To renew a UAE driving license you must first pass an eye test at an optician or center approved by your emirate’s licensing authority, and the result is sent to the authority electronically. The renewal itself then costs AED 300 for a license of more than one year, or AED 100 for a one-year license, under the Ministry of Interior’s federal fee schedule. In Dubai, the eye test itself is reported at AED 140 to AED 180.
This guide covers what the eye test is, where to take it in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the northern emirates, what it costs, how long the result stays valid, and the renewal step that follows. It also covers the penalties for driving on an expired license. If you are getting a license for the first time rather than renewing one, start with our step-by-step guide to getting a driving license in Dubai.
Key Takeaways
- Passing an eye test is a formal condition of driving license renewal in every emirate. Both the federal Ministry of Interior (MOI) and Abu Dhabi’s TAMM service list it as a term of the service.
- The optician uploads the result to the licensing system. No paper certificate is needed, and in Dubai a paper result has not been accepted since 22 March 2012.
- Federal renewal fees are AED 100 for a one-year license and AED 300 for a longer one. Dubai adds AED 20 (AED 10 Knowledge plus AED 10 Innovation).
- Renewed licenses last ten years for UAE and GCC citizens and five years for residents aged 21 and over. Drivers under 21 get one year.
- You can renew up to six months before expiry. Late renewal costs AED 10 for each month of delay in Abu Dhabi.
- Driving on an expired license is a federal offense with a fine of AED 500 and 4 black points.
Is an Eye Test Required to Renew a UAE Driving License?
Yes. Every emirate requires a passed eye test before it will renew a driving license, whatever your age or nationality. The Ministry of Interior’s federal renewal service lists “passing the eye test” as one of its two terms and conditions. The other is paying traffic fines that are more than six months old.
Abu Dhabi’s TAMM service says the same thing in its own words: “Pass the vision test before applying for the service.” The renewal system checks for an uploaded result, so the application will not go through until the optician has submitted it.
The test is a vision screening, not a full eye examination. The licensing authorities do not publish the pass standard, so if you wear glasses or contact lenses, take them with you and wear them for the test. Testing without the lenses you actually drive in is the most common reason for an avoidable fail.
Where to Take the Eye Test, by Emirate
Each emirate’s licensing authority approves its own network of opticians and test centers. The approved center sends your result straight into that authority’s system. A test from a center that is not on the list cannot be used for renewal.
| Emirate | Licensing authority | Where to test | How to find a center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai | Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) | RTA Certified Opticians and Trusted Agent-Opticians. Some of the agents also renew the license on the spot. | RTA website and RTA Dubai app (center locator) |
| Abu Dhabi (incl. Al Ain and Al Dhafra) | Abu Dhabi Police licensing, with services through TAMM and the Integrated Transport Center | Approved opticians and test centers | TAMM center locator (driving institutes, opticians and translation centers) |
| Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah | Each emirate’s police traffic department, using the federal MOI system | Opticians approved by that traffic department | MOI UAE app, or ask the optician whether it is approved for the emirate that issued your license |
The federal portal describes the same rule for new drivers: conduct the eye test “at any centre approved by the traffic department” of the emirate concerned. Large optical chains often hold approvals in several emirates, but approval is granted per emirate, so check before you pay.
How the Dubai system works
Dubai moved to electronic eye-test results in 2012. RTA announced, together with the Dubai Health Authority, that from 22 March 2012 it would not renew a license unless the eye test result had been sent to it electronically. Paper results would be refused, and the customer would be sent back to the optician.
The same notice created the two optician tiers that still exist. “RTA Certified Opticians” send results online. “Trusted Agent-Opticians” send results and can also renew the license for you at the counter. That is why some Dubai drivers finish the whole renewal in a single visit to an optical store.
Eye Test Cost and Validity
The authorities do not publish a single price for the eye test, because each approved optician sets its own fee. For Dubai, Gulf News reported in September 2026 that RTA lists the electronic eye test at AED 140 to AED 180 depending on the center, and that a result is valid for three years. If you are renewing before a trip, our guide to the international driving permit in the UAE covers the separate permit you need to drive abroad.
We could not confirm either figure on rta.ae itself. The RTA site was unreachable from every channel we tried in October 2026, and its service cards are not held in public web archives. Treat the Dubai price and validity as press-reported, and check the price at the counter before the test starts.
| Item | Dubai | Abu Dhabi | Sharjah and northern emirates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eye test fee | AED 140 to 180 (press-reported RTA range) | Set by each approved center; not published by TAMM | Set by each approved optician; not published by MOI |
| Result format | Electronic only (since March 2012) | Electronic, checked when you apply | Electronic, in the MOI system |
| Result validity | Three years (press-reported) | Not published | Not published |
In practice, take the test no more than a few weeks before you plan to renew. That keeps you well inside any validity window, whatever your emirate applies.
Driving License Renewal Fees and Validity
A light-vehicle license costs AED 300 to renew for five or ten years, or AED 100 for a one-year license for drivers under 21. These are the federal fees on the MOI service card, and TAMM charges the same two amounts in Abu Dhabi. Dubai adds two local fees of AED 10 each.
| Fee | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| License for more than one year (drivers 21 and over) | AED 300 | MOI federal fees; TAMM |
| One-year license (drivers under 21) | AED 100 | MOI federal fees; TAMM |
| Dubai Knowledge and Innovation fees | AED 10 + AED 10 | MOI local fees (Dubai) |
| Delivery of the new license | AED 15 | MOI (optional) |
| Late renewal (Abu Dhabi) | AED 10 per month of delay | TAMM |
| Eye test | Paid to the optician, see above | Varies by center |
The MOI card sets the length of a renewed license: ten years for UAE and GCC citizens, five years for residents over 21, and one year for anyone under 21. A resident who renews at 20 therefore pays AED 100 now and renews again a year later at the AED 300 rate.
For Dubai, Gulf News reports a delay fine of AED 10 per month from the expiry date, capped at AED 500. RTA’s own page was not reachable to confirm the cap. Abu Dhabi’s AED 10 monthly delay fee is on the TAMM service card.
How to Renew Your Driving License After the Eye Test
Once the optician has uploaded a passed result, the renewal itself takes a few minutes online. TAMM estimates six minutes for the Abu Dhabi service.
- Clear old fines. Both MOI and TAMM require you to pay traffic fines that have been outstanding for more than six months. Check and pay them first in the app you will renew through.
- Take the eye test. Bring your Emirates ID and current license to an approved optician. TAMM notes that approved centers may ask for the reference number of your license file. Wear your glasses or lenses if you use them.
- Wait for the upload. In Dubai, drivers typically receive an SMS once the result is in RTA’s system. Do not start the renewal before the result shows, or the system will reject it.
- Apply. Dubai: the RTA website, the RTA Dubai app, DubaiNow, a self-service machine, or a Trusted Agent-Optician. Abu Dhabi: TAMM with UAE PASS, or a service center. Other emirates: the MOI UAE app or website.
- Pay and receive the license. Pay the renewal fee (plus AED 20 in Dubai and any delay fee). The digital license updates in the app straight away. You can choose delivery of the plastic card for AED 15.
When you can renew
The MOI and TAMM services both accept a renewal for an expired license or one within six months of its expiry date. Renewing early does not shorten the new license term, so there is no advantage in waiting until the last week.
If you are abroad when the license expires, you need a fresh eye test in the UAE before you can renew, plus whatever late fee your emirate charges. Put the expiry date into a reminder alongside your other documents. Our UAE annual renewal calendar lists the usual cycle for a resident.
What Happens If You Drive With an Expired License
Driving with an expired license is a federal traffic offense carrying a fine of AED 500 and 4 black points. It sits in the federal fines schedule under Ministerial Decision 178 of 2017, on the same line as driving with an expired vehicle registration, and the schedule also provides for impounding a light vehicle for that offense.
An expired license also creates an insurance problem. Many motor policies exclude or limit cover when the driver does not hold a valid license, so check the driver conditions in your own policy wording. Renewing on time is cheaper than a dispute with an insurer. Our Dubai traffic fines guide and our Sharjah and Ajman fines guide show how to check what is on your file.
Common Problems at Renewal
“Eye test not found” when you apply
The optician has not uploaded the result yet, or uploaded it against the wrong license. Go back to the same center with your Emirates ID, because only the center that tested you can correct its own record.
You tested in the wrong emirate
A result goes to the system of the authority that approved the optician. A Dubai license holder who tests at a center approved only in Abu Dhabi will not see the result in RTA’s system. Ask the center which emirate it reports to before the test.
You failed the test
The licensing authorities do not publish a retest rule or a waiting period. The sensible next step is a full examination with an optometrist or ophthalmologist, new lenses if you need them, and then a retest at an approved center. If your vision cannot be corrected, ask the licensing authority directly what medical evidence it will accept.
You hold a license from another emirate and have moved
A UAE license is valid in every emirate, but it is renewed by the emirate that issued it unless you transfer your traffic file. Our guide on Abu Dhabi licenses compared with Dubai RTA explains what changes when you move.
FAQ
Do I need an eye test to renew my driving license in Dubai?
Yes. RTA will not renew a Dubai driving license until a passed eye test has been uploaded electronically by an RTA Certified Optician or Trusted Agent-Optician. Paper results have not been accepted since 22 March 2012.
How much is the eye test for driving license renewal?
Each approved optician sets its own price. For Dubai, RTA’s range is reported at AED 140 to AED 180. Abu Dhabi and the federal MOI do not publish a figure, so ask at the counter before the test.
How long is the eye test valid for license renewal?
In Dubai a result is reported as valid for three years. Abu Dhabi and the MOI emirates do not publish a validity period. The safe approach is to take the test shortly before you renew.
Can I renew my UAE driving license online?
Yes, once the eye test result is in the system. Dubai licenses renew through the RTA website, the RTA Dubai app or DubaiNow. Abu Dhabi licenses renew through TAMM with UAE PASS. Licenses from Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah renew through the MOI UAE app.
How much does it cost to renew a driving license in the UAE?
AED 300 for drivers aged 21 and over, and AED 100 for a one-year license for drivers under 21. Dubai adds AED 20 in Knowledge and Innovation fees. Card delivery is an optional AED 15, and the eye test is paid separately.
How early can I renew my driving license?
Up to six months before the expiry date. The MOI and TAMM services accept renewals of licenses that are within six months of expiry or have already expired.
What is the fine for driving with an expired license in the UAE?
AED 500 and 4 black points under the federal fines schedule. Late renewal also carries a delay fee: AED 10 per month in Abu Dhabi, with Dubai reported at AED 10 per month capped at AED 500.
How long is a renewed UAE driving license valid?
Ten years for UAE and GCC citizens, five years for residents aged 21 and over, and one year for drivers under 21, according to the MOI federal renewal service.
Can I take the eye test in a different emirate from the one that issued my license?
Only at a center approved by the emirate that holds your license file, because the result is uploaded into that authority’s system. Some optical chains are approved in several emirates, so ask which system the branch reports to.
Official Sources
- Ministry of Interior: Renew driving license (fees, terms and validity, archived September 2025)
- TAMM (Abu Dhabi Government): Renew Driving License
- TAMM: Driving institute, optician or translation center locator
- Roads and Transport Authority: RTA Certified Opticians announcement (electronic eye test results)
- UAE Government portal: Getting a driving license
- Federal traffic fines schedule, Ministerial Decision 178 of 2017 (Abu Dhabi Police publication)
- Gulf News: Dubai driving license renewal, fees and requirements (September 2026)
Information current as of October 2026. Verify with official authorities before proceeding.
This guide is for informational purposes only. UAE regulations and fees are subject to change. Always verify current requirements with the relevant official authority before proceeding with any application or transaction.
