FLASH NEWSDubai Driver Licence Renewal: RTA Fees, Eye Test & Steps

Dh300 Renewal Fee and Eye Test: How to Extend Your Dubai Driving Licence

While getting a Dubai driver’s licence for the first time can stretch over weeks, renewing an existing card can be done online once you meet two requirements. According to the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), motorists can submit their renewal application up to six months before their licence expires, provided they clear all outstanding traffic fines and pass an approved eye test.

Skipping the renewal process leaves you driving illegally, but the RTA lets you complete the entire application online or via mobile apps without stepping into a customer center.

Exact RTA Fees for Licence Renewal and Delivery

Renewal costs depend on your age, plus mandatory administrative charges and your preferred physical card delivery speed.

Validity Periods by Driver Category

How long your renewed licence stays valid depends directly on your legal residency status and age group.

Expat residents aged 21 and older receive a five-year licence validity upon renewal. You can apply for this extension up to six months prior to the expiry date listed on your card, and the new validity period calculates directly from your application submission date.

UAE and GCC citizens aged 21 and above receive a 10-year validity window when renewing their licence. Like expat residents, citizens can initiate the renewal process up to six months before the current card expires.

Drivers under 21 years of age operate under shorter validity terms, receiving a one-year licence that must be renewed annually. Young drivers can submit their renewal applications up to three months before their licence reaches its expiry date.

Motorists holding a licence that lapsed more than 10 years ago face stricter conditions. The RTA requires drivers with a 10-year gap since expiration to pass an evaluation test before a renewal can be processed, provided the file remains registered as ‘with owner’ and was not cancelled or surrendered.

How to Complete Your Renewal Step-by-Step

1. Book an eye test at an RTA-approved optical center, such as Al Jaber Optical, Barakat Optical, Magrabi Optical, Yateem Optician, or Emirates Driving Institute. Bring your original driving licence and Emirates ID; the test costs between Dh140 and Dh180, and the optician will upload your results directly to the RTA system before sending you an SMS confirmation.
2. Clear all outstanding traffic fines attached to your traffic file, as the system blocks licence renewal applications if any unpaid penalties remain.
3. Access the RTA website, the RTA Dubai app, or the DubaiNow app to complete the digital application, or visit an RTA Customer Happiness Centre or self-service kiosk in person.
4. Choose whether to have your physical card delivered, by standard delivery (Dh20), same-day delivery (Dh35), two-hour express delivery (Dh50), or international delivery (Dh50).

Frequently asked questions

How early can I renew my Dubai driving licence?

Up to six months before it expires for expat residents and citizens, and up to three months before for drivers under 21.

Can I renew if I have unpaid traffic fines?

No. The system blocks renewal applications while any unpaid penalties remain on your traffic file, so clear them first.

Where to go next

• Pay Dubai Police traffic fines: ways to pay
• Pay Dubai traffic fines in instalments
• UAE traffic fines and black points