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Just heard that with effect from 1st january 2007, all expats holding DL's that automatically alowed them to transfer to a UAE one i.e. Brits, yanks etc, will NOT BE ALLOWED TO DO SO

This means that everyone will now have to sit the UAE DL test!

Can anybody confirm this?

Didn't hear about this one, no problem for me though, sat my test here.

hey...dubai's new rules suck :S

sage & onion wrote:Didn't hear about this one, no problem for me though, sat my test here.

Sounds to me like the RTA want everyone to drive like a bunch of TWATS, not just the ones who have to sit the test here! S&O being the exception of cos

I read in the paper a while back that the ones with automatic transfers will have to do a test, but it won't be the same as the full on licence test, but moreso an abbreviated one.

Still, it prompted me to get mine as soon as I could. I wouldn't want a local (no offence) telling me how to drive.

yorky500 wrote:

sage & onion wrote:Didn't hear about this one, no problem for me though, sat my test here.

Sounds to me like the RTA want everyone to drive like a bunch of TWATS, not just the ones who have to sit the test here! S&O being the exception of cos

Glad you made the exception m8

I make sure I read posts before quoting them

So it'll be a bigger hassle for all of us who do have driver's licences from the States and Europe. In my opinion it was discriminatory to make those who have licenses from any continent/country aside from the special few do a driving test. Why should this be the case at all?? So we have a bunch of loonies (myself included) who having driver's licenses from the few countries in which supposedly there are better drivers. Sure we've done our tests, but surely they aren't the same in each continent, or country, or city. And then we have the remaining populace, who have done their tests in the UAE. In effect everyone is on the streets driving in which ever way THEY see fit. Perhaps putting in some sort of uniformity to the regulations for receiving a driving license will improve the situation. And end the discrimination as well (ie driving tests for all OR no driving tests for all).[/b]

PrettyPenny wrote:So it'll be a bigger hassle for all of us who do have driver's licences from the States and Europe. In my opinion it was discriminatory to make those who have licenses from any continent/country aside from the special few do a driving test. Why should this be the case at all?? So we have a bunch of loonies (myself included) who having driver's licenses from the few countries in which supposedly there are better drivers. Sure we've done our tests, but surely they aren't the same in each continent, or country, or city. And then we have the remaining populace, who have done their tests in the UAE. In effect everyone is on the streets driving in which ever way THEY see fit. Perhaps putting in some sort of uniformity to the regulations for receiving a driving license will improve the situation. And end the discrimination as well (ie driving tests for all OR no driving tests for all).[/b]

Not a particularly bad idea for everyone to take a test, however who is to decide if you pass or not???
Also back in the days that the rules were set, about who could and couldn't get a license, their were a lot of problems because people were coming here with licenses that had been purchased in their own countries without ever having taken a test.

PrettyPenny wrote:So it'll be a bigger hassle for all of us who do have driver's licences from the States and Europe. In my opinion it was discriminatory to make those who have licenses from any continent/country aside from the special few do a driving test. Why should this be the case at all?? So we have a bunch of loonies (myself included) who having driver's licenses from the few countries in which supposedly there are better drivers. Sure we've done our tests, but surely they aren't the same in each continent, or country, or city. And then we have the remaining populace, who have done their tests in the UAE. In effect everyone is on the streets driving in which ever way THEY see fit. Perhaps putting in some sort of uniformity to the regulations for receiving a driving license will improve the situation. And end the discrimination as well (ie driving tests for all OR no driving tests for all).[/b]

To be honest, the driving tests carried out in the Countries who do not have to take a test here in the UAE is far stricter and very professional (some will argue against), not subject to bribes (in the majority) and not subject to just driving 300m up and down a street (with 3 other applicants in a car) to see if you can brake and turn.

I taught myself to drive.

^ian^ wrote:I taught myself to drive.

Drive or fly, hence the AV, which in the former case is appropriate.

yorky500 wrote:Just heard that with effect from 1st january 2007, all expats holding DL's that automatically alowed them to transfer to a UAE one i.e. Brits, yanks etc, will NOT BE ALLOWED TO DO SO

This means that everyone will now have to sit the UAE DL test!

Can anybody confirm this?

YES>>>!!!!!! They will experience what i've experienced. Barya..barya (Hindi expression for good)...


Kidding...


I will practice backhome before i will sat again for the DL test. But we don't have big roundabouts backhome.

yorky500 wrote:

^ian^ wrote:I taught myself to drive.

Drive or fly, hence the AV, which in the former case is appropriate.

I love that Avatar!

Agree with PP!

It could be the sign that discrimination in UAE is lessening.

(Cant wait for salary range to be on the same standard too....well there's still a long flight for that though.)

And yorky as you have said, those countries that were exempted from the beggining have stricter and very professional standards, which means their driving skills are good, so there should be no prob test or no test ayt!

sage & onion wrote:

PrettyPenny wrote:So it'll be a bigger hassle for all of us who do have driver's licences from the States and Europe. In my opinion it was discriminatory to make those who have licenses from any continent/country aside from the special few do a driving test. Why should this be the case at all?? So we have a bunch of loonies (myself included) who having driver's licenses from the few countries in which supposedly there are better drivers. Sure we've done our tests, but surely they aren't the same in each continent, or country, or city. And then we have the remaining populace, who have done their tests in the UAE. In effect everyone is on the streets driving in which ever way THEY see fit. Perhaps putting in some sort of uniformity to the regulations for receiving a driving license will improve the situation. And end the discrimination as well (ie driving tests for all OR no driving tests for all).[/b]

Not a particularly bad idea for everyone to take a test, however who is to decide if you pass or not???Also back in the days that the rules were set, about who could and couldn't get a license, their were a lot of problems because people were coming here with licenses that had been purchased in their own countries without ever having taken a test.

Who decides? The same people who are responsible right now for carrying out driving tests and giving the passing or failing grades ofcourse. I insist on uniformity!!!! Give everyone applying for a D/L a test and get on with it. Its not rocket science. Big bloody deal. I did my test in the US just like every other expat/local. I had a written test, then a driving test, done and dusted in a few hours. Pfft. Why should expats (pakistanis, indians, south americans, others) have to pay exhorbidant fees for driving classes (yes they insist you do that), take classes for WEEKS, and then do their driving tests? Because their licenses may be fake? Harsh punishment that. Why should others not do any driving test at all? Cause they drive better? I doubt it. Surely there must be a way to implement a uniform, rational policy. Written test for all, 15 minute driving test for all, PASS or FAIL.

One more thing, sure driving tests are stricter in some countries, but the road conditions/rules etc aren't necessarily the same. Dubai is a different animal. Thinking that someone who has driven on the roads of Vienna (or Waco, Texas where I got my license!) would know how to manage the roads in Dubai is stupid, and illogical. I am the worst driver in the world. Give everyone a test please. Make UAE safe and non-discriminatory.

Oh ... and please don't take away my license

I often think that the driving lessons are terrible anyway. The standard of driving on the road is just shocking, and even from people who have had to get their licence here and do the tests.

The standard of driving regardless of nationality is TERRIBLE.

And where did 666 get his licence from?

zam wrote:And yorky as you have said, those countries that were exempted from the beggining have stricter and very professional standards, which means their driving skills are good, so there should be no prob test or no test ayt!

Thats the problem Zam, we will most likely be failed as we are better than the damn instructors who are trying to pass us. Why, cos we will stick to speed limits, use our indicators, drive with lights on when it gets dark, not cut into trafic at the last minute causing everyone to brake, be aware of who or what is around us when driving, etc, etc, etc. The list is endless.

^ian^ wrote:I often think that the driving lessons are terrible anyway. The standard of driving on the road is just shocking, and even from people who have had to get their licence here and do the tests.

The standard of driving regardless of nationality is TERRIBLE.

And where did 666 get his licence from?

Probably from the same person who allows him to renew his vehicle registration every year, its a farce.

^ian^ wrote:I often think that the driving lessons are terrible anyway. The standard of driving on the road is just shocking, and even from people who have had to get their licence here and do the tests.

The standard of driving regardless of nationality is TERRIBLE.

And where did 666 get his licence from?

Could be under the table...

asc_26 wrote:

^ian^ wrote:I often think that the driving lessons are terrible anyway. The standard of driving on the road is just shocking, and even from people who have had to get their licence here and do the tests.

The standard of driving regardless of nationality is TERRIBLE.

And where did 666 get his licence from?

Could be under the table...

The way he drives, he's most likely under the table.

Was driving along beach road last night, and was surrounded by 4wds all with low digit number plates, all driving terrible, weaving over the road, taking up 2 lanes etc.

Terrible.