Driving in the UAE: A UK Expat's Guide to Licence Conversion and Bringing a Car

The UAE is on the Roads and Transport Authority's (RTA) approved list of countries whose licences can be exchanged for a UAE licence without any written or practical test — the UK is one of these approved countries. Once you have your Emirates ID and residence visa finalised, you can apply for licence conversion at an RTA (Dubai) or relevant emirate's traffic department service centre, submitting your UK licence, passport, Emirates ID, residence visa, an eye test certificate from an approved optical centre, and passport photographs. The process typically takes 1–3 working days and costs roughly AED 300–500 (£65–£110) including the eye test.

Tourists and new arrivals can drive on a valid UK licence (accompanied by an International Driving Permit for full legal clarity, though many rental companies and police accept the UK photocard alone) for a limited period as a visitor. However, once you obtain a UAE residence visa, you are required to convert to a UAE licence promptly — driving on a foreign licence after establishing residency is not permitted and can invalidate insurance in the event of an accident.

Jebel Ali Port near Dubai is the primary entry point for UK vehicle shipments to the UAE, with container transit from Southampton or Felixstowe taking roughly 18–24 days. Vehicles must be less than five years old for used passenger car imports in most emirates (Dubai enforces this via the RTA), pass an RTA vehicle inspection covering chassis, VIN verification and roadworthiness, and clear customs with 5% duty applied to the CIF value — there is no VAT-equivalent complication since UAE VAT of 5% is also applied on top, making combined import charges around 10% of value. See our dedicated Gulf shipping comparison guides for how the UAE stacks up against neighbouring markets.

After customs clearance and RTA inspection, registration requires mandatory UAE motor insurance (comprehensive strongly recommended, and required by most banks if the vehicle is financed), a valid Emirates ID, and payment of registration fees typically totalling AED 400–800 depending on the emirate and vehicle category. Number plates in Dubai and Abu Dhabi can be selected from standard series or purchased at auction for personalised combinations, a well-known local practice among both residents and long-term expats.

Dubai's Salik toll system charges a flat fee automatically via a windscreen tag each time you pass one of its toll gates — new residents should register a Salik account and link a payment card promptly to avoid fines for unpaid tolls. Speed limits are strictly enforced with an extensive network of Saher speed cameras, and the UAE has a zero-tolerance policy on drink driving with essentially no legal blood alcohol limit for driving — even one drink can result in serious legal consequences, a stark contrast to UK norms that catches many new expats out.