Emirate guide
Driving theory test in Dubai: practice format and licence steps
In Dubai, driving licences are handled by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). Here is the practice format the app uses for Dubai and the steps to each licence.
Practice format in the app
Practice format based on news reports
These figures come from news reports (35 questions in 30 minutes, with a pass mark reported as over 65%) and an RTA announcement from 2015 about a risk-recognition part with 5 short clips. RTA does not publish the current format in detail, so the app labels it a practice format.
About the risk-recognition practice
Source: Gulf News: how to practise for the Dubai theory test (2023)
- Questions
- 35
- Time
- 30 minutes
- Pass mark
- 23/35
- Risk-recognition clips
- 5 clips, 3 to pass
Licence steps in Dubai
The same steps as the licence journey in the app, checked against the pages linked under each step. Fees are not listed: pay the fees your institute or the portal shows.
Light vehicle (car)
Check you can apply
In Dubai you can open a traffic file for a car licence from 17 years and 6 months, and the licence is issued once you pass all tests and turn 18. You need a valid Emirates ID. If your visa is from another emirate, show proof that you live, work or study in Dubai, such as an Ejari tenancy contract.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Apply and choose an institute Traffic file
Apply on the RTA website or app, or in person at a driving institute. Log in with UAE Pass or your Emirates ID, choose an institute and pay the fees shown. The institute calls you within 3 working days to agree a training package. Your digital learning permit then arrives by SMS and email.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Pass an eye test Eye test
Take an electronic eye test at an RTA-approved eye test centre; many institutes have one at their main centres. In Dubai this usually happens after your learning permit arrives and before your first test. The result is valid for 3 years. Bring your glasses or lenses to every lesson and test.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Attend the theory lectures Lectures
Your institute runs theory lectures on attitude, signs, risks, road rules and emergencies. You can often join them in a classroom or online, in Arabic, English or Urdu. Bring your Emirates ID and learning permit. You must finish all the lectures before you can book the theory test.
Book your theory test Theory booked
When your lectures are finished, book the theory test through your institute or your licensing authority's app or website. Add the date and time to your checklist in the Learners Test UAE app, then use the app's practice tests to work on your weak topics before the day.
Source: u.ae: Get a driving licence (categories and minimum ages)
Pass the theory test Theory test
In Dubai the theory test, which RTA calls the knowledge test, is taken at your institute's main test centre. If you need a language that is not offered, ask for RTA's interpreter service when you open your file, because it cannot be added later. Questions in the Learners Test UAE app are for practice only.
Keep your file active
If you take no RTA test within 6 months of your last booked appointment, your file is suspended. You can reactivate it and carry on, but a theory test pass older than 2 years or a yard test pass older than 1 year must be taken again. After 4 years of suspension, you start from the beginning.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Take your driving lessons
In Dubai only RTA-permitted trainers may teach you, using RTA-authorised training vehicles, and only while your learning permit is valid. Your training package depends on your experience: if you have a foreign car licence that cannot be exchanged, you need fewer sessions. Carry your Emirates ID and permit to every lesson.
Pass the institute assessments
Before RTA tests you, your institute checks that you are ready. You usually take an assessment drive and a practice parking assessment in the institute's yard. Your instructor tells you when you are ready to book the RTA yard test and road test.
Pass the RTA parking test
The RTA yard test is a parking test in a smart yard at your institute's main centre, examined by RTA. It checks how well you control the car in tight spaces. Arrive about 30 minutes early with your Emirates ID and learning permit.
Pass the RTA road test Road test
The final test is a drive on public roads with an RTA examiner. When you pass, RTA emails you a temporary licence that is valid for 7 days while your full licence is issued. If you fail, ask your institute what extra training you need before the next try.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Get your licence
After you pass, RTA sends an SMS asking you to pay the licence fees on its website or app. Your digital licence then appears in the RTA Dubai app, and you can add it to your phone wallet. Collect the card from a self-service machine or choose delivery.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Your first licence period
A new UAE licence is valid for 1 year if you are under 21, or 2 years if you are 21 or older. Renew it before it expires; you must pay any traffic fines first. Drive with extra care in these early years, because offences add black points to your licence.
Source: u.ae: Get a driving licence (categories and minimum ages)
Optional: the Golden Chance
If you hold a foreign car licence that cannot be exchanged, you can ask for RTA's Golden Chance once. You take the theory test and the road test without the usual training hours. If you fail the road test, you must do the training, but you can skip the theory part.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Optional: exchange your licence
If your licence was issued in one of the 57 countries on RTA's exchange list, you may be able to swap it for a UAE licence instead of training from the start. Your licence must be valid. You need an eye test and your original licence, and you must apply in person.
Source: RTA: over 58,000 foreign licences from 57 countries replaced with UAE ones (20 January 2026)
Motorcycle
Check you can apply
In Dubai you can get a motorcycle learning permit from 17. RTA's conditions list your age, a valid Emirates ID, an eye test and medical fitness, not a car licence. If your visa is from another emirate, show proof that you live, work or study in Dubai, such as an Ejari tenancy contract.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Already have a UAE licence?
If you already hold a UAE licence for another vehicle, motorcycle is added to it as a new category. You still need a valid eye test, and you must complete the motorcycle training and pass its tests before the category is added.
Apply and choose an institute Traffic file
Apply on the RTA website or app, or in person at a driving institute. Log in with UAE Pass or your Emirates ID, choose an institute and pay the fees shown. The institute calls you within 3 working days to agree a training package. Your digital learning permit then arrives by SMS and email.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Pass an eye test Eye test
Take an electronic eye test at an RTA-approved eye test centre; many institutes have one at their main centres. In Dubai this usually happens after your learning permit arrives and before your first test. Riders need the same eyesight standard as car drivers. The result is valid for 3 years. Bring your glasses or lenses to every lesson and test.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Attend the theory lectures Lectures
Your institute runs theory lectures for riders on the motorcycle, signs, risks, rider condition, road rules and emergencies. You can often join them in a classroom or online, in Arabic, English or Urdu. Bring your Emirates ID and learning permit, and finish them all before you book the theory test.
Book your theory test Theory booked
When your lectures are finished, book the theory test through your institute or your licensing authority's app or website. Add the date and time to your checklist in the Learners Test UAE app, then use the app's practice tests to work on your weak topics before the day.
Source: u.ae: Get a driving licence (categories and minimum ages)
Pass the theory test Theory test
In Dubai the theory test, which RTA calls the knowledge test, is taken at your institute's main test centre. If you need a language that is not offered, ask for RTA's interpreter service when you open your file, because it cannot be added later. Questions in the Learners Test UAE app are for practice only.
Keep your file active
If you take no RTA test within 6 months of your last booked appointment, your file is suspended. You can reactivate it and carry on, but a theory test pass older than 2 years or a yard test pass older than 1 year must be taken again. After 4 years of suspension, you start from the beginning.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Take your riding lessons
Riding lessons start with balance and control in the institute's yard and then move to the road. Wear safety shoes, a long-sleeved top and full-length trousers to every lesson. Riders who already hold a foreign motorcycle licence usually need fewer lessons than beginners.
Pass the institute skills tests
Before the RTA road test, your institute checks your riding skills in its yard and then in an assessment ride. Your instructor books these when you are ready. Some Dubai centres also run an RTA yard test for motorcycles, so ask what your centre requires.
Pass the RTA road test Road test
The final test is a drive on public roads with an RTA examiner. When you pass, RTA emails you a temporary licence that is valid for 7 days while your full licence is issued. If you fail, ask your institute what extra training you need before the next try.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Get your licence
After you pass, RTA sends an SMS asking you to pay the licence fees on its website or app. Your digital licence then appears in the RTA Dubai app, and you can add it to your phone wallet. Collect the card from a self-service machine or choose delivery.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Your first licence period
A new UAE licence is valid for 1 year if you are under 21, or 2 years if you are 21 or older. Renew it before it expires; you must pay any traffic fines first. Drive with extra care in these early years, because offences add black points to your licence.
Source: u.ae: Get a driving licence (categories and minimum ages)
Optional: riding for deliveries
If you plan to ride for a delivery company in Dubai, your licence is only the start. Delivery riders need a rider permit, which can be suspended after repeated offences, and they may not use the fastest lanes on wide roads. Ask your employer which training and permit you need.
Source: RTA and Dubai Police: delivery bikes on high-speed lanes, from 1 November 2025
Optional: exchange your licence
RTA exchanges foreign licences only for cars and motorcycles. If your motorcycle licence comes from a country on RTA's exchange list, you may be able to swap it instead of training from the start. Your licence must be valid, and you must apply in person.
Heavy truck
Check you can apply
In Dubai you must be 20 to get a heavy vehicle learning permit. This licence lets you drive all light and heavy vehicles. You need a valid Emirates ID and must be medically fit. If your visa is from another emirate, show proof that you live, work or study in Dubai.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Get a medical report if needed
If your visa profession is 'Driver', bring a medical fitness report from an RTA-approved medical centre or hospital when you register for heavy vehicle training. Ask your institute whether anything else applies to you, for example because of your age or your type of sponsorship.
Already have a UAE licence?
If you already hold a UAE licence for another vehicle, heavy vehicle is added to it as a new category. You still need a valid eye test, and you must complete the heavy vehicle training and pass its tests before the category is added.
Apply and choose an institute Traffic file
Apply on the RTA website or app, or in person at a driving institute. Log in with UAE Pass or your Emirates ID, choose an institute and pay the fees shown. The institute calls you within 3 working days to agree a training package. Your digital learning permit then arrives by SMS and email.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Pass an eye test Eye test
Take an electronic eye test at an RTA-approved eye test centre; many institutes have one at their main centres. In Dubai this usually happens after your learning permit arrives and before your first test. Heavy vehicles need sharper eyesight than cars, with or without glasses. The result is valid for 3 years. Bring your glasses or lenses to every lesson and test.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Attend the theory lectures Lectures
Truck theory lectures cover the same road topics as cars, plus your vehicle and articulated trucks. You can often join them in a classroom or online, in Arabic, English or Urdu. Bring your Emirates ID and learning permit, and finish every lecture before you book the theory test.
Book your theory test Theory booked
When your lectures are finished, book the theory test through your institute or your licensing authority's app or website. Add the date and time to your checklist in the Learners Test UAE app, then use the app's practice tests to work on your weak topics before the day.
Source: u.ae: Get a driving licence (categories and minimum ages)
Pass the theory test Theory test
In Dubai the theory test, which RTA calls the knowledge test, is taken at your institute's main test centre. If you need a language that is not offered, ask for RTA's interpreter service when you open your file, because it cannot be added later. Questions in the Learners Test UAE app are for practice only.
Keep your file active
If you take no RTA test within 6 months of your last booked appointment, your file is suspended. You can reactivate it and carry on, but a theory test pass older than 2 years or a yard test pass older than 1 year must be taken again. After 4 years of suspension, you start from the beginning.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Take your truck lessons
Truck training covers moving off, gears, mirrors, lane changes, reversing and vehicle control, and how a long, heavy vehicle behaves differently from a car. Lessons are given by RTA-permitted trainers in training vehicles. Carry your Emirates ID and learning permit to every lesson.
Pass the RTA yard test
RTA's inside (yard) test checks how you control and reverse the truck in the institute's test area. Your instructor confirms when you are ready, and the institute books it. Arrive about 30 minutes early with all your documents.
Pass the institute assessments
Your institute also runs its own checks: an assessment drive and, if you train on articulated trucks, a separate articulated truck test. They show you are ready for the RTA road test. Your instructor or course manager books them.
Pass the RTA road test Road test
The final test is a drive on public roads with an RTA examiner. When you pass, RTA emails you a temporary licence that is valid for 7 days while your full licence is issued. If you fail, ask your institute what extra training you need before the next try.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Get your licence
After you pass, RTA sends an SMS asking you to pay the licence fees on its website or app. Your digital licence then appears in the RTA Dubai app, and you can add it to your phone wallet. Collect the card from a self-service machine or choose delivery.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Your first licence period
A new UAE licence is valid for 1 year if you are under 21, or 2 years if you are 21 or older. Renew it before it expires; you must pay any traffic fines first. Drive with extra care in these early years, because offences add black points to your licence.
Source: u.ae: Get a driving licence (categories and minimum ages)
Check Dubai truck ban times
In Dubai, trucks are banned from some roads at all times, from others for most of the day, and from busy city roads at morning, midday and evening rush hours. RTA changes these rules from time to time, and hours may differ in Ramadan. Check RTA's current notice before you drive.
Source: RTA: truck movement ban policy awareness campaign (January 2025)
Have a foreign truck licence?
In Dubai, only car and motorcycle licences can be exchanged for UAE ones. If you drove a truck in another country, you still train and pass the tests here. Tell your institute about your experience, because it may change your training package.
Light bus
Check you can apply
In Dubai you must be 21 to get a light bus learning permit. This licence covers light vehicles and light buses carrying up to 26 passengers, not counting the driver. You need a valid Emirates ID and must be medically fit. If your visa is from another emirate, show proof that you live, work or study in Dubai.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Get a medical report if needed
If your visa profession is 'Driver', bring a medical fitness report from an RTA-approved medical centre or hospital when you register for light bus training. Ask your institute whether anything else applies to you, for example because of your age or your type of sponsorship.
Already have a UAE licence?
If you already hold a UAE licence for another vehicle, light bus is added to it as a new category. You still need a valid eye test, and you must complete the light bus training and pass its tests before the category is added.
Apply and choose an institute Traffic file
Apply on the RTA website or app, or in person at a driving institute. Log in with UAE Pass or your Emirates ID, choose an institute and pay the fees shown. The institute calls you within 3 working days to agree a training package. Your digital learning permit then arrives by SMS and email.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Pass an eye test Eye test
Take an electronic eye test at an RTA-approved eye test centre; many institutes have one at their main centres. In Dubai this usually happens after your learning permit arrives and before your first test. Bus drivers need the highest standard: full normal vision in both eyes, with or without glasses. The result is valid for 3 years. Bring your glasses or lenses to every lesson and test.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Attend the theory lectures Lectures
Light bus theory lectures cover road rules and signs and the extra duties of carrying passengers. Ask your institute whether you can join online or in a classroom, and in which language. Bring your Emirates ID and learning permit, and finish the required lectures before you book the theory test.
Book your theory test Theory booked
When your lectures are finished, book the theory test through your institute or your licensing authority's app or website. Add the date and time to your checklist in the Learners Test UAE app, then use the app's practice tests to work on your weak topics before the day.
Source: u.ae: Get a driving licence (categories and minimum ages)
Pass the theory test Theory test
In Dubai the theory test, which RTA calls the knowledge test, is taken at your institute's main test centre. If you need a language that is not offered, ask for RTA's interpreter service when you open your file, because it cannot be added later. Questions in the Learners Test UAE app are for practice only.
Keep your file active
If you take no RTA test within 6 months of your last booked appointment, your file is suspended. You can reactivate it and carry on, but a theory test pass older than 2 years or a yard test pass older than 1 year must be taken again. After 4 years of suspension, you start from the beginning.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Prepare for the yard tests
For a light bus in Dubai, your institute prepares you for RTA's yard tests after you pass the theory test. Learn to judge the bus's length and width, use your mirrors and reverse slowly. Ask your institute how much training it requires before you take the yard tests.
Pass the RTA yard tests
Light bus learners take RTA yard tests, including reversing into an offset space and stopping and moving off on a slope. You must pass them before you can book the road test. If you fail, you need extra training before you try again.
Pass the RTA road test Road test
The final test is a drive on public roads with an RTA examiner. When you pass, RTA emails you a temporary licence that is valid for 7 days while your full licence is issued. If you fail, ask your institute what extra training you need before the next try.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Get your licence
After you pass, RTA sends an SMS asking you to pay the licence fees on its website or app. Your digital licence then appears in the RTA Dubai app, and you can add it to your phone wallet. Collect the card from a self-service machine or choose delivery.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Your first licence period
A new UAE licence is valid for 1 year if you are under 21, or 2 years if you are 21 or older. Renew it before it expires; you must pay any traffic fines first. Drive with extra care in these early years, because offences add black points to your licence.
Source: u.ae: Get a driving licence (categories and minimum ages)
Have a foreign bus licence?
In Dubai, only car and motorcycle licences can be exchanged for UAE ones. If you drove a bus in another country, you still train and pass the tests here. Tell your institute about your experience, because it may change your training package.
Optional: school bus permit
To drive a school bus in Dubai you also need RTA's professional driver permit, applied for by your school transport company. You must be 25 or older and hold a 'Driver' visa. You pass a medical, English and psychological tests, a one-day course, a theory test and an evaluation. The permit lasts 1 year.
Source: RTA service: professional driver permit (school bus drivers and supervisors)
Heavy bus
Check you can apply
In Dubai you must be 21 to get a heavy bus learning permit. This licence covers light and heavy buses and light vehicles; a heavy bus carries more than 26 passengers. You need a valid Emirates ID and must be medically fit. If your visa is from another emirate, show proof that you live, work or study in Dubai.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Get a medical report if needed
If your visa profession is 'Driver', bring a medical fitness report from an RTA-approved medical centre or hospital when you register for heavy bus training. Ask your institute whether anything else applies to you, for example because of your age or your type of sponsorship.
Already have a UAE licence?
If you already hold a UAE licence for another vehicle, heavy bus is added to it as a new category. You still need a valid eye test, and you must complete the heavy bus training and pass its tests before the category is added.
Apply and choose an institute Traffic file
Apply on the RTA website or app, or in person at a driving institute. Log in with UAE Pass or your Emirates ID, choose an institute and pay the fees shown. The institute calls you within 3 working days to agree a training package. Your digital learning permit then arrives by SMS and email.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Pass an eye test Eye test
Take an electronic eye test at an RTA-approved eye test centre; many institutes have one at their main centres. In Dubai this usually happens after your learning permit arrives and before your first test. Bus drivers need the highest standard: full normal vision in both eyes, with or without glasses. The result is valid for 3 years. Bring your glasses or lenses to every lesson and test.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Attend the theory lectures Lectures
Heavy bus theory lectures cover road rules and signs and the extra duties of carrying passengers. Ask your institute whether you can join online or in a classroom, and in which language. Bring your Emirates ID and learning permit, and finish the required lectures before you book the theory test.
Book your theory test Theory booked
When your lectures are finished, book the theory test through your institute or your licensing authority's app or website. Add the date and time to your checklist in the Learners Test UAE app, then use the app's practice tests to work on your weak topics before the day.
Source: u.ae: Get a driving licence (categories and minimum ages)
Pass the theory test Theory test
In Dubai the theory test, which RTA calls the knowledge test, is taken at your institute's main test centre. If you need a language that is not offered, ask for RTA's interpreter service when you open your file, because it cannot be added later. Questions in the Learners Test UAE app are for practice only.
Keep your file active
If you take no RTA test within 6 months of your last booked appointment, your file is suspended. You can reactivate it and carry on, but a theory test pass older than 2 years or a yard test pass older than 1 year must be taken again. After 4 years of suspension, you start from the beginning.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Take your bus lessons
Heavy bus training covers checks before starting, gears, mirrors, lane discipline, reversing and parking, with extra focus on passengers: seating them safely, handrails and what to do in a fire or crash. Lessons are given by RTA-permitted trainers in training vehicles.
Pass the RTA yard test
RTA's inside (yard) test checks how you control and reverse the bus in the institute's test area. Your instructor confirms when you are ready, and the institute books it. Arrive about 30 minutes early with all your documents.
Pass the institute assessment
After the yard test, your institute checks your driving in an assessment drive before it lets you book the RTA road test. Use the feedback from your instructor to fix weak points, such as mirror checks and smooth braking.
Pass the RTA road test Road test
The final test is a drive on public roads with an RTA examiner. When you pass, RTA emails you a temporary licence that is valid for 7 days while your full licence is issued. If you fail, ask your institute what extra training you need before the next try.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Get your licence
After you pass, RTA sends an SMS asking you to pay the licence fees on its website or app. Your digital licence then appears in the RTA Dubai app, and you can add it to your phone wallet. Collect the card from a self-service machine or choose delivery.
Source: RTA service: issue a driving licence (categories, eye test)
Your first licence period
A new UAE licence is valid for 1 year if you are under 21, or 2 years if you are 21 or older. Renew it before it expires; you must pay any traffic fines first. Drive with extra care in these early years, because offences add black points to your licence.
Source: u.ae: Get a driving licence (categories and minimum ages)
Have a foreign bus licence?
In Dubai, only car and motorcycle licences can be exchanged for UAE ones. If you drove a bus in another country, you still train and pass the tests here. Tell your institute about your experience, because it may change your training package.
Optional: school bus permit
To drive a school bus in Dubai you also need RTA's professional driver permit, applied for by your school transport company. You must be 25 or older and hold a 'Driver' visa. You pass a medical, English and psychological tests, a one-day course, a theory test and an evaluation. The permit lasts 1 year.
Source: RTA service: professional driver permit (school bus drivers and supervisors)
Fines that apply only in Dubai
These are on top of the fines that apply everywhere in the UAE. All fines and black points.
| Offence | Fine | Black points | Impound | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driving a private vehicle in a red bus and taxi lane | AED 600 | – | – | Source |
| Delivery bike in a lane closed to delivery ridersA third offence suspends the rider's permit. | AED 500–700 | – | – | Source |
| Delivery bike going faster than its 100 km/h capThe fine goes up each time the rider repeats the offence. | AED 200–400 | – | – | Source |
| Riding an e-scooter on a road with a limit above 60 km/h | AED 300 | – | – | Source |
| Carrying a passenger on an e-scooter | AED 300 | – | – | Source |
Dubai: questions and answers
What is the theory test format in Dubai?
The app practises with 35 questions in 30 minutes, 23 correct to pass, then 5 risk-recognition clips. These figures come from news reports (35 questions in 30 minutes, with a pass mark reported as over 65%) and an RTA announcement from 2015 about a risk-recognition part with 5 short clips. RTA does not publish the current format in detail, so the app labels it a practice format.
Who issues driving licences in Dubai?
In Dubai, licences are handled by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). You train and take your tests through an approved driving institute. rta.ae
Which licences can I practise for in Dubai?
All five: light vehicle (car), motorcycle, heavy truck, light bus and heavy bus. The practice format is the same for all five in the app; the steps to get each licence differ and are listed on this page.
Practise on your phone
Original questions for all five licences, your emirate's practice format and every answer explained, in six languages.
Android app by Blue Orbit