Why 75% on Your UAE Driving Test Won't Guarantee a Pass in 2027
Passing your practical driving test with the baseline 75% score won’t automatically secure your license once new federal regulations take effect on January 1, 2027.
The updated rules draw a hard line between scoring points and actual road safety. Under Cabinet Decision No. 174 of 2026, which approves the Executive Regulation of Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024 on the Regulation of Traffic, learner drivers can still fail their practical exams even if they hit the passing mark, provided they commit specific dangerous mistakes. Published in the UAE Federal Official Gazette on October 6, 2026, the framework replaces the previous standards set under Article 97 of Ministerial Resolution No. 130 of 1997.
Achieving the required score doesn’t override safety risks. Awatif Al Khouri, senior Emirati advocate and founder of Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates and Legal Consultancy, notes that candidates can still fail if they cause actual or potential danger to themselves or others. Any situation that forces an examiner to step in, whether through a verbal warning or physical intervention, will result in an automatic failure, regardless of the overall percentage on the evaluation sheet.
Article 68 of the new framework spells out exact triggers that will sink a test. These operational errors include letting the vehicle’s body or wheels touch designated barriers or boundaries, losing control of the car when starting because of poor throttle or clutch management, and making fundamental mistakes while shifting gears.
