ع
Article 76 of Cabinet Decision No. 174 of 2026 requires drivers seeking to renew licences unrenewed for more than a decade to undergo theoretical and practical assessments set by the relevant licensing authority, Gulf News reported. The Federal Traffic Council holds authorisation to establish the minimum requirements for these tests while applicants must fulfil all other renewal conditions under the regulation. The 10-year period counts from the original expiry date rather than the initial issuance, according to the Cabinet Decision. The rules form part of the executive regulation for Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024 on traffic and apply nationwide from January 1, 2027.
Article 73 of the same decision mandates that renewal applications occur within 30 days of licence expiry, with the process subject to payment of prescribed fees and completion of authority-approved procedures. Drivers must settle all traffic violation fines before renewal or provide proof that such fines have been paid where applicable, the regulation states. Licensing authorities may refuse renewal if outstanding violations appear on the file or if the holder reaches the cumulative penalty point limit, a Gulf News review of the decision found.
The new framework also addresses licence suspensions though specific conditions for suspension tie to lack of legal capacity, medical unfitness or judicial rulings, according to related provisions in the implementing regulations. Ministry of Interior data from 2025 shows the UAE issued 558,191 new driving licences that year, including 114,203 to women, highlighting the expanding driver population subject to these rules. The data further indicated that 885 traffic accidents involved newly licensed drivers out of 6,014 total accidents recorded nationwide.
Dubai Police figures show 48,950 fines issued for driving with expired vehicle registration in the first 10 months of 2026, each carrying a Dh500 penalty plus four black points and vehicle impoundment for seven days. January saw the highest number of such violations at 6,977 while May recorded the lowest at 984, the police statistics detail. These enforcement actions underscore the emphasis on timely document renewal that aligns with the updated federal licence provisions.
Emirates News Agency reporting on November 4, 2026, placed the regulations within a broader package that includes variable licence validity periods based on age and residency status. UAE and GCC nationals qualify for 10-year licences upon renewal after initial terms while expatriate residents receive five-year validity, the agency stated. Minimum ages for obtaining licences range from 17 years for certain motorcycles to 21 years for buses and heavy vehicles under the unified standards.
Previous Dubai Roads and Transport Authority guidelines already required an evaluation test for licences expired more than 10 years along with a maximum delay fine of Dh500 for shorter lapses, according to authority publications. The federal decision standardises the retesting requirement across all emirates while leaving specific test counts and lesson mandates to local licensing bodies. The changes coincide with other updates such as options for two-year vehicle registration on eligible light vehicles owned by individuals.
