Licences, cars, insurance, tolls, parking and the rules that catch new arrivals — written for people moving to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates.
Covers
Driving is the part of a UAE move that people underestimate. The roads are excellent and the system is efficient, but it is also automated, strictly enforced and different in every emirate. A rule that is true in Dubai can be false forty minutes down the road in Abu Dhabi. This guide is organised around the decisions you will actually face, in the order you will face them.
Every time-sensitive claim carries a tag so you can judge how much weight to put on it.
| Tag | What it means |
|---|---|
| LAW | Stated in a federal law, decree or regulator rulebook |
| OFFICIAL | Published by a government body or its official news agency (RTA, Abu Dhabi Media Office, WAM, TAMM, Fuel Price Committee) |
| REPORTED | Reported consistently by established UAE media or industry sources, not yet checked by us against the primary document |
| MARKET | A price or practice observed in the market. It varies by provider and changes without notice |
| ESTIMATE | Our own calculation. Assumptions are shown so you can redo it with your numbers |
| VERIFY | Sources disagree or we could not confirm it. Check before you rely on it |
Fees and rules change often. Tolls, parking and fuel all changed in the four months before this guide was verified. Treat every number as correct on the verification date and confirm anything that affects a major decision.
If you last looked at UAE driving rules before 2025, most of what you remember about costs is out of date.
| Change | Effective | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Salik moved from a flat AED 4 to time-of-day pricing: AED 6 peak, AED 4 off-peak, free 1am to 6am | 31 Jan 2025 | REPORTED |
| New federal traffic law (Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024) took effect. Minimum driving age lowered to 17 | 29 Mar 2025 | LAW |
| Dubai public parking moved to premium and standard zones with peak pricing | Apr 2025 | REPORTED |
| Abu Dhabi removed the daily and monthly caps on Darb tolls and extended the evening peak | 1 Sep 2025 | REPORTED |
| Abu Dhabi lowered speed limits on several major roads, including sections of the E22 Abu Dhabi to Al Ain road | 9 Feb 2026 | REPORTED |
| Two new Darb toll gates (Ghantoot and Al Qurm) began charging AED 4 per crossing, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week | 4 May 2026 | OFFICIAL |
| 5% VAT added to Salik tolls and Parkin parking in Dubai. Cash payment at Dubai parking meters phased out | 1 Jun 2026 | REPORTED |
| Petrol prices moved sharply during 2026. Special 95 was AED 2.33 in February and AED 3.69 in September | Monthly | OFFICIAL |
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Can I drive on my home licence when I arrive? | Only while you are on a visit visa, and only if your licence is from a recognised country or you carry an International Driving Permit. Once your residence visa is issued you need a UAE licence. |
| Can I swap my licence without a test? | Yes if it was issued in one of the origins on the official exchange list and you meet the nationality condition for that country. In Dubai the total cost is AED 1,050. OFFICIAL |
| What if my country is not on the list? | You go through a driving institute. Dubai requires 10, 15 or 20 hours of practical training depending on your experience, plus theory, yard and road tests. REPORTED |
| Should I buy a car straight away? | Usually not. You cannot register a car until you hold an Emirates ID and a UAE licence, and most people are better off renting monthly for the first one to three months. |
| What does insurance cost? | Third party for a four-cylinder saloon is regulated at AED 750 to AED 1,300. Comprehensive starts at AED 1,300 and is capped at 5% of the car's value for saloons. REPORTED |
| What will tolls cost me? | Dubai: AED 6.30 peak and AED 4.20 off-peak per Salik gate including VAT. Abu Dhabi: AED 4 per Darb crossing with no daily cap. REPORTED |
| Is the speed camera buffer real? | In Dubai and the Northern Emirates cameras are widely reported to trigger at 20 km/h over the posted limit. In Abu Dhabi there is no buffer. The posted limit is the limit. REPORTED |
| What is the single biggest mistake? | Continuing to drive on a foreign licence after becoming a resident. It is an offence and it can void your insurance. |
This is the rule that matters most in your first month, and the one most guides skip.
There is normally a gap of one to four weeks between arriving and receiving your Emirates ID, and you cannot apply for a UAE licence without it. Plan for that gap instead of being surprised by it.
Your residency timeline is covered step by step in our UAE Visa Requirements Guide and the week-by-week sequence is in the First 30 Days Guide.
There are four routes. Which one you take depends on two things: the country that issued your licence, and in many cases your nationality.
| Route | Who it is for | Typical cost | Typical time |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. Direct exchange | Licence from a listed origin, and you meet the nationality condition | AED 1,050 in Dubai OFFICIAL. About AED 700 to AED 850 in Abu Dhabi REPORTED | Same day |
| B. Tests only | Licence from a listed origin that is restricted to nationals, and you are not a national of that country | Knowledge test and road test, about AED 240 each with fees REPORTED, plus institute charges | 2 to 6 weeks |
| C. Golden Chance (Dubai) | Experienced driver with a licence from a non-listed country | One attempt at the tests without compulsory lessons REPORTED | 2 to 6 weeks |
| D. Full training | No licence, or Golden Chance failed | AED 4,000 to AED 7,500 all in MARKET | 2 to 6 months |
RTA publishes the list of licence origins that can be exchanged in Dubai. On the version updated 11 September 2026 there are 60 origins, with Singapore handled separately. OFFICIAL The same federal list is applied by Abu Dhabi Police and by the Ministry of Interior for the Northern Emirates, although procedures differ.
The detail most people miss is the nationality condition. For 20 countries, anyone holding that country's licence can exchange it. For most of the rest, only nationals of that country can. An Indian national with an Irish licence, or a Filipino national with an Australian licence, cannot use direct exchange and falls into Route B.
Austria, Belgium, Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United States (all states except Texas).
Hong Kong and Japan require a legalised translation. Turkey requires a Driving Licence Data Certificate from the Turkish embassy or consulate, certified by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia. GCC nationals must surrender the original licence.
Albania, Australia, Belarus, Canada (restricted G1 and G2 licences cannot be exchanged), Croatia, Ireland, Kosovo, New Zealand (restricted licences cannot be exchanged), North Macedonia, Texas, Uzbekistan.
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, China, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece (embassy translation), Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Ukraine.
Check your own row. RTA's list also states, country by country, whether your original licence is withdrawn and which vehicle categories transfer. Some origins transfer light vehicles only. Confirm your row on the RTA exchange service page before you apply. Singapore licence holders follow a separate RTA service that includes a knowledge test. REPORTED
Licences that cannot be exchanged. Guam, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and Andorra. OFFICIAL
Two passports. If you entered the UAE on a passport that is not from a listed country, you cannot exchange on the strength of your second passport. You must open a traffic file and apply for a new licence. OFFICIAL
Source: RTA service page, updated 11 September 2026. OFFICIAL
How long the first licence lasts. Your first UAE licence is valid for one year if you are under 21 and two years if you are 21 or older. OFFICIAL Put the expiry date in your calendar. Driving on an expired licence carries a fine and black points, and renewals are quick if done on time.
If your visa is from a different emirate. You normally exchange your licence in the emirate that issued your residence visa. Dubai will process an exchange for a resident with a visa from another emirate only if the employer has a Dubai branch, with a copy of the trade licence and a letter confirming you work at that branch. OFFICIAL
Abu Dhabi. Apply through TAMM using UAE Pass, under the service for replacing a driving licence issued by another country. You upload the licence (and translation if required), take an eye test, and Abu Dhabi Police issue the licence. Reported costs are AED 600 for the licence and about AED 100 for the eye test, plus translation if needed. REPORTED
Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah. Apply through the Ministry of Interior website or the MOI UAE app. The system tells you whether your licence qualifies once you enter the issuing country. The reported fee is AED 600 plus the eye test and any translation. REPORTED
If you hold a licence from a Group 4 or Group 5 country and you are not a national of that country, RTA requires you to pass the knowledge test and the road test. You do not need to complete the full lesson programme. OFFICIAL Reported RTA test fees are AED 220 per test plus the AED 20 knowledge and innovation fee, and the driving institute will add its own charges. REPORTED
RTA's Golden Chance lets experienced drivers with a licence from a non-listed country sit the tests without taking compulsory lessons first. You get one attempt. If you fail the road test you move onto the normal training hours for your experience level, but you do not repeat the theory test. REPORTED You check eligibility through the same RTA exchange service. It is worth trying if you are a confident driver with recent experience of right-hand traffic and multi-lane highways.
If you have no licence, or Golden Chance does not work out, you register with an approved driving institute. In Dubai the structure is:
Theory test format. Published sources disagree on the current Dubai theory test. Some state 35 questions with 23 correct to pass. Others state 40 questions with 30 correct. Ask your institute for the current format when you book. VERIFY
Budget. Institutes sell packages that bundle lessons, tests and RTA fees. Expect roughly AED 4,000 to AED 7,500 depending on hours, institute and how many retests you need. MARKET Retests are the main cost risk. A failed road test in Dubai also triggers extra compulsory training hours before you can rebook. REPORTED
Timing. Two to six months is normal. Do not let the file go quiet. It is reported that a Dubai traffic file is suspended if no RTA test is taken within six months of your last scheduled appointment. REPORTED
Age. The minimum age for a car licence has been 17 since 29 March 2025. LAW
In Abu Dhabi, training runs through Emirates Driving Company and Yas Driving Academy. REPORTED
To register a car in your name you need an Emirates ID, a UAE driving licence and insurance in your own name. A foreign licence is not accepted for vehicle registration, even from an exchange country. REPORTED You also will not know yet where you are going to live, what your commute looks like, or whether you need one car or two. Those answers change the right car.
| Option | What it is | Typical monthly cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly rental | Rolling monthly contract. Insurance, servicing and registration included | Economy AED 1,200 to AED 1,900. Mid-range AED 1,950 to AED 3,500. SUV AED 2,000 to AED 5,000 MARKET | First 1 to 6 months, short assignments |
| Subscription | New car on a 3, 6 or 12 month term at a fixed all-in price | From about AED 1,250 for a compact SUV MARKET | 6 to 18 months, people who want a new car without a loan |
| Long-term lease | 12 to 36 month contract with a mileage cap and early exit penalties | Similar to subscription, lower on longer terms MARKET | 1 to 3 year postings with predictable mileage |
| Buy | You own it. You carry depreciation, insurance, servicing and the resale | See the worked example below | Stays of 2 years or more |
Watch three things in any rental or lease contract: the monthly mileage allowance (around 4,500 km is common and excess is charged per kilometre), the insurance excess you pay if you are at fault, and how Salik, Darb and fines are recharged to you. Rental firms add an administration fee to each fine. MARKET
This is an illustration, not a quote. Replace our assumptions with your own.
| Cost over 36 months | Low | High | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depreciation on an AED 80,000 car resold at 65% or 55% of purchase price | AED 28,000 | AED 36,000 | ESTIMATE |
| Comprehensive insurance at AED 2,000 to AED 3,200 a year | AED 6,000 | AED 9,600 | ESTIMATE within the regulated tariff |
| Registration renewals and inspection | AED 1,100 | AED 1,100 | REPORTED Dubai fees |
| Servicing and tyres at AED 1,500 to AED 3,000 a year | AED 4,500 | AED 9,000 | ESTIMATE |
| Total cost of owning | AED 39,600 | AED 55,700 | |
| Per month | AED 1,100 | AED 1,550 | |
| Renting the same class at AED 1,950 to AED 3,000 a month | AED 70,200 | AED 108,000 | MARKET |
Fuel, tolls, parking and fines are the same either way, so they are left out. If you finance the purchase, add the interest. If you leave early, add the risk of selling in a hurry.
What the numbers say. Over three years, owning is usually cheaper by a clear margin. Under about 12 to 18 months, renting or subscribing usually wins once you allow for the cost and hassle of buying and selling. ESTIMATE If your contract length is uncertain, rent first and decide at month three.
A realistic monthly budget for one mid-size car used for a daily commute, excluding the car itself. ESTIMATE
| Item | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel | AED 350 to AED 700 | 1,500 to 2,500 km a month at September 2026 prices |
| Tolls | AED 0 to AED 560 | Depends entirely on route. See section 8 |
| Parking | AED 0 to AED 500 | Free if home and office both provide it |
| Insurance, spread monthly | AED 110 to AED 350 | Owners only |
| Servicing and tyres, spread monthly | AED 125 to AED 250 | Owners only |
The full household picture is in our UAE Cost of Living Guide.
New cars come with a manufacturer warranty, often a service package, and no inspection requirement for the first three years. They also lose value fastest in those years. Used cars are plentiful because people leave the UAE constantly, and a well-chosen three to five year old car with full service history is where most long-stay residents find the best value.
Cars sold new by UAE dealers are built to Gulf specification, with cooling, air conditioning and filtration suited to the climate. Many used cars on the market are imports, often from the United States, and some were written off abroad before being repaired and re-registered. Imports are cheaper for a reason. They can be harder to insure comprehensively, harder to finance and harder to resell. REPORTED Ask directly whether the car is GCC specification, and check it.
The Ministry of Interior offers an accident inquiry by chassis number (VIN) on moi.gov.ae. Emirates Vehicle Gate and RTA records add registration, inspection and mileage history. No single report is complete, so cross-check. REPORTED
A pre-purchase inspection from an independent provider costs about AED 300 to AED 600 and is the best money you will spend. MARKET
A car with a bank lien cannot be transferred until the bank issues a release letter. If the seller still has a loan, pay by manager's cheque directly to the seller's bank, not in cash to the seller. REPORTED
Unpaid traffic fines, Salik and parking fines attached to the car block the transfer. Check by plate number on the RTA, Dubai Police or Abu Dhabi Police apps. REPORTED
Stamped book or dealer records. Gaps in a hot climate matter more than they would at home.
Decode the VIN. Confirm GCC specification.
A valid Mulkiya (registration card). If the car is more than three years old it needs a current pass certificate from an approved testing centre before transfer. REPORTED
In Abu Dhabi the transfer runs through TAMM and Abu Dhabi Police channels. In the Northern Emirates it runs through Ministry of Interior services.
Car loans are regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE under Regulation No. 29 of 2011.
| Rule | Limit | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum loan | 80% of the vehicle's value, so at least 20% deposit | LAW |
| Maximum term | 60 months | LAW |
| Total debt repayments | No more than 50% of gross salary and regular income, across all loans and cards | LAW |
| Early settlement or transfer fee | Capped at 1% of the outstanding balance | LAW |
| Used cars | Many banks lend a lower share of value and set a maximum vehicle age | MARKET |
| Minimum salary | Commonly AED 5,000 to AED 7,000 a month | MARKET |
Three practical points. First, banks check your Al Etihad Credit Bureau report, and a new resident has no UAE credit history, so approval is easier after three to six months of salary credits. Second, "zero down payment" offers do not waive the 20% rule. The deposit is usually being absorbed somewhere else in the deal, so compare the total amount payable. Third, UAE car loans are usually quoted as a flat rate, which understates the true annual cost. Ask for the reducing-balance equivalent before you compare offers.
Where a partner can help. HSBC UAE is a Relocate2UAE banking partner and offers car finance to eligible customers. We mention it here because this is the point where you need a bank, not because it is the right choice for everyone. Compare at least two lenders. How our partnerships work is explained on Our Partners. Banking setup is covered in the UAE Banking Guide.
If you might leave before the loan ends. You cannot export or transfer a financed car, and an unpaid loan can follow you in the form of a legal case and a travel ban. If there is a realistic chance you will leave within the loan term, either borrow over a shorter period, keep enough savings to settle early, or rent instead. Section 15 covers the exit process.
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Registration and documentation
Every registered vehicle must carry at least third party liability insurance, and you cannot register or renew a car without it. Policies follow a unified wording issued by the insurance regulator, which now sits within the Central Bank of the UAE, and premiums must fall inside a regulated tariff. LAW Policies are sold for 13 months so that cover runs through the one-month grace period on registration renewal. REPORTED
| Cover | Regulated range for a private saloon | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Third party liability, four-cylinder saloon | AED 750 minimum to AED 1,300 maximum | REPORTED from Insurance Authority Decision No. 30 of 2016 |
| Comprehensive, saloon | AED 1,300 minimum, up to 5% of the vehicle's value | REPORTED from the same decision |
| Larger engines and 4x4s | Higher minimums and a higher percentage cap | REPORTED |
In practice most comprehensive quotes for mainstream cars land between 1.5% and 3% of value, with higher rates for drivers under 25, new UAE licence holders, sports models and imports. MARKET
The tariff regulation sets no-claims reductions against the minimum premium: 10% after one claim-free year, 15% after two and 20% after three. A further 10% loyalty reduction may apply when renewing with the same insurer. Where more than one reduction applies, only the highest counts. LAW
Bring a no-claims letter from your insurer at home. Many UAE insurers will recognise it, some will not, and it costs nothing to ask. MARKET
Third party cover pays for damage and injury you cause to others. It pays nothing for your own car. For any car worth more than roughly AED 40,000, and for every financed car (banks require it), comprehensive is the sensible choice. When comparing comprehensive quotes, look past the price at five things:
Agency repair at the dealer costs more and protects warranty and resale on newer cars. Non-agency saves roughly 10% to 20% on older ones. MARKET
The amount you pay per at-fault claim. Higher for young and newly licensed drivers.
After the April 2024 storms, check that flood and storm damage are covered and on what terms.
A standard policy covers the UAE only. Driving to Oman needs an extension, often called an Orange Card. REPORTED
Often included with comprehensive, rarely with third party.
Your registration card is called the Mulkiya. It is renewed every year through the authority that issued it. A Dubai-plated car renews through RTA. An Abu Dhabi-plated car renews through Abu Dhabi's system on TAMM, not through RTA. Northern Emirates plates renew through Ministry of Interior channels. REPORTED
| Item | Dubai | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Annual renewal, light vehicle | AED 350 plus AED 20 knowledge and innovation fee | REPORTED |
| Technical inspection | About AED 170, required once the car is more than three years old | REPORTED |
| New cars | No inspection for the first three years | REPORTED |
| Inspection booking | Online appointment mandatory at Dubai centres since 2 June 2025 | REPORTED |
| Pass certificate validity | 30 days | REPORTED |
| Driving with registration expired beyond the grace period | AED 500, 4 black points and 7 days impound | REPORTED |
Renewal is blocked until every fine attached to the car is paid, including fines from other emirates. If money is tight at renewal time, this is the moment outstanding fines become unavoidable.
| Time | Rate per gate | With 5% VAT from 1 June 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Peak: 6am to 10am and 4pm to 8pm, Monday to Saturday | AED 6 | AED 6.30 |
| Off-peak: 10am to 4pm and 8pm to 1am | AED 4 | AED 4.20 |
| Sunday, all chargeable hours | AED 4 | AED 4.20 |
| 1am to 6am, every day | Free | Free |
All figures REPORTED, consistent across Gulf News, Emirates 24/7 and Salik's published schedule. During Ramadan the timings shift and the free window moves to 2am to 7am.
| Gates | When they charge | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Four bridge gates onto Abu Dhabi island: Sas Al Nakhl, Al Maqta', Rabdan and Al Saadiyat OFFICIAL | Peak hours only, Monday to Saturday: 7am to 9am and 3pm to 7pm. Free on Sundays and public holidays REPORTED | AED 4 per crossing |
| Ghantoot gate on the E11 near the Dubai border, and Al Qurm gate at the entrance to Sheikh Zayed Street | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from 4 May 2026 OFFICIAL | AED 4 per crossing |
Northern Emirates. There are no road tolls for private cars in Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah or Fujairah. REPORTED
| Commute | Assumption | Monthly toll cost |
|---|---|---|
| Within Dubai along Sheikh Zayed Road | 2 gates each way at peak, 22 working days | 4 x AED 6.30 x 22 = about AED 554 ESTIMATE |
| Same commute shifted to off-peak | 2 gates each way off-peak | 4 x AED 4.20 x 22 = about AED 370 ESTIMATE |
| Dubai to Abu Dhabi island daily | Ghantoot both ways plus one bridge gate at peak both ways. Salik extra depending on where you start | 4 x AED 4 x 22 = AED 352 plus Salik ESTIMATE |
| Abu Dhabi mainland suburbs to the island | One bridge gate each way at peak | 2 x AED 4 x 22 = AED 176 ESTIMATE |
Run this calculation before you sign a lease on a home. A cheaper rent on the wrong side of a toll gate can cost you AED 4,000 to AED 6,500 a year. Our Dubai Area Guide and Map and UAE Housing Guide help you match area to commute.
Public parking in Dubai is operated by Parkin. Zones are classed as premium or standard. REPORTED
| Premium zones | Standard zones | |
|---|---|---|
| Peak: 8am to 10am and 4pm to 8pm | AED 6 an hour | AED 4 an hour |
| Off-peak: 10am to 4pm and 8pm to 10pm | AED 4 an hour | Existing tariff, typically AED 2 to AED 4 |
| 10pm to 8am | Free | Free |
| Sundays and public holidays | Free | Free |
5% VAT has applied to Parkin charges since 1 June 2026, and cash is no longer accepted at meters. Pay with the Parkin app, SMS to 7275, the RTA or Dubai Now apps, or a Nol card. REPORTED
Exceptions exist. Some zones charge seven days a week, multi-storey car parks charge around the clock, and bays near Dubai World Trade Centre cost AED 25 an hour during major events. REPORTED
Areas that used to be free are moving to paid parking. International City became a paid zone on 1 February 2026. Some communities, such as Dubai Silicon Oasis, are run by private operators with their own tariffs and hours. REPORTED Always read the sign on the bay you are in.
Public parking (Mawaqif) is operated by Q Mobility. Standard bays cost AED 2 an hour and premium bays AED 3 an hour. OFFICIAL Normal paid hours are reported as Monday to Saturday, 8am to midnight, with Sundays and public holidays free. Premium bays have a maximum stay, reported as four hours. REPORTED Pay through the Darb app, TAMM, SMS or a machine. Residents can apply for a residential permit for the sector they live in.
UAE traffic law is federal. Since 29 March 2025 it has been Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024, which replaced the 1995 law and sharply increased penalties for the most serious offences. LAW Enforcement is by camera and is largely automatic. You find out about most fines by SMS.
| Offence | Fine | Black points | Also | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Using a phone while driving | AED 800 | 4 | REPORTED Abu Dhabi Police | |
| Any occupant not wearing a seat belt, front or rear | AED 400 | 4 | The driver is fined | REPORTED |
| Child under 4 not in a child seat, or child under 10 or under 145 cm in the front seat | AED 400 | 4 | REPORTED | |
| Jumping a red light | AED 1,000 | 12 | 30 days impound | REPORTED |
| Not stopping for a school bus stop sign | AED 1,000 | 10 | REPORTED | |
| Sudden swerving | AED 1,000 | 4 | REPORTED | |
| Stopping in the road without justification | AED 1,000 | 6 | Plus AED 500 for obstructing traffic | REPORTED |
| Reckless driving that endangers others | AED 2,000 | 23 | 60 days impound | REPORTED |
| Exceeding the limit by more than 80 km/h | AED 3,000 | 23 | 60 days impound | REPORTED |
| Driving with expired registration | AED 500 | 4 | 7 days impound | REPORTED |
There is no safe limit. Do not drive after any alcohol. Under the 2024 law, driving under the influence is a criminal matter for the courts, with fines reported from AED 20,000 to AED 100,000, possible imprisonment and licence suspension, rising for repeat offences. REPORTED Your insurance will not cover you. Taxis and ride-hailing are cheap and everywhere. Use them.
Points are added to your licence with many fines. Reaching 24 points within 12 months leads to suspension, and the suspension lengthens each time it happens. REPORTED Points expire after a year, and some emirates run schemes that remove points for clean driving or course attendance.
Rude gestures, swearing at other drivers and aggressive tailgating are offences, and the first two can become criminal complaints. Dashcam footage and social media posts of other drivers can also create legal problems for the person who posts them. Stay calm, keep right unless overtaking, and let faster traffic pass.
Heavy rain is rare and the roads flood quickly when it comes. Fog is common on the Dubai to Abu Dhabi highway on winter mornings, and Abu Dhabi lowers limits on overhead signs when it forms. Slow down, increase your distance, use dipped headlights and do not drive with hazard lights on while moving. Never enter a flooded underpass or a wadi. Authorities issue alerts by SMS and through the police apps.
You need a police report for every accident, however small. Garages will not repair accident damage and insurers will not pay without one. REPORTED
| Emirate | How to report a minor accident | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | Dubai Police app, Dubai Now app, On-The-Go service at participating fuel stations, or call 901 | REPORTED |
| Abu Dhabi | Saaed app, or call 800 72233. Saaed also serves several Northern Emirates | REPORTED |
| Sharjah | Rafid app, or call 80092 | REPORTED |
The at-fault driver pays the report fee, reported at about AED 420 to AED 520 in Dubai. REPORTED
Call 999. Do not move the vehicles. Never leave the scene. Leaving the scene of an accident that causes injury is punishable under the 2024 law with imprisonment of up to two years and a fine of at least AED 50,000. REPORTED
Police 999. Ambulance 998. Fire 997. Save your insurer's roadside assistance number and your rental company's emergency line in your phone on day one.
Get the car fully onto the hard shoulder or off the road, hazards on, triangle out, and stand behind the barrier. In summer carry water in the car. Tyres and batteries fail far more often in the heat, so check tyre age as well as tread when you buy a used car.
Children under four must travel in a child seat. Children under 10, or shorter than 145 cm, may not sit in the front. Every occupant must wear a seat belt, including in the back. The fine is AED 400 with four black points on the driver. REPORTED
Buy seats that carry a recognised safety certification, and bring your own if you are shipping. Taxis do not routinely carry child seats. Some ride-hailing apps offer a child seat option at extra cost. MARKET
When a school bus extends its stop sign, traffic in both directions must stop. The fine is AED 1,000 with 10 black points. REPORTED
School-run traffic is the hidden cost of choosing a home. A 12 km school trip can take 45 minutes at 7.15am. Drive the route at the real time before you commit to a school or a villa.
Many families find they need a second car within six months, especially in Abu Dhabi and in villa communities away from the Metro. Budget for it as a possibility even if you start with one. Alternatives are the school bus (an annual fee set by the school), car-pooling within your community, or a part-time driver.
Related reading: Moving to Dubai With a Family and the Dubai International Schools Guide.
Pump prices are set each month by the UAE Fuel Price Committee and are the same in every emirate. September 2026 prices are AED 3.80 for Super 98, AED 3.69 for Special 95, AED 3.61 for E-Plus 91 and AED 4.30 for diesel. In February 2026, Special 95 was AED 2.33. Prices peaked in June. OFFICIAL
| 1,500 km a month in a car using 8 litres per 100 km | Monthly fuel cost |
|---|---|
| At February 2026 prices (Special 95 at AED 2.33) | About AED 280 ESTIMATE |
| At September 2026 prices (Special 95 at AED 3.69) | About AED 443 ESTIMATE |
Budget on the high figure. Use the fuel grade your manufacturer specifies. Most mainstream cars run on Special 95.
Public charging has been priced under a national tariff since January 2025: AED 0.70 per kWh for AC and AED 1.20 per kWh for DC fast charging, plus 5% VAT. REPORTED from Cabinet Resolution No. 81 of 2024. Home charging is far cheaper, at roughly AED 0.23 to AED 0.38 per kWh on DEWA's residential slabs in Dubai and about AED 0.30 in Abu Dhabi once a sub-meter is fitted. REPORTED
| 1,500 km a month in an EV using 17 kWh per 100 km | Monthly energy cost |
|---|---|
| Charging at home at about AED 0.30 per kWh | About AED 77 ESTIMATE |
| Charging only on public DC fast chargers at AED 1.26 | About AED 321 ESTIMATE |
The deciding question is whether you can charge where you live. In a villa, almost certainly yes. In an apartment, ask the landlord and the building management before you buy the car, not after. If you cannot charge at home, a hybrid is usually the more practical choice. Heat reduces range in summer because of air conditioning load, so allow a margin on longer trips.
It is possible, and for some people it is the better choice.
The arithmetic. A car costs most households AED 2,000 to AED 4,500 a month all in. ESTIMATE If your taxi spend would be well under that and you live near transit, try three months without a car before deciding.
Current fares and household transport budgets are kept up to date in the UAE Cost of Living Guide.
Start six weeks before you fly.
Ask your bank for the loan settlement figure. Get the car valued by two or three buying services and check private listings for the same model and year.
List or accept an offer. Private sales achieve more but take longer. Instant-purchase services pay less and complete in a day. MARKET
Settle the loan. The bank's release letter typically takes three to seven working days. REPORTED Nothing can transfer until it arrives.
Clear every fine, Salik balance and parking fine. Complete the transfer with the buyer present.
Remove the car from your Salik and Darb accounts, cancel the insurance and ask for the pro-rata refund, and keep the transfer receipt.
Do not leave a car behind. Abandoned cars are impounded, fines keep accumulating, and an unpaid car loan can become a police case and a travel ban.
Exporting a car is possible through an export certificate and export plates, but for most mainstream cars selling locally is simpler and cheaper.
Five checklists organised by the stage you are at. Work through them in order and nothing falls through the cracks.
The questions new arrivals ask most, answered in plain language with source tags so you know how much weight to give each answer.
All sources accessed between 19 and 21 September 2026.
| Source | Tier | What it supports |
|---|---|---|
| Roads and Transport Authority, service page "Apply for a New Driving Licence or a New Category Based on Exchanging Licences", updated 11 September 2026 | OFFICIAL | Exchange list, nationality conditions, fees, documents, first licence validity, visitor driving, other-emirate visas |
| Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024 on Traffic Regulation, uaelegislation.gov.ae | LAW | New traffic law, minimum age 17, penalty framework |
| Central Bank of the UAE Rulebook: Insurance Authority Board Decision No. 30 of 2016 (motor tariffs) and Decision No. 25 of 2016 (unified policy) | LAW | Tariff regime, no-claims and loyalty reductions |
| Central Bank of the UAE Rulebook: Regulation No. 29 of 2011 and amendments | LAW | Car loan limits, debt burden ratio, early settlement cap |
| Abu Dhabi Media Office, 22 April 2026 | OFFICIAL | New Ghantoot and Al Qurm Darb gates, 4 May 2026, 24/7, AED 4 |
| Emirates News Agency (WAM), 16 February and 22 May 2026 | OFFICIAL | Q Mobility operation of Darb and Mawaqif, parking rates, gate names |
| TAMM, Abu Dhabi Government services | OFFICIAL | Abu Dhabi licence services and renewal fees |
| UAE Fuel Price Committee announcements as carried by Gulf News and Khaleej Times, September 2026 | OFFICIAL | Fuel prices |
| Gulf News, Khaleej Times, Emirates 24/7, Dubai Eye, The National | REPORTED | Salik pricing and VAT, Parkin tariffs, Darb caps, fines and black points, fine discounts, accident procedure, child seat rules, Golden Chance |
| Driving institute and industry publications (Dubai Driving Center, Bin Yaber, insurers, vehicle marketplaces) | REPORTED MARKET | Training hours, registration and transfer fees, rental and lease pricing, EV charging costs |
| When | What we check |
|---|---|
| Monthly, first working day | Fuel prices. Any Salik, Darb or parking announcements |
| Quarterly | RTA exchange list and fees. Registration and inspection fees. Insurance tariff changes. Speed limit changes in Abu Dhabi |
| Before Ramadan and each public holiday | Revised toll and parking timings |
| Immediately | Any new traffic law, cabinet resolution or toll gate |
Relocate2UAE is independent. We do not accept payment for placement in our guides. Where we mention a partner, we say so, and we only do it at the point where you need that service. This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Confirm fees and rules with the relevant authority before acting.
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