How to Get Your Foreign Driver's License Translated in Abu Dhabi

If you've just relocated to Abu Dhabi, one of the first practical questions you'll run into is: can I drive on my current license, or do I need a new one? For most residents, the answer involves a certified translation, and getting that one step wrong is the most common reason applications get delayed.

Do you need a translation at all?

The UAE has direct license-swap agreements with a number of countries, meaning eligible residents can convert their existing license without sitting a new driving test. But the swap still requires your original license to be legible to the licensing authority, and if it isn't issued in English or Arabic, a certified translation is required before Tamm (Abu Dhabi's licensing service platform) will process it.

This applies whether your license is from Europe, Asia, the Americas, or anywhere your original documents aren't in English or Arabic.

What "certified" actually means

Not any translation will do. For a license swap, the translation needs to be:

• Produced by a translator certified by the UAE Ministry of Justice (MOJ)
• Stamped and signed, matching every detail on your original license exactly
• Accompanied by the original license and your Emirates ID / entry permit

A translation with a mismatched date format, a misspelled name, or an inconsistent address is one of the fastest ways to get an application bounced back, costing you another visit and more time without a valid license.

The process, step by step

1. Bring your original driver's license (and passport copy) to a certified legal translation office.
2. Receive your MOJ-certified translation, typically within 24 hours.
3. Submit through Tamm (either online or at an authorized service center), along with your Emirates ID, eye test, and photo.
4. Collect your UAE driver's license, often on the same day once your file is approved.

A note on same-day service

Because license translation is such a time-sensitive, predictable document, it's one of the services we can usually turn around same-day when submitted before early afternoon. If you're on a deadline (a new job that requires driving, a car already waiting for you), say so when you reach out, and we'll flag it as urgent.

If you're not sure whether your specific license qualifies for a direct swap or requires additional steps, send us a photo of it on WhatsApp and we'll tell you exactly what's needed before you make a trip anywhere.