Urban Go Car Rentals
Official MOI Markhoos list · Verified July 2026

Driving licence checker

Check both official Ministry of Interior lists. One tells you if your licence works here. The other tells you where a UAE licence works abroad.

Search by the country that issued your licence, not your nationality.

The rule most people get wrong

A residence visa cancels your home licence here. MOI defines recognition as driving in the UAE not for the purpose of residence. The moment you hold residency, that permission ends.

If your country is on the list, you can exchange your licence for a UAE one without a driving test. If it is not on the list, you must train and test at an RTA-approved driving school.

We can only rent to a resident who holds a valid UAE licence.

Recognition doesn't run both ways

A German licence works in the UAE. A UAE licence does not work in Germany. The two MOI lists are different: 50 countries are recognised inbound, but only 31 are recognised outbound.

Germany, France, Japan, Canada, Australia and Singapore all accept their citizens driving here. A UAE licence is not accepted in those countries.

In the whole of the United States, MOI lists Texas only.

Full country lists

Both MOI lists, grouped by region. Green means yes, orange means conditional, red means no.

GCC

CountryDrive in the UAEExchange in the UAEUAE licence thereExchange there
Saudi ArabiaSA Yes Yes Yes Yes
OmanOM Yes Yes Yes Yes
KuwaitKW Yes Yes Yes Yes
BahrainBH Yes Yes Yes Yes
QatarQA Yes Yes Yes Yes

Europe

CountryDrive in the UAEExchange in the UAEUAE licence thereExchange there
AlbaniaAL Yes Yes Yes Yes
AustriaAT Yes Yes No Yes
BelgiumBE Yes YesNot listedNot listed
BulgariaBG Yes Yes Yes Yes
CroatiaHR Yes Yes Yes Yes
CyprusCY Yes Yes Yes Yes
DenmarkDK Yes Yes Yes Yes
EstoniaEE Yes Yes Yes Yes
FinlandFI Yes Yes Yes Yes
FranceFR Yes YesNot listedNot listed
GermanyDE Yes YesNot listedNot listed
GreeceGR Yes Yes Yes Yes
HungaryHU Yes Yes Yes Yes
IcelandIS Yes Yes Yes Yes
IrelandIE Yes YesNot listedNot listed
ItalyIT Yes YesNot listedNot listed
KosovoXK Yes Yes Yes Yes
LatviaLV Yes Yes Yes Yes
LithuaniaLT Yes Yes Yes Yes
LuxembourgLU Yes Yes Yes Yes
MaltaMT Yes Yes Yes Yes
MontenegroME Yes Yes Yes Yes
NetherlandsNL Yes Yes Yes Yes
North MacedoniaMK Yes Yes Yes Yes
NorwayNO Yes YesNot listedNot listed
PolandPL Yes Yes Yes Yes
PortugalPT Yes Yes Yes Yes
RomaniaRO Yes YesNot listedNot listed
SerbiaRS Yes Yes Yes Yes
SlovakiaSK Yes Yes Yes Yes
SloveniaSI Yes Yes Yes Yes
SpainES Yes YesNot listedNot listed
SwedenSE Yes YesNot listedNot listed
SwitzerlandCH Yes YesNot listedNot listed
UkraineUA Yes Yes Yes Yes
United KingdomGB Yes Yes Yes Yes

Asia & Pacific

CountryDrive in the UAEExchange in the UAEUAE licence thereExchange there
ArmeniaAM Yes Yes Yes Yes
AustraliaAU Yes YesNot listedNot listed
ChinaCN Yes Yes Yes Yes
Hong KongHK Yes YesNot listedNot listed
JapanJP Yes YesNot listedNot listed
KyrgyzstanKG Yes Yes Yes Yes
New ZealandNZ Yes YesNot listedNot listed
SingaporeSG Yes YesNot listedNot listed
South KoreaKR No Yes No Yes
TurkeyTR Yes YesNot listedNot listed

Americas

CountryDrive in the UAEExchange in the UAEUAE licence thereExchange there
CanadaCA Yes YesNot listedNot listed
United StatesUS Yes YesNot listedNot listed
TexasUS-TX Yes Yes Yes Yes

Africa

CountryDrive in the UAEExchange in the UAEUAE licence thereExchange there
South AfricaZA Yes YesNot listedNot listed

Common questions

Do I need an IDP to rent a car in Dubai?
Only if your country is not on the MOI Markhoos list. 50 countries plus the five GCC states are recognised, and their licences are enough on their own for a visitor. If your country is not listed, bring an International Driving Permit together with your home licence. We are happy to rent to you with both.
Can I use my IDP once I have a UAE residence visa?
No. Recognition covers driving in the UAE that is not for the purpose of residence. Once you hold a residence visa, that permission ends. You need a UAE licence, either by exchange or by passing a test.
Is my UAE licence valid in India?
India is not on the MOI outbound list, so a UAE licence is not covered there. Get an International Driving Permit before you travel and check the local rules.
Is my UAE licence valid in the USA?
MOI lists Texas only. There is no arrangement with the other 49 states. For those states, carry an International Driving Permit and confirm the state rules.
Is my UAE licence valid in Saudi Arabia, Oman or Qatar?
Yes. MOI states that GCC licences are recognised and exchangeable in both directions, so a UAE licence works in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar.
Can I drive in the UAE on a Chinese licence?
Yes. China is on the inbound list, and the licence can also be exchanged for a UAE one. MOI requires Chinese nationality, and the arrangement covers light vehicles.
Can I drive in the UAE on a Korean licence?
No. South Korea is exchange only. A Korean licence can be swapped for a UAE licence by a resident, but MOI lists no recognition clause, so it does not cover you as a visitor. Carry an International Driving Permit and confirm with the RTA.
Which countries can exchange a driving licence in the UAE?
Every country on the inbound Markhoos list, which is 50 countries plus the five GCC states. Exchange is for residents only and removes the need for a driving test.
Whose country counts - my passport or my licence?
It depends on the country. For some, MOI requires you to hold the nationality of the country that issued the licence. Each country card on this page shows whether that rule applies.

Source: UAE Ministry of Interior Markhoos initiative - foreign licences in the UAE (PDF), UAE licence abroad (PDF), https://moi.gov.ae/en/about-moi/markhoos.

Lists are set by the Ministry of Interior and change as new agreements are signed. Individual emirates and destination countries set their own additional requirements - confirm with the RTA before travelling or applying. Corrections: admin@urbangorentals.com