pointless, as I have 11 years of experience behind the wheel, but the school was strict about this, and wouldn’t let me get away with it.
After meeting the instructor, we were able to negotiate on a deal that was good for both of us if you know what I mean. Yes, after all the UAE is still an Arab country, where negotiation is an important day to day activity. I didn’t attend more than 1-2 classes which saved me time, and the instructor didn’t have to sit beside a student who can drive perfectly fine and be bored out of his mind.
I had a class at the beginning, and found that the UAE law of driving are very different from the Hungarian law, and this obviously gave me the creeps. There are a lot of roundabouts in Dubai, even more than regular intersections, and it has a very unique rule by which we have to approach each of these roundabouts. I was quick to pick the routine up, but I was still worried whether I will be able to pass my test with only 1 hour of practice. Thankfully, I had a rental car with which I could practice every day, and I was apparently able to drive that with my international license for a period of a month.
There were 4 exams all together. First one was the hill-test, which is just what it sounds like, you have to go up on a small hill and then do it in reverse again, without stalling the engine or burning down the clutch and tires. This was a piece of cake, specially that the instructor was on my side. The image you see below was taken while waiting for our turn on the slope with other Asian Expats. They are expats in the sense that they work in a different country of their own, but they are basically all work in the Construction industry building Dubai.
Second exam was the Assessment test, which was in real traffic, and the reason was to determine if I needed any extra hours on top of the 20 default hours. On this test I kind of failed, but since the instructor was a “good friend” by that time, I managed to have the mistakes overlooked. Others were taking the test with a government official, but I was able to sneak out of it, and get examined by my own instructor. Third test was the Signal test, which included an hour of instructions prior to the test, which you see an image of below.
This lesson was very boring, they introduced a number of road signals in two languages, English and Urdu, which is a very commonly spoken language among expatriates here in Dubai. Once the lecture was over, we were all given a test of 10 questions, which I passed by only having 1 mistake.
The final test was the Road test, which was done in presence of an RTA personnel, from the Dubai Traffic Bureau, needless to say that the person accompanying us was a local UAE national. People tend to be afraid of locals, as they are strict, and they are hardly becoming your “friends” like this was the case with the non UAE national instructor. The test went well, and after 30 minutes of waiting in a non air conditioned room, I got my positive results. I was so nervous by the time, that I started jumping around with my friend in the room packed with people among which at least 90% failed the test. This might have been a rather nasty act, but I couldn’t help expressing my ease and happiness.
I was so happy, I wanted to have this recorded on an image, so I grabbed the nearest Driving school instructor near me, and asked him to pose for a picture with me. The school had about 20-30 instructors, they all wore this green jacket you see on the picture. Our instructor was no different, but he was busy and away, so could not pose with us for the happy moment.
The license was issued after a week of waiting time, and now I am legally on the roads of the UAE. Below is an image of the waiting hall for getting the license.
Cheers,
Ben
August 12th, 2008 at 00:21
can you send me an email as I will be moving to the UAE in the next 3 weeks and would like more info on how to go about the lessons for the license.
I will be moving from Toronto, I do not have.
EMAIL-REMOVED-BY-ADMIN
(Will I removed your email as SPAM engines tend to pick it up and SPAM you to insanity)
I havent driven in a while a long while and my licnese in canada has experied in about 5 years. The timing isnt working for me to get it renewed before I move to the UAE, so I would like to get more info on how to get things done with alteast the most somewhat of an efficent way as I know things tend to take twice as long in the middle ease.
Thanks again
August 12th, 2008 at 07:25
Hey there Will,
Email sent. Just as a sidenote, I would reconsider getting your Canadian license renewed, as getting a lic here is quite troublesome.
Ben
August 13th, 2008 at 18:30
hey mate!
I just went through the same process at Ah Ahli….heheheheh quite a coincidence!
Anyway, I have my road exam tomorrow and I’m very very tense about…especially because of the whole parkign thing…when the rta guy tells you to park on the side of the road and we must push the hazard button, put the gear in neutral and pull the handbreak…in one specific order which I can not rmember now…and then use a different order when moving again…anyway…any tips for tomorrow (in case you get to see this)?
Cheers
August 14th, 2008 at 05:29
Hi There Fabio,
Best of luck mate, I dont know what advice to give you, I was going through the same thing. Park – Neutral – Hazard – stay silent – Hazard off – Gear – Go.
Quite funny, specially now that I am looking back at it. When I was in your shoes, I was pretty my crapping into my pants to be honest. I depend on the driving license, and I couldnt affoard missing the first chance. The exam went well, and I noticed that all this routine they force on us during schooling doesnt really matter. You just drive as usual, of course with much care of looking at the mirror. Just make sure not to change gear during lane-change, and always look over your shoulder before making any turn or line change.
Good luck, do post back with the results,
Cheers
Ben
August 14th, 2008 at 06:28
Thanks mate!
Let’s see how it goes!
Best of luck in Dubai!!!!
September 23rd, 2008 at 20:08
Hi Ben,
, second i have to go for my vacation on 26 so want dont want to go depressed, 3rd my boss promised me a car if i clear the test in 1st try.
Well i have my test on 25th, have cleared rest of the test in first try an desperately want to clear the road test in first try as well….reasons many, first for a Ego boost
well my problem is simple i know how to drive but i just cant follow these tricky technical things!! my instructor got fed up trying to tell me the 5 steps before changing the lane…
anyways i need some luck, wishes, prayers and some tips (actually was googling for tips and landed on your blog) so you got any advise?
or maybe just some wishes
Regards
Alia
September 24th, 2008 at 04:38
Hi Alia,
Well you do have my best wishes, so that isnt an issue. As for the tricky things, just try to keep them in mind, look organized, so even if you skip one, make sure that the instructor is confident sitting next to you as a “passenger”.
Do post back once you are through, and have fun on your vacation
Cheers,
Ben
October 9th, 2008 at 18:05
pls v want 2 dubai driving licence
October 9th, 2008 at 18:08
mi id EMAIL-REMOVED by admin
im sahil i know how 2 drive but i dont hav licence
October 12th, 2008 at 04:25
Hi Imran,
I don’t really know what or how to respond to your comments. Maybe good luck???
Ben
October 28th, 2008 at 20:30
Hi Ben, sould you please help with the institute u had managed to get the vip classes form on the mail… thanks well in advance… gona take the test soon…
October 29th, 2008 at 04:42
Sent you a mail, good luck with the tests. Cheers
October 29th, 2008 at 19:37
you scared the crap out of me.. i hope to pass
ill be sooo happy if i did .. i failed 5 times 
:(
October 30th, 2008 at 23:14
Good luck, 6th time shall be your lucky one
Cheers
November 1st, 2008 at 22:36
yeaaaah it was
i got my license ..
hehe
November 2nd, 2008 at 04:41
Hey, told you about the 6th time being lucky. Enjoy your license, cheers.
November 9th, 2008 at 09:16
I was once failed in road test and i was schedule by this month.
i paid 854 dhs for transfering manual to automatic, SIGNAL TEST, 7 CLASSES then ROAD TEST.
my question is, IS THIS 7 CLASSES are for aactual driving? OR after may signal test am going to schedule my road test?
please reply.
November 9th, 2008 at 13:57
Hi. Well, I am not sure what you are after, but I will try to answer anyway.
This is what I was put through: 1 class inside the school’s parking lot, then Hill Test. (only for manual transmission of course). Then I was given an appointment for assesment test, and I had to drive 14 hours on the roads around the school. After 14 hours of driving, there was the assesment test which I passed, and I had 6 hours of driving thereafter. Meantime, I did the signal test and after the signal test, I was given an appointment for the final Road test. Once the 6 hours driving was done, up came the Road test and I passed. Don’t really know what would have happened if I failed. Since you already failed your Road test once, I am guessing the 7 hours you need to do are penalty hours and they will be on the road as well.
Cheers, good luck for the 2nd try,
Ben
November 12th, 2008 at 01:25
Hi ben ;
Just wana thank u for ur explanation & analyse of how it works to get the DL over this %^$#& city & how to deal with these #$^*^% people…It helps me a lot as Im going through this battle shortly
December 29th, 2008 at 16:33
Hi ben,
Have given 4 tests in Galadari Driving School..will give 5th one by the end of next month..should I change to some other driving school where I can get it in 1st try basically I mean as quickly as possible…Help is required…
Thanks
December 29th, 2008 at 19:44
Hi There Scorpion King,
Well, not sure about Galadari, but some people prefer to transfer to another school in order to stop their bad-luck, or just simply because the school they are with is more interested in failing people and getting monday than actually issuing licenses.
What worked for me was the VIP classes and the treatment you get with it, but it costs more than double
Best of luck,
Ben
April 3rd, 2009 at 18:50
Hello Ben
I left Dubai in 2005 and recently discovered my Dubai Drivers license? Do you know if it has to be returned or may I keep it until it expires? I never plan to use. However I have heard that Dubai RTA may charge an annual fee for each year it is not returned. I no longer work in the U.A.E. but would like to visit there again in the near future. The last thing I want is to be detained at the airport for a stupid fee or fine.
Regards
Scott
September 15th, 2009 at 23:01
hi ben
i tried 7 times (including 1 special committee test) but could not pass at galadari driving institute, i approached institute to issue me an NOC and transfer my file to Dubai Driving institute, but to my surprise, they said that its not their policy to transfer/ cancel files. i suppose that their classes are govenrned by the rules specified by RTA, how can they refuse my request without any proper reason?
i also spoke to RTA help line and they said the institute is supposed to honour my request. i have a meet coming saturday with the supervisor, should i be content that my demand is legal one and i can fight for my legal right?
September 16th, 2009 at 08:43
Scott, I dont believe so, but I cannot guarantee it of course. I know one thing, I will not return it to them and will visit the country without any worries. I have worked and driven in several countries and never once given my permit back. But again, this is the Middle East, so one cannot be 100% sure.
Sam, sorry mate I have no idea how to help you. I don’t know anything about legal rights and what nots, but I would not be pushing it too hard. The law is rather funny here and you never know what you are entitled to etc.
Ben
September 22nd, 2009 at 09:34
Hi Ben,
i went through all your advices and it was pretty helpful….but im about to start with my Driving lessons and i need to ask what are the tips i should do; in other words, in what way i can behave so the instuctor will not let me fail??? is there any points i should abide with when driving??? email me please..thanx (zayour_86@hotmail.com)
September 30th, 2009 at 09:27
Hi there,
Best of luck Scorpio, that is all I can say unfortunately. I have no idea what they are looking for, from my experience they are looking for money. I went through the VIP course with 4 of my other friends, and we all passed first time around. I have seen a very good driver driving together with me in the same car and he failed. I don’t really know what to say. Hope all goes well for you mate,
Cheers
Ben
October 1st, 2009 at 23:27
Hi,
can somebody give me tips on how to pass the road test? i AM ALSO WITH AL AHLI AND i WILL BE FINISHING MY 40 CLASSES VERY SOON..
November 22nd, 2009 at 15:09
No wonder you passed. You paid VIP and you’re white.
February 1st, 2010 at 16:09
Hi Ben,
Could you please email me (already stated in the email field) the name of the institute where you gave your test? And if possible a breakdown of the cost (I’m assuming you had to pay more than the 4900 dihrams, you’ve already stated?)
Thanks in advance..
February 24th, 2010 at 09:16
Hi Ben (Synovator),
i was just surfing the net for VIP service for one of my friend and i came across your blog. Howz life r u still in Dubai and working at the same place.
March 9th, 2010 at 15:40
I understand why you said that it was a very good school in the beginning, it’s a small and unknown school that why they make it easier for you, normally the instructor is not allowed to test you in parking or assessment test… you say that in UAE, like in the other arab countries, everything is negotiable… don’t forget that the instructor who helps you is an asian guy.
anyway congratulation for the licence