New rules for Dubai driving licences from July 1

The new changes were announced earlier this year

By Compiled by Anita Iyer

Published: Tue 27 Jun 2017, 2:10 PM

Last updated: Wed 6 Sep 2017, 11:44 AM

The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) introduced amendments to the rules for issuance and renewal of driving licenses in the emirate in April this year. A few months back it announced that these new changes will become effective from July 1.
According to the amendments, the validity of new driving license in the country has been set to two years for citizens, GCC nationals and other nationalities aged 21 years and above.
After that, licence renewal validity shall be 10 years for UAE citizens and GCC nationals and five for non-citizens from other nationalities.
UAE introduces new rules for expat driving licenses
However, earlier there was no timeline to when this amendment will come in place. The RTA today on their Instagram handle confirmed that it will be implemented from July 1, 2017.
Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of RTA Licensing Agency, added: "For those aged less than 21 years, be it citizens, GCC nationals or other nationalities, the initial validity of the driver license issued, replaced or renewed shall be one year as currently applied."

"RTA is always keen to comply with the Federal and Ministerial Laws governing the issuance, renewal or age limits related to driver licenses out of its keenness to serve the public interest and realise its vision of providing Safe and Smooth Transport for All," he underlined.
Here's what their post read

. ????? #????_?????_?_????????? ?? ??? ????? ??????? ????????? ??????? ?????? ????? ??????? ???????? ???????? ????? ?????? ???? ??????? ??? "177 " ???? 2017 ? ????? ?????? "84 " ?? ?????? ???????? ???? ?? ????? ?? ????? ??????? ?? ???? ???????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ?? ??????? ?????? ?? ??? ??????? ????? ?????? ??? ???????? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ???????? ??? ?? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ??????? ????? ?????? ?? ????????? ???? ????? ??? ?? ?? ??? 21 ??? ??? ??? ????????? ?? ?????? ?????? ??????? ??? ???? ??????? ???????? ????? ???????? ??????? ????? ???? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????? 10 ????? ??? ?? ?? ???? 21 ??? ??? ??? ??????? ?????? ???? ???? ??????? ???????? ???? ???? 5 ????? ???? ????? ???????? ???????? ??????? ??? ??????? ??? ???? ??????? ??? ?? 21 ???? ?? ?????? ?????? ???? ???? ??????? ??????? ????????? ??????? ??? ?????? ???????? ??????? ???? ??????? ????? ?????? ?? ????????? ?? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ???? ??? ?? ????? ??????. #RTA will start on July 1st, 2017 the implementation of the new Executive Regulation of the Federal Driving & Traffic Law as revised by the Ministerial Resolution No. (177) for 2017 (Article 84 governing the issuance & renewal of driver licenses). RTA's commitment to implement the Resolution is in line with its efforts to serve the public interest in this field. The Resolution sets several stipulations for issuing & renewing driver licenses. It sets the initial validity of Driver Licenses issued or replaced, as 2 years for citizens, GCC nationals and other nationalities aged 21 years and above. It sets the validity of renewal of driver licenses as 10 years for citizens & GCC nationals aged 21 years and above, and five years in respect of other nationalities of the same age group. While for those aged less than 21 years, be it citizens, GCC nationals or other nationalities, the initial validity of the driver license issued, replaced or renewed shall be one year as currently applied. #RTANews
A post shared by ???? ????? ??????????? ??? (@rta_dubai) on Jun 27, 2017 at 2:17am PDT

The authority also took to Twitter to provide more clarity on the new changes.

According to a ministerial decree issued by Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, expatriates are required to have a valid residence permit for the renewal of licences.
Published in the Official Gazette amending the executive regulations of Federal Law No. 21 of 1995 regarding traffic regulations, the decree has introduced stricter traffic laws for drivers in the country.
anita@khaleejtimes.com