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The UAE has outlined fresh criteria for issuing driving licences under federal traffic regulations due to come into force at the start of next year. Applicants will need to secure at least 75 per cent in the theory test and the same in the practical assessment to have any chance of passing. Even then, the practical examination can end in failure if the learner driver causes actual or potential danger during the test or requires the examiner to intervene, according to the updated rules detailed by Gulf News on October 28, 2026.
The regulations explicitly list six mistakes that qualify as potential danger and can trigger an automatic fail irrespective of the overall score achieved. These include hitting barriers with the vehicle’s body or wheels, losing control of the vehicle when starting such that it moves unintentionally, and committing errors while changing gears. Incorrect parking by failing to position the vehicle in the designated space, violating traffic signs or signals, and for motorcycle applicants allowing a foot to touch the ground while riding complete the critical faults that licensing authorities will treat as grounds for disqualification, the publication reported.
Article 68 of the new framework sets the 75 per cent bar while underscoring that safety overrides the numerical score. The clarification addresses ambiguities in the previous law, which also recognised certain dangerous actions as automatic failures but did not spell out the interaction with the percentage requirement as clearly. Examiners will retain discretion to halt a test if intervention becomes necessary to avert harm though the rules do not mandate an immediate end to the examination in every such case.
Licensing authorities in each emirate will retain responsibility for defining the precise assessment criteria and skills to be evaluated during both theory and practical components. The practical test will continue to examine core driving abilities including vehicle control, observation, adherence to road rules and appropriate response to varying traffic conditions. Candidates who fail will face standard retake procedures established by the respective emirate’s transport or licensing body.
The updated provisions form part of the executive regulations tied to Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024 concerning traffic regulation, which took effect in March 2025 and introduced wider reforms to enhance road safety across the country. That law specified conditions for licence suspension, revocation and medical fitness requirements, according to previous reporting by Gulf News. The 2027 rules build on this foundation by refining the driver licensing process.
Judicial counsellor Hesham Elrafei highlighted that the distinction between major and minor errors allows for a balanced evaluation system. Minor infractions result in point deductions within the scoring mechanism while serious ones override the percentage entirely. This approach ensures that only drivers demonstrating consistent safety awareness receive licences, the counsellor noted in commentary carried by Khaleej Times on October 27, 2026.
