AED 10,000 Fake Licence Scheme Busted After Exploiting RTA Exchange Rules
Transaction processing offices across Dubai were used as front locations by an eight-member criminal gang to peddle illegal shortcuts to UAE driving licences.
Unqualified Drivers Bypassing Tests Face Immediate Legal Action
The group targeted residents looking to skip required driving lessons and exams, charging AED 10,000 per person to secure fraudulent driving licences from a neighbouring country. These permits were obtained without requiring customers to travel, take lessons, or pass mandatory driving tests. The gang then instructed clients to submit the foreign documents to Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to convert them into official UAE driving licences under international exchange agreements.
Dubai Police’s General Department of Criminal Investigation, operating through its Economic Crimes Department, shut down the operation in a joint effort with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the RTA. Authorities emphasized that bypassing lessons and exams allows unqualified motorists onto public roads, putting pedestrians and drivers at risk.
Legal liability extends to the buyers. Dubai Police clarified that paying for a permit issued through unlawful procedures carries criminal penalties, and swapping a fraudulent foreign licence through official channels does not make the original document legitimate or shield the holder from prosecution.
Anyone seeking a licence must complete standard training through authorized entities, and residents should report suspicious offers to Dubai Police immediately.
