UAE Details Driving Licence Validity and Age Rules Effective January 2027

Motorists in the UAE will receive driving licences valid for between one and ten years under federal traffic regulations scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027, according to media reports citing Cabinet Decision No. 174 of 2026. The decision enacts the executive regulations implementing Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024 on the Regulation of Traffic.

Under Article 55 of the regulations, driving licences issued to individuals under the age of 21 are classified as temporary and valid for one year, renewable for a further year. First-time applicants aged 21 or older will receive licences valid for two years, irrespective of nationality.

Upon renewal or once a motorist reaches 21, validity depends on nationality and residency status. UAE citizens and nationals of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries qualify for ten-year licences renewable for equivalent terms. Expatriate residents aged 21 and older will receive licences valid for five years, also renewable for five-year increments.

Article 54 establishes minimum age requirements across eight vehicle and machinery categories. Category 1 motorcycle licences require a minimum age of 17, while Category 2 motorcycles require drivers to be at least 21. Applicants for light vehicle (ordinary passenger car) licences must be at least 18. Heavy vehicles and light or heavy mechanical equipment require an age threshold of 20, while light and heavy bus licences require drivers to be at least 21.

To obtain or renew a driving licence, applicants must provide a valid identity document (Emirates ID), satisfy the applicable category age limit, present proof of medical fitness confirming physical, visual, and mental fitness from an approved health authority, pass prescribed licensing tests, and pay required fees. People of determination are exempt from standard medical fitness rules and remain subject to designated provisions.