A UAE resident who wants to drive abroad gets an International Driving Permit (IDP) from the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE), the Ministry of Interior, the RTA or an Emirates Post office. ATCUAE charges AED 170 plus VAT for a permit that is valid for one year and issued in about half an hour over the counter.
The permit is a translation of your UAE driving license, not a separate license. It only works alongside the UAE license itself. This guide covers where to apply, what to bring, which countries ask for it, the convention trap that catches drivers heading to Japan, and what the permit does not cover. If you are still converting a foreign license into a UAE one, start with our guide to UAE driving license exchange by country instead.
Key Takeaways
- You need a valid UAE driving license and an Emirates ID to apply. A foreign license held in the UAE does not qualify.
- ATCUAE’s fee is AED 170 plus VAT. Online orders take about 3 working days, plus delivery.
- The permit is valid for one year from the date of issue, but only while your UAE license is also valid. It cannot be used to drive inside the UAE.
- The UAE is a party to both the 1949 Geneva and the 1968 Vienna road traffic conventions. That matters because some countries, such as Japan, recognize only one of them.
- Carry the permit together with your UAE license and passport. A permit on its own is not a license to drive.
What an International Driving Permit Is (and Is Not)
An International Driving Permit is a standardized translation of your national driving license, issued under a United Nations road traffic convention. It lets police and rental companies abroad read your license in their own language. ATCUAE describes it as an internationally recognized translation that is available in 10 languages.
The permit has no value without the license it translates. If your UAE license is suspended, expired or blocked, the permit does not let you drive anywhere.
ATCUAE calls the document an International Driving License (IDL). The two names refer to the same booklet, and you will see both on UAE government and rental-company pages.
Does an IDP let me drive in the UAE?
No. ATCUAE’s own FAQ answers this question with a flat “No”. The permit is for driving outside the country that issued your license.
Visitors driving in the UAE on a foreign license follow separate rules set by the licensing authority in each emirate. Residents must hold a UAE license.
Who Can Apply in the UAE
ATCUAE’s requirements describe the applicant as someone who holds a UAE driving license and official identification. Its document list asks for your passport with a valid residency, Emirates ID, and a copy of your valid UAE license.
In practice that means three groups can apply. UAE citizens, residents with a UAE license, and residents who converted a foreign license into a UAE one.
A tourist driving in the UAE on a home-country license cannot get a UAE-issued permit. That driver needs a permit from the country that issued the license.
Do I need to clear traffic fines first?
Press guides to the Ministry of Interior’s app report that the application only goes through once all traffic fines on your UAE license have been paid. We could not confirm this rule on an official MOI page, because moi.gov.ae was unreachable when we checked in October 2026.
Clearing outstanding fines before you apply avoids the problem either way. Our guide to checking and paying Dubai traffic fines shows how to see what is outstanding.
Where to Get an International Driving Permit in the UAE
ATCUAE lists six places that issue the permit. They are its online portal with delivery, its offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Ain and Sharjah, Emirates Post offices, the RTA, the Ministry of Interior, and its affiliate members.
| Channel | How it works | Timing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATCUAE online portal | Upload documents, pay, and receive the booklet by courier | Processed within 3 working days; allow 5 working days with delivery | Trips more than a week away |
| ATCUAE office (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Ain, Sharjah) | Walk in with originals and photos | About half an hour over the counter | Last-minute travel |
| Emirates Post office | Counter application on ATCUAE’s behalf | Varies by branch | Northern emirates without an ATCUAE office |
| Ministry of Interior (MOI UAE app) | Digital application linked to your federal traffic file | Not published by MOI | License holders outside Dubai |
| RTA (Dubai) | RTA channels, including the Dubai Now app | Reported as instant in the app | Dubai license holders |
Gulf News reported in 2025 that Dubai license holders can issue the permit instantly through the Dubai Now app for AED 177. We could not verify that fee on rta.ae, which did not load from our network in October 2026.
Which channel should I pick?
If you fly within the week, go to an ATCUAE counter, because the online route needs up to five working days with delivery. If you have more time, the online portal saves a trip.
If you hold a Dubai license, the RTA’s digital route is the fastest reported option. Holders of licenses from other emirates generally use ATCUAE, Emirates Post or the MOI app.
Documents and Fee
ATCUAE’s checklist is short. You need your Emirates ID, a copy of your valid UAE driving license, two passport photos and the IDL application form, and its online route also asks for your passport with a valid residence.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Emirates ID | Valid card |
| UAE driving license | Copy of a valid license |
| Passport with residence | Listed for ATCUAE applications |
| Photos | Two passport-size photos |
| ATCUAE fee | AED 170 plus 5% VAT (AED 178.50 in total) |
| Validity | One year from the date of issue |
Delivery is charged on top of the fee for online orders. ATCUAE does not publish the courier charge on its permit page, so the total appears at checkout.
What actually happens at the counter
At an ATCUAE office the clerk checks your Emirates ID and license, takes the photos, and prints and stamps the booklet while you wait. ATCUAE puts the counter time at within half an hour.
Check the booklet before you leave. Your name should match your passport exactly, and the vehicle categories ticked should match the categories on your UAE license.
Which Countries Require an International Driving Permit
ATCUAE lists about 175 countries and territories where an IDP is required, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, India, Japan, Thailand, Egypt, the UK, the US and most of Europe. Its full list is on the ATCUAE permit page.
Some entries on that list carry footnote markers, (1), (2) and (3), that the page does not explain. Bahrain, Canada, Kuwait, Qatar, Portugal and Singapore are among the marked entries, so check those countries’ own rules before you travel.
The list says where the permit is expected, not how long you may drive on it. Each country sets its own time limit for visitors, and many US states and European countries set their own rules for residents and rentals.
The GCC road trip
Driving to Oman, Saudi Arabia or Qatar is the most common reason UAE residents apply. All three appear on ATCUAE’s list, and all three are parties to the 1968 Vienna Convention according to the UN treaty record.
The UN Treaty Collection shows Qatar acceding on 6 March 2013, Saudi Arabia on 12 May 2016 and Oman on 9 June 2020. A permit, your UAE license and the right visa cover the driver.
The car needs its own paperwork. Your UAE motor insurance policy has to extend to the country you are entering, so ask your insurer before you leave.
The 1949 vs 1968 Convention Trap
There are two UN road traffic conventions in use, and a country only has to honor permits issued under the convention it joined. The UAE acceded to the 1949 Geneva Convention on 10 January 2007, and to the 1968 Vienna Convention on the same day.
| Country | 1949 Geneva | 1968 Vienna | What it means for a UAE permit |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | Party (10 Jan 2007) | Party (10 Jan 2007) | Can issue under either convention |
| Japan | Party (7 Aug 1964) | Not a party | Needs a 1949-format permit |
| United States | Party (ratified 30 Aug 1950) | Not a party | Needs a 1949-format permit; state rules also apply |
| Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar | Not listed | Party | 1968-format permit recognized |
| China (mainland) | Not listed | Not listed | An IDP is not a reliable basis to drive; check local rules |
Source: UN Treaty Collection status pages for the 1949 Geneva Convention and the 1968 Vienna Convention, checked October 2026.
What this means if you are going to Japan
Japan joined only the 1949 convention, so a permit issued under the 1968 convention is not valid there. ATCUAE’s page does not say which format its booklet follows. Many UAE residents also need a visa for Japan; see our guide to the Japan visa from Dubai.
Ask the issuer to confirm the convention printed on your booklet before you book a car in Japan. The convention is named on the cover, so you can also check it yourself.
Driving Abroad on the Permit: Practical Rules
Carry the permit with your UAE license and your passport every time you drive. Police and rental desks abroad generally check all three together.
The permit does not extend the life of your UAE license. If your UAE license expires during the trip, the permit stops being useful even though its own one-year validity has not run out.
Renew your UAE license before a long trip if it is close to expiry. Our guide to the eye test for driving license renewal explains the renewal step most drivers miss.
Rental companies may ask for more
Car rental firms abroad set their own minimum age, years-licensed and credit-card rules on top of the legal requirement. These are commercial conditions, not part of the permit.
If you are under 25, expect surcharges abroad similar to those at home. Our guide to renting a car in the UAE under 25 covers how those surcharges work.
Insurance is a separate question
An IDP says nothing about insurance. If you rent abroad, check what the rental policy covers, and if you drive your own UAE car across a border, check whether your UAE policy extends there.
Travel insurance often excludes accidents where the driver was not properly licensed. Our guide to travel insurance for UAE residents explains how those exclusions work.
If You Lose the Permit Abroad
ATCUAE notes that the permit can help if you lose other identification abroad. A lost permit itself has to be replaced through an issuer in the UAE, because it is tied to your UAE license.
Keep a photo of every page on your phone. It will not replace the booklet at a police check, but it speeds up a replacement application when you are back.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is an international driving permit in the UAE?
ATCUAE charges AED 170 plus VAT, which comes to AED 178.50. Online orders add a delivery charge shown at checkout, and Gulf News has reported a fee of AED 177 for the instant permit in Dubai’s RTA app.
How long is a UAE international driving permit valid?
It is valid for one year from the date of issue. It is only usable while your UAE driving license is also valid, so an expired UAE license makes the permit useless.
Can I get an international driving permit online in the UAE?
Yes. ATCUAE runs an online portal with home or office delivery and processes applications within 3 working days, with up to 5 working days for delivery, and the MOI and RTA also offer digital routes.
What documents do I need for an IDP in Dubai?
You need your Emirates ID, a copy of your valid UAE driving license, two passport photos and the application form. ATCUAE also lists your passport with a valid residence.
Can I use an international driving permit to drive in the UAE?
No. A UAE-issued permit is only for driving outside the UAE, and ATCUAE states this directly in its FAQ.
Do I need an IDP to drive in Oman or Saudi Arabia?
Both appear on ATCUAE’s list of countries where the permit is required. Carry it with your UAE license, and make sure your car insurance covers the country you are entering.
Is a UAE international driving permit valid in Japan?
Only if it is issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention, because Japan is not a party to the 1968 convention. The UAE is a party to both, so confirm the format with the issuer before you travel.
Can a tourist get an international driving permit in the UAE?
No. The permit translates a UAE license, so only UAE license holders can get one here, and a visitor needs a permit from the country that issued their own license.
How long does it take to get an IDP at an ATCUAE office?
ATCUAE says counter applications are completed within half an hour. Bring originals and photos to avoid a second visit.
Does the international driving permit replace my UAE license abroad?
No. It is a translation that only works alongside your UAE license, so carry both together with your passport whenever you drive.
Official Sources
- Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE): International Driving License
- UN Treaty Collection: Convention on Road Traffic, Geneva, 1949 (status)
- UN Treaty Collection: Convention on Road Traffic, Vienna, 1968 (status)
- UAE Government portal: Driving abroad
Fees, channels and validity checked on the ATCUAE and UN Treaty Collection websites in October 2026. The MOI and RTA websites were unreachable from our network at the time, so their fees are quoted from press reports.
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.
