If you use a hire car then i think you can drive on your own licence. Once you have residency and ID etc then you will need to switch it over and it's done within a few minutes.
This is sensible advice!
If you use a hire car then i think you can drive on your own licence. Once you have residency and ID etc then you will need to switch it over and it's done within a few minutes.
I arrived recently on the 25th of April and it took me 6 weeks to get my licence (am Australian too). The reason it took so much time was the waiting on visa and emirates ID. If your husband is working here you will be on his visa so will require what the others have mentioned below. But just make sure you take extra photocopies of everything as it all depends on the person you get on the day. The first person made me go and make extra copies and then when I join the queue again the next person didn't want them! And they nearly failed me on the eye test however, I did a extensive medical before I left Australia and had perfect vision. The light box they used was very dull (even my husband couldn't read it) but they passed me as long as I only drive a car and not a truck!!! Good luck with your move :-)
Also remember if you are on your husbands visa you need a letter on non objection, your visa needs to be in your passport, emirates id etc, etc etc, I was with out a car for about 2 months, fortunately i was within walking distance from the school my kids attend and it was not as hot as it is now.. :) If you are on your own Visa things seem to go quicker
You can't change to a UAE licence till you have your residency and ID.
Once you hsve this you can go straight to office and get it immediately..you need an approved eye test done in Dubai, a letter from your husband giving you permission, loads of passport photos,copy of husband passport and ID and money.
You can drive a hire car on a UK licence but not a private car. Once you hsve residency you MUST convert to UAE licence or you will be driving illegally.
What do I need to do to prevent a delay in getting my drivers licence in UAE? I will be arriving with my children early August in preparation for them to start school in September and I will need to drive them to school so I don't want to be without a licence. Worse case scenario I suppose I get a taxi to and fro. Any recommendations on how I go about getting the children prepared and myself? What else do I need to know to start their transition as smoothly as possible :) I'm starting to feel overwhelmed.
It depends if you have a licence already or not and what country its issued from, once you have residence if you hold a UK licence for example you can get a Dubai licence immediately.
If you do not have a driving license from any country you will need to take lessons from a registered driving school and pass the driving test. That usually takes at least a few weeks minimum.
Countries eligible to exchange licences are
Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States
Procedure and details outlined here
http://www.dubai.ae/en/Lists/HowToGuide/DispForm.aspx?ID=11
hth
What do I need to do to prevent a delay in getting my drivers licence in UAE? I will be arriving with my children early August in preparation for them to start school in September and I will need to drive them to school so I don't want to be without a licence. Worse case scenario I suppose I get a taxi to and fro. Any recommendations on how I go about getting the children prepared and myself? What else do I need to know to start their transition as smoothly as possible :) I'm starting to feel overwhelmed.