Driving and Getting Around the UAE

Most people in the UAE get around by car, but public transport has improved quickly, and in central Dubai and Abu Dhabi you can live well without owning one. This guide covers licences, buying or leasing a car, tolls, parking, fines, and the Metro, buses, taxis and rail network. Rules and prices change often, so treat the figures below as a guide for 2026 and confirm them with the RTA in Dubai, Abu Dhabi Mobility in Abu Dhabi, or the Ministry of Interior.

Driving licences

Converting a foreign licence

Residents from a list of approved countries can exchange their home licence for a UAE licence without sitting the full driving course. The list covers many countries, including the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, most of Western Europe, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, South Africa and other GCC states. It changes from time to time and differs slightly between emirates, so check it before you travel. You can also use our driving licence checker.

The usual route for a conversion in Dubai or Abu Dhabi looks like this:

• Hold a valid residence visa and an Emirates ID.
• Get an eye test at an approved optician or the driving institute.
• Provide your original licence, a passport copy and the visa page. Some countries also need a translated or attested licence.
• Apply through an authorised driving institute (such as Emirates Driving Institute, Galadari or Belhasa in Dubai) or the government app.
• Pay the fees and receive your UAE licence, often on the same day.

Starting from scratch

If your country is not on the list, or you have never driven, you must learn properly. The path is a theory course and test, a number of lessons at a driving institute, a parking test and finally a road test. Beginners usually need 20 or more lessons, fewer if they already hold a licence from a non-listed country. As of 2026, budget roughly AED 4,000 to AED 7,000 in total, depending on the institute and how many attempts you need. You must be at least 18. Most UAE licences are valid for up to 10 years.

Visitors

Tourists can usually drive with their home licence, and some nationalities are asked to carry an International Driving Permit. Car rental companies set their own rules, normally a minimum age of 21 and a licence held for at least a year. Confirm with your rental company before you arrive.

Buying or leasing a car

You can buy new from a dealer, or used from a dealer or a private seller. Banks usually want a minimum salary and a down payment, commonly 10 to 20 percent. Check for unpaid fines and have a mechanic inspect any used car.

Leasing is popular because the monthly payment can include registration, servicing and insurance. As of 2026, popular saloons and small SUVs commonly lease for around AED 1,500 to AED 3,500 a month, with luxury models far higher. Read the mileage limit and early-termination terms.

Registration and Mulkiya

Every vehicle must be registered in the owner's name in the emirate where they live. The registration card is called the Mulkiya. To register a car you need:

• A traffic file (a record with the traffic authority) in your name.
• Your passport, visa and Emirates ID.
• Valid UAE motor insurance.
• A pass certificate from an approved testing centre (Tasjeel in Dubai, the Emirates Vehicle Gate in Abu Dhabi), where the car is old enough to require one.

New cars are exempt from the annual technical test for the first few years, and after that the test and registration are renewed every year. Unpaid fines can block renewal, so clear them first. You can renew online or through the authority's app.

Insurance

Third-party liability insurance is compulsory, and the Mulkiya cannot be renewed without cover. Comprehensive insurance is strongly recommended because it covers your own car, theft and often a replacement vehicle. Premiums depend on the car's value, your age and your claims history, so keep a letter from your previous insurer showing no claims. Check the excess you would pay and whether Oman is covered.

Tolls, parking and fuel

Salik in Dubai

Dubai's toll system, Salik, uses a tag on your windscreen that is read automatically at each gate. The standard charge is AED 4 per crossing. Since 2025, Dubai has used variable pricing on some gates, with AED 6 at weekday peak hours, AED 4 off-peak and no charge in the early hours. Because the gate list and times can change, check the RTA or Salik website for the current tariff. Keep your Salik account topped up, as a fine applies for each crossing made without a tag or sufficient balance.

Darb in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi's toll system, Darb, charges AED 4 per crossing at peak hours on the main bridges and gates into the city, with a daily cap, and is free outside the peak periods. Top up your Darb account, since unpaid tolls become fines, and check Abu Dhabi Mobility for the exact gates, hours and caps.

Parking

Paid parking is the norm in busy urban areas.

Emirate	System	What to know
Dubai	RTA zones run by Parkin	Roughly AED 2 per hour in standard zones, more in premium zones, with higher rates at peak times. Pay by meter, the Parkin or RTA apps, or SMS.
Abu Dhabi	Mawaqif	Roughly AED 2 to AED 3 per hour, with premium zones costing more. Pay by app, SMS or meter.
Sharjah, Ajman	Municipal zones	Blue-and-white signs mark paid zones, and weekend or Friday free periods apply.

Hours and free days (often Fridays or Sundays and public holidays) differ by zone, so read the sign. Illegal parking brings a fine and cars can be towed. Residents can buy seasonal permits, which are cheaper than paying daily.

Petrol prices

The Fuel Price Committee at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure sets petrol and diesel prices once a month, announced at the end of the previous month. Prices apply across the UAE and follow global oil markets. In recent years Special 95 has generally cost between about AED 2 and AED 3 per litre, so check the latest announcement. Grades include Special 95, Super 98, E-Plus 91 and diesel.

Fines, black points and speed cameras

Traffic enforcement is strict and automated. Fines can be checked and paid through Dubai Police, the RTA, the Ministry of Interior or the Abu Dhabi Police apps, and you can use our traffic fines tool.

Indicative penalties, as of 2026 (amounts and points are set by federal law and local police and can change):

Offence	Typical penalty
Speeding up to 20 km/h over	AED 300
Speeding 20 to 30 km/h over	AED 600
Speeding 30 to 40 km/h over	AED 700
Speeding 40 to 60 km/h over	AED 1,000 to AED 1,500, with black points
Speeding over 60 km/h over	AED 2,000 or more, 12 or more black points, vehicle impounded
Running a red light	AED 1,000, 12 black points, vehicle impounded
Using a phone while driving	AED 800, 4 black points
Not wearing a seatbelt	AED 400, 4 black points
Illegal parking	Around AED 500

Black points are added to your licence record for serious offences. Reaching 24 points can lead to licence suspension. Drink driving is a criminal offence with zero tolerance, and a driver who is caught can face prison, a heavy fine and licence cancellation. Children under 10, or shorter than 145 cm, must not sit in the front seat.

Speed cameras are fixed and mobile, and many are unmarked. Some highways historically allowed a tolerance of about 20 km/h before a camera triggered, but some roads have removed it and it can change. Never rely on it. The posted limit is the limit. Variable signs lower limits in fog and rain.

Public transport

Dubai Metro and Tram

The Dubai Metro has two lines, Red and Green, and serves the airport terminals, Downtown, Dubai Marina, Jebel Ali and the Expo City site. Trains are driverless and air-conditioned, with a Women and Children cabin and a Gold Class cabin. Fares depend on the zones travelled, and you pay with a Nol card, a rechargeable smart card also used on buses, trams and water transport. Use our Metro fare tool to estimate a trip. Eating and drinking on trains is banned and fines apply. Services run from early morning to around midnight, with later hours at weekends. A third line, the Blue Line, is under construction and is scheduled to open around 2029.

The Dubai Tram runs for about 11 kilometres along Dubai Marina, JBR and Al Sufouh and connects to the Metro. The Palm Monorail links Palm Jumeirah with the mainland.

Buses

RTA buses cover Dubai and link to Metro stations, with Nol cards used for payment. Abu Dhabi has no metro at present, so its bus network is the main public transport option.

Abu Dhabi buses and Hafilat

Abu Dhabi city buses use the Hafilat smart card, which you buy and top up at machines and kiosks. Fares inside the city start at around AED 2. Services also run to Al Ain and to Al Dhafra, and the network is easiest to use with the Abu Dhabi Mobility or TAMM apps.

Taxis and ride-hailing

Official taxis are metered and can be hailed or booked through the RTA, TAXI or Careem apps. Dubai taxis have a minimum fare of around AED 12, with higher starting fares at the airport and for booked taxis, and toll costs are added to the bill. Careem and Uber operate in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, offering car classes from economy to premium. Surge pricing applies at peak times.

Intercity buses

Buses connect the emirates cheaply. The E100 and E101 routes link Dubai with Abu Dhabi for roughly AED 25 each way, and other RTA routes link Dubai with Sharjah, Ajman and Fujairah. Sharjah and Abu Dhabi also run their own intercity services. Buy a Nol card first, because many buses do not take cash.

Etihad Rail

Etihad Rail has carried freight since 2016 and has announced passenger services from 2026, linking major cities along the coast. The operator has said the Abu Dhabi to Dubai journey will take under an hour. Routes, stations, fares and launch dates are announced by Etihad Rail, so check there for the current position before you plan around it.

Cycling, scooters and walking

The UAE has long cycling tracks, including Al Qudra and Nad Al Sheba in Dubai, the Corniche and Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, and many neighbourhood paths. Helmets are required, and cyclists must use designated tracks where they exist. E-scooters are allowed only in permitted zones and, in Dubai, require a permit and a minimum age.

Pedestrians should cross at marked crossings and use the pedestrian bridges. Jaywalking is fined, around AED 400 in Dubai, and cars should stop at zebra crossings.

Where to go next

If you are setting up life in the UAE, our moving checklist covers the other documents you will need, and the Dubai and Abu Dhabi pages explain how each emirate differs.

Frequently asked questions

Can I drive in the UAE with my foreign licence?

Tourists can usually drive on a home licence, sometimes with an International Driving Permit. Residents should convert their licence or take the UAE course, depending on their country, soon after receiving their residence visa.

How much is Salik per crossing?

The standard charge is AED 4 per crossing. Since 2025, some gates charge AED 6 at weekday peak times, so check the RTA or Salik site for the current gate list and times.

Do I need a car in Dubai or Abu Dhabi?

Not always. Dubai's Metro, tram and buses work well near the main corridors, and taxis and ride-hailing fill the gaps. A car is more convenient for families, long commutes and trips to other emirates.

How do I check my traffic fines?

Use the Dubai Police, RTA, Ministry of Interior or Abu Dhabi Police apps and websites, or our traffic fines tool. Clear fines before renewing your Mulkiya.

When does the Etihad Rail passenger service start?

Etihad Rail has announced passenger services from 2026, but dates and routes are set by the operator, so confirm on its official website whether a service is running before you plan journeys.