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Someone asked today whether the RTA takes away your original driver's licence when you apply for a UAE DL based on your home country DL (without going to a driving school). If they do, it means when you go home on holidays you have to use your UAE DL to drive over there, or if you go back for good, you will need to apply for a new one. I got conflicting answers when I asked colleagues, some said yes they do and some said they only take a copy of it. Since the RTA took over this function from the Traffic Dept, the rules may have changed.

Anyone knows for sure? Thanks!

Tom, When I had my UK licence converted to a UAE I took my original plus photocopies of all the documents (licence, passport, visa) and the obligatory photos. The UK licence was not taken from me. This was also the experience of work colleagues.

This all happened around the beginning of this year when first I had to apply for a temporary licence.

Scratcher

They are not allowed to take you old (original) licence from you, and will normally make a copy of the documents.

The original licence is in most cases still a valid licence for you to drive in your home country, it is also accepted in most countries as a legal form of identification, and in some countries is a government document and as such may not be handed over or used as “collateral”.

The process of conversion involves a set of ID photographs, your passport, you need to present your original licence, but they will only take a copy of it – you need to re-take an eye examination.

Thank you friends for your answers. Yes it didn't make sense that they would take away your original DL. And if happens to anyone, they should refuse to relinquish their original home licence, and ask to see a supervisor or a manger!

I do add my query. I am an Italian national, living in Italy and with a UK driver licence (I got it when I lived in London for a few years and - being a EU licence valid also in Italy - I never bothered to convert it back to an Italian one): will it be possible to convert my UK licence into a UAE licence when I will relocate to Dubai? Many thanks

Mastertribute, buonasera..I lived and working Italy for three years before moving to Dubai. Which part of Italy are you from?

To answer your question, you should have no problem at all converting a UK European style licence to a UAE licence as long as you have the residence visa.

Ciao Scratcher, I am from Florence but live near Milan. Thks for your reply to my query

Mastertribute, I lived for a year in Vercelli, not far from Milan.

Did you have any problems changing your licence?

Scratcher