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Article 76 of Cabinet Decision No. 174 of 2026 requires holders of driving licences unrenewed for more than 10 years to complete theoretical and practical assessments set by the relevant licensing authority before renewal can proceed. Applicants must also satisfy all other standard conditions outlined in the executive regulation of Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024 on traffic. The 10-year threshold applies from the original expiry date rather than the licence issuance.
The same Cabinet decision extends the maximum duration of learner driving permits to six months with renewal options. Previous federal rules had capped such permits at three months. Licensing bodies will implement the updated timeframe uniformly across the UAE beginning next year.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority already mandates an evaluation for renewals after more than 10 years of expiry. The forthcoming federal standard explicitly calls for theory and practical components although the authority’s existing materials describe the process as an evaluation test. Authorities in other emirates will harmonise their requirements with the national framework.
Ministry of Interior figures reported by Khaleej Times show the UAE issued 558,191 new driving licences in 2025. That total represented a 10.7 per cent rise from the previous year with male applicants accounting for 79.5 per cent of the total. The growth reflects sustained population increases and economic expansion across the federation.
The Roads and Transport Authority issued 119,188 driving licences in Dubai during the first half of 2026 including 96,400 new documents. Officials have integrated artificial intelligence and sensor-based systems into driver training and assessment to strengthen road safety. Demand for licensing services has risen alongside the emirate’s population and commercial activity.
Cabinet Decision No. 174 of 2026 supplies detailed implementation rules for the 2024 federal traffic law. It covers licence validity periods renewal windows and administrative procedures that will apply nationwide. The provisions take full effect on January 1, 2027.
