Getting a motorbike license in Dubai

Hi Chocs, my husband has been/still is doing his motorbike license at Al Ahli. He is having a nightmare of a time...the instructors find it too hot, so they pretty much sit on their backsides while the riders sweat it out. They were quick enough to pass DH on the practice rounds, but when RTA came along, it appears that there were a bunch of things that the instructors never told him/colleagues. They all failed! They were super, minor, technicalities, but RTA failed them anyway - for example, one guy had a bike with a faulty brake light - they failed him because he should have checked it himself. DH had to do an exercise and take at least 10 seconds, be on the line - he did this but apparently his revs were too high - no one had told him they had at a certain level...an the list goes on... the last test, 2 out of 8 passed Level 1, and literally the same stats for Level 2. He and a few others (expats that is) complained because they were failing on things that they were never told. Since, then, the instructors appear to be making an effort - for example, while doing the on road level 3, they finally told him there are 3 routes - they only ever taught him 1. So, now we has to take additional classes to learn what the other two routes are. Anyway, I think he and his friends shook things up a bit because the head guys all came down to the last practice and tests (and remarkably the pass rate was higher....) they were much more flexible... but we have heard form many people that they do this often just to get more classes (and more money) out of the students. I also want to warn you of the heat - August is going to be super tough!!! If you can;t already ride a push bike, then please do. DH said there was a lady there who was really trying but just could not balance the bike - she had never ridden a bicycle - eventually she gave up... I was considering trying myself, but this has been a nightmare for DH... Good luck anyway...

Congrats Chocs! I am so proud of you for not giving up! I just did this 2 years ago in New York, it wasn't easy but I did the same as you and just persevered through all the steps to getting my license. Riding classes were a blast. I was the only woman, and the teachers were tough on me, but the guys were all super proud of me when I passed! I can't wait until I finally get my resident visa so I can get my Dubai license. I love the Honda Shadow, but Harleys are what I find myself sighing over. Ride on, girlfriend!

thanks chocs01, I will enroll this month of August and planning to buy the Kawazaki ninja 250R after getting the license wink wink ..... I dont know how to drive a car and they told me that it was much easier to learn and pass if you dont know anything... (hope this is true). Mostly of my friends are very against this but nobody can stop me ....hehehehee

Hi Chocs01, i am also planning to enroll for Motorbike driving lesson, where did you get your license?

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! No more reflective vests :) See you on the road!

Excellent! Good luck with the lessons and hopefully they let you go for the test without having to do 30x30 minutes of figure of 8's. :)

When I did mine I had an AUH visa which also proved to be a problem, but once I had all the right letters and signatures all went smoothly. Hang in there :)

I would definitly say go for it, just make sure you dont eat before the lesson as you'll get quite dizzy from all the 8's. Also I would recommend you bring your own helmet. In hindsight it was worth it (I can say that now because it was so long ago that I had almost forgotton about it until your post ;) There is nothing quite like riding a bike through the Hatta mountains on a friday morning, followed by breakfast at Hatta fort Hotel.... If you already know how to ride a bike then you're halfway there. The bikes they use for lessons are CD 200's, so nothing powerfull. (Its quite an art riding one as they are so under powered) Let me know when you get your license and we can go for a girly ride to Hatta! :)

I did mine about 6 years ago, with Al Ahli in Al Quoz. I only did about 6 lessons, I think they just wanted to get rid of me, because I was complaining so much about doing nothing but figure of 8's for 40 minutes each day. When they finally put me forward for the test, I had a test date in about 5 days. The test consisted of me doing another figure of 8, and showing that I can use the indicator and look over my shoulder....it was an absolute joke. The examiner was sitting in his air conditioned car, barely able to make himself look up from his news paper. I didnt have to do a road test 'because I already have a car liscence and should know the road rules' Needless to say I didnt learn a thing, and as soon as I bought my bike I did the California Bike school at the autodrome which is taught by people that actually know bikes, not a bunch of muppets. Shortly after I got my liscence I heard that women were no longer allowed to get bike liscences, but I think this may have now changed.

Mmm a couple of people recommended Al Ahli. Seriously? An NOC just for being a woman? Typical. This is going to be a nightmare I can see. AT this rate might as well get the OH to teach me and just put in for the test myself. Everyone has to get an NOC, not just women. My son who is 20 and has a work visa still had to get an NOC from the free zone as well as his employer I'm pretty sure you can't just go and take the test yourself. The RTA requires that you do a certain number of lessons from their approved driving schools. Normally it's 30 lessons I think, but since you have a driver's license you may get some credit and not have to take as many. Your best bet is to go to the office of a driving school (EDI, Belhasa) etc. and ask. I think they've changed the rules then. DH did his early last year and had NOC but did not have to then get approval from RTA (that is the difference bet male and female) and only did 16 lessons, but then he's been riding a motorbike for on/off the last 20+ years He also said who they passed seemed selective and those who failed didn't necessarily do anything wrong. But no arguing with test blokes. He was just happy to get it and get out! To do the lessons, you have to wear long sleeved shirts, long pants, and steel toed boots

Yeah I called the RTA and a couple of the driving schools, it's 30 lessons and theory - pure money making scheme but no way round it. I knew I should have done my bike license in the UK years ago. Al Ahli are much much cheaper than EDI (who to be honest I wouldn't touch after seeing how their instructors drive). So guess I'll be plugging away at that over the next couple of months. Yes definitely it's a money making scheme. And there's no guarantee that after 30 lessons your instructor will recommend you to take the test. I've heard of people having to buy more lessons on top of the 30 (or 40 in the case of a car license) because the instructor "thinks you need more practice." Another money making scheme LOL. It's the same with people who have been driving for ages - if their passport isn't on the "preferred" list, they still have to do the 40 lessons for a car license You still have to do the 30 lessons even though you have a driver's license? Yes, stupid isn't it. If I'd had a bike license it would only be 16, mind you if I'd had a bike endorsement on my UK license I wouldn't need to do this at all. I blame my father, who would never let me ride a bike! LOL And the other irritating thing is that if/when you go back to the UK, they probably won't recognise the UAE license and you will have to take the test there as well. Thinking about it, though, are you going to the UK in the next little while & could you do the test there? That way you wouldn't have to retake it when you go back. You'd still have to do the 16 here, I guess

Yeah I called the RTA and a couple of the driving schools, it's 30 lessons and theory - pure money making scheme but no way round it. I knew I should have done my bike license in the UK years ago. Al Ahli are much much cheaper than EDI (who to be honest I wouldn't touch after seeing how their instructors drive). So guess I'll be plugging away at that over the next couple of months. Yes definitely it's a money making scheme. And there's no guarantee that after 30 lessons your instructor will recommend you to take the test. I've heard of people having to buy more lessons on top of the 30 (or 40 in the case of a car license) because the instructor "thinks you need more practice." Another money making scheme LOL. It's the same with people who have been driving for ages - if their passport isn't on the "preferred" list, they still have to do the 40 lessons for a car license You still have to do the 30 lessons even though you have a driver's license?

Mmm a couple of people recommended Al Ahli. Seriously? An NOC just for being a woman? Typical. This is going to be a nightmare I can see. AT this rate might as well get the OH to teach me and just put in for the test myself. Everyone has to get an NOC, not just women. My son who is 20 and has a work visa still had to get an NOC from the free zone as well as his employer I'm pretty sure you can't just go and take the test yourself. The RTA requires that you do a certain number of lessons from their approved driving schools. Normally it's 30 lessons I think, but since you have a driver's license you may get some credit and not have to take as many. Your best bet is to go to the office of a driving school (EDI, Belhasa) etc. and ask. To do the lessons, you have to wear long sleeved shirts, long pants, and steel toed boots

Good luck! Let us know how you go, it"s always good to hear of another female biker in Dubai :) Thanks for all the info. I'm determined to do it. :)

I started it here, but ended up going back to South Africa to do the test there and then just had it converted to UAE license. It was a whole lot easier. What I found really annoying is when you go for your lessons, there are usually about 5-8 blokes practicing but they stop to gawk at you. Made me feel really uncomfortable. But the instructors were very good, I must admit. Good luck. DH did the test here and it took him the entire day with waiting around for the inspector, then waiting for everybody to complete the test before you get results, then waiting for issue of license. It was horrible. You may fair better, fingers crossed!

For females, they require a NOC from their sponsor, so husband or work etc. Then you have to take that to the main RTA office in Ghusais where a particular person (can't remember his name) will give you a letter in Arabic saying they give you permission to get your license. Then you take that, some photos, passport, current license and copies to EDI or wherever. The training is at the premises for about 8 lessons. Try to take a scarf and your own gloves, or else you have to use their helmet straight onto your head and they are sometimes a bit smelly. When they feel you are ready, they will take you onto the road but probably with a few other riders. You also need to watch some videos before you can go for the test. I think it is minimum 16 lessons. The test is done with about 30 other people and they take them out onto the road in groups. Many don't pass and then have to buy another 16 lessons. Good luck, it is a bit of a nightmare.