How to renew your driving licence in Dubai: Costs, documents and step-by-step guide

Dubai: Obtaining your driver’s licence can take a few weeks or months. Renewing it is a whole different matter, however – it can take less than 10 minutes, with most processes completed online. Here’s all you need to know about how to renew your driving licence in Dubai. How long is the validity period of a driving licence? According to Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), when driving licences are issued for the first time, they are provided for a period of five years for UAE and GCC citizens, and for two years for all other nationals. Upon completing the initial duration, the driving licence can be renewed for 10 years for UAE and GCC citizens aged 21 and above, and for five years for residents aged 21 and above. If you are younger than 21, your issued licence is valid for one year, and is renewable annually. When should I renew my driving licence? If you are 21 and older, you can renew your driving licence up to six months before its expiry date, according to the RTA. If you’re under 21 years of age, you can renew it up to three months before its expiry. The renewal date is calculated from the application submission date. The RTA website clarifies a cut-off limit for expired driving licences: If your licence lapsed more than 10 years ago, you are not permitted to renew it without taking an evaluation test first. Only licences within a 10-year period from the date of expiry can be renewed, as long as they are registered as ‘with owner’ in the system – meaning the licence is valid and linked to your traffic file, and has not been cancelled or surrendered to the RTA. Documents and preparation required Ensure you have the following documents ready and processes completed, before renewing your licence: UAE driving licence Emirates ID Eye test results (more on this below) No traffic fines due What is the cost of renewing a driving licence in Dubai? According to the RTA, here is the breakdown of costs when renewing your driving licence: Driving licence fees: Licence renewal (younger than 21): Dh100 Licence renewal (21 or older): Dh300 Knowledge and Innovation fees: Dh20 Delivery service fees: Standard delivery: Dh20 Same-day delivery: Dh35 Delivery within two hours: Dh50 International delivery: Dh50 How to renew your driver’s licence in Dubai While most of the processes to renew a driver’s licence can be managed online, the only step you will need to complete in person is an eye test. Follow the steps below to renew your driving licence in Dubai. Step 1: Get an eye test A valid eye test is mandatory to renew a driving licence. This can be done at any optical store registered with the RTA in Dubai, such as Al Jaber Optical, Emirates Driving Institute – Eye Test, Barakat Optical, Magrabi Optical, Yateem Optician, and others. Ensure you take your original driving licence and Emirates ID with you, when you go for your eye test, as you will be required to produce these documents. Once your eye test is complete, the optician will update your test result information in the RTA’s system. Once you receive an SMS notification on your registered phone number, confirming your eye test results, you can proceed with the next step. The eye test results are valid for three years. Fee : Dh140 to Dh180, depending on the service provider Step 2: Pay your traffic fines You will not be able to proceed with renewing your driving licence, if you have any unpaid fines or penalties registered against you. Clear your fines before applying to renew your licence. Learn about the different ways you can pay your traffic fines. Step 3: Renew your driving licence There are several different ways you can renew your driver’s licence in Dubai – through the RTA website, the RTA Dubai app, the DubaiNow app, or in-person at a RTA Customer Happiness Centre or self-service kiosk. Learn more about how to renew your licence through each of these steps, below. Once you complete the renewal process, you will receive a temporary digital licence instantly, which can have a validity period of between 5 to 15 days, according to the RTA. This temporary licence cannot be renewed, and you must obtain your physical driving licence within this time period, through your preferred delivery method (more on this below). Renew via the RTA website or app The process to renew your licence through RTA’s website or smart app is the same. Follow these steps to do so: Visit the website, rta.ae, or download the RTA Dubai app via the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Log in with your UAE PASS. Select ‘Services’ and ‘Apply for or Manage a Driving Licence’. Select the service type: ‘Renew Driving Licence’. Select ‘Start Now’. Verify your personal details and traffic file information, including your Emirates ID, driving licence number, and any related vehicle information. Next, check the summary provided to you, which will highlight if you have any black points on your licence, as well as the results of your eye test. Now, select a delivery method: Kiosks or self-se