Five Essential Steps to Renew Your Driving Licence in Dubai

The convenience of driving in Dubai is unparalleled, highways that are well developed, infrastructure that is of high quality and a network that is friendly to the expatriates and the tourists. But the freedom on the road will only last as long as your driving licence does. Regardless of whether you are an old citizen or a new driver, renewing your driving license in time is crucial to avoid fines and have a hassle-free time on the road.

The following details are an in-depth guide to the five key steps to renew your driving licence in Dubai with all the latest updated process, cost and requirements as per the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

Step 1: This is the mandatory eye test that must be completed.

You are required to pass an eyeglass test before you even start doing the renewal process at an approved optical centre by RTA.

This is a legal requirement for all drivers in the UAE to ensure road safety.

What you’ll need:

• Original Emirates ID (or a copy of the same)
• Driving licence/ expired driving licence.

After having taken the test, the optical centre will send an email of your test results to the RTA system electronically – you will receive an SMS notification as well.

• Price: AED 140 -180 (price varies according to the optical store)
• Where to go: Chains such as Al Jaber Optical, Yateem Optician and Vision express are all RTA approved.

This is required each time you are renewing your licence irrespective of your age or the number of years you have had your driving permit.

Step 2: Pay off all the pending fines and penalties.

You should make sure before applying to renew your license that you do not have any outstanding traffic fines or black points under your Emirates ID or Vehicle registration.

You can pay and clear your fines on:

• The RTA website (http://www.rta.ae).
• The Dubai Police app
• The RTA Smart App

Provided that your licence has been out of date for a period of more than one month, RTA imposes a fine of late renewal of a maximum of AED 500 and a minimum of AED 10 per month.

Caution: Within the past 10 years, your licence has expired, and now you will have to retake a road test to receive another licence.

Step 3: Preparation of Documents required.

After clearing your eye test and fines, make necessary documents ready.

You’ll need:

• Valid Emirates ID (hardcopy or digital)
• Driving licence which is current or has lapsed.
• Eye test results (Uploaded by the optical centre)

– When you are applying online, do not forget to have an active RTA account or establish your UAE PASS login, which would enable you to access all government services without any inconveniences.

– In the case of the expats, your Emirates ID has to be genuine, the RTA is not going to issue a licence with an expired residency visa. Before beginning this process, be sure to renew your visa and update your Emirates ID.

– The majority of applicants are issued with a temporary digital licence immediately which expires when the physical card gets delivered.

Step 4: Apply for Licence Renewal via RTA Channels

The RTA has made the renewal process incredibly easy and digital-first. You can renew your driving licence through multiple channels:

Renewal Channel	How to Apply	Processing Time
RTA Website (www.rta.ae)	Log in → Go to Drivers and Car Owners → Select Renew Driving Licence → Enter details and upload documents	Within minutes
RTA Dubai App	Available on iOS and Android → Sign in with UAE Pass → Renew digitally	Under 10 minutes
Self-Service Kiosks	Available in malls and RTA centres → Scan Emirates ID and follow on-screen steps	Immediate
Customer Happiness Centres	Visit in person for assistance	Immediate
RTA Smart Chatbot (Mahboub)	Renew directly through live chat support on the RTA website	Fast and convenient

During the application, you’ll be asked to confirm delivery preferences — whether you want a digital copy, courier delivery, or to collect your card in person.

Most applicants receive a temporary digital licence instantly, valid until the physical card arrives.

Step 5: Renewal Fees and Get your New licence.

Lastly, you will require paying the renewal fee in order to finish the process. The cost will slightly differ according to your age brackets and mode of renewal.

RTA Licence Renewal Fees (2025):

• AED 120 -Applicants who are less than 21 years old.
• AED 320 –Applicants between 21 years and up.

– In case you choose courier delivery, you would incur an extra AED 25-30 delivery fee and the card may require 2-3 working days to be received.

– When you renew at an RTA Customer Happiness Centre or Smart Kiosk, you will have the physical driving licence after paying the sum instantly.

Upon renewal, the driving licence is renewed:

• 10 years in the case of the UAE nationals and GCC nationals.
• 5 years in the case of expatriate residents.

Renew Before It Expires.

• RTA permits renewal up to one year prior to expiry hence you can plan ahead to avoid penalties. 
• Monitor SMS alerts or have the RTA app send notifications on the impending expirations.
• Also, be aware that driving with an expired licence may result in loss of up to AED 500 in fines and vehicle impoundment, and thus it is not only expensive to drive expired but it is also a clean record.

Conclusion

The process of renewing your driving licence in Dubai has been one of the most convenient digitalised government services in the UAE.

One can complete the process in less than 10 minutes with a quick eye test, online payment, and instant issuance of e-licence as long as you have your documents ready.

Don’t wait until your licence expires!

Renew your Dubai driving licence today and avoid late fines.

Need expert help with UAE renewals or residency paperwork?

Talk to our team at E-Startup.ae,we’ll guide you every step of the way.