News summary: UAE citizens and residents with valid UAE driving licences can now obtain an International Driving Permit in approximately five minutes at Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3 Arrivals area. Applicants need their Emirates ID, UAE driving licence, passport copy and personal photograph.
A new service at Dubai International Airport allows eligible UAE motorists to obtain an International Driving Permit in as little as five minutes before travelling abroad.
The instant service is available at the Customer Happiness Centre in the Arrivals area of Terminal 3 and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
It was launched by the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs–Dubai in partnership with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, the Emirates Automobile and Touring Club, and Amer. ARN News Centre
Who can use the new airport service?
The service is available to UAE citizens and residents who hold a valid UAE driving licence.
Applicants need to provide:
- A valid Emirates ID
- A valid UAE driving licence
- A copy of their passport
- A recent personal photograph
The information is verified digitally, allowing the permit to be printed and issued at the airport without the applicant having to wait for standard delivery.
The current reported service charge is AED 197, consisting of an AED 177 licence fee and AED 20 Knowledge and Innovation fee. Dubai RTA
Where is the service located?
The instant International Driving Permit counter is located at:
Customer Happiness Centre
Terminal 3 Arrivals
Dubai International Airport
The service’s location in the arrivals section means travellers should check airport access arrangements before visiting, particularly if they are departing from Terminal 1 or Terminal 2.
As it operates continuously, motorists can apply outside conventional government-service working hours. This could be particularly useful for passengers with late-night or early-morning flights.
What is an International Driving Permit?
An International Driving Permit, commonly called an IDP, is a standardised document that translates the information on a domestic driving licence into multiple languages.
It helps foreign authorities and vehicle-rental companies understand:
- The driver’s identity
- The driving-licence categories held
- The types of vehicles the person is authorised to operate
- The validity of the original driving licence
The Dubai-issued permit is valid for one year. It cannot be used as a replacement for a UAE driving licence inside the country.
Does an IDP replace the original UAE licence?
No. Drivers must carry the original International Driving Permit together with their valid UAE driving licence when driving abroad.
The IDP does not create new driving privileges. It only reflects the vehicle categories already included on the applicant’s UAE licence.
For example, holding an IDP does not authorise someone with only a light-vehicle licence to ride a motorcycle overseas.
Dubai RTA also states that digital International Driving Permits are no longer issued because motorists must carry the original physical document. Dubai RTA
Do all countries require an IDP?
Requirements differ between countries. Some destinations accept a valid UAE driving licence, while others require an International Driving Permit or an official translation.
Vehicle-rental companies may also impose their own documentation conditions, even where local law does not clearly require an IDP.
Before travelling, motorists should check:
- The destination country’s driving requirements
- The vehicle-rental company’s conditions
- Insurance-document requirements
- Minimum driver-age restrictions
- Whether the UAE licence category covers the intended vehicle
- How long visitors may drive using foreign documentation
Travellers planning to drive in Japan should pay particular attention. RTA advises applicants to first obtain an International Driving Permit from RTA and then visit the Emirates Automobile and Touring Club for the version recognised in Japan.
How is the airport service different from applying online?
Dubai motorists can already apply for an International Driving Licence through the RTA website, RTA Dubai application and Dubai Now.
However, the standard process can take two working days because the original document must be collected or delivered.
The airport facility reduces the issuance time to approximately five minutes through on-site digital verification and immediate printing. This makes it especially helpful for travellers who discover shortly before departure that their destination or rental company requires the document.
The five-minute timeframe should still be treated as the normal expected processing time rather than a guarantee during unusually busy periods or when submitted information requires further verification.
What should travellers do before visiting?
Applicants should ensure that their UAE driving licence, Emirates ID and passport remain valid. Their personal photograph should be clear, recent and suitable for an official document.
Motorists should also resolve any outstanding licensing issues before travelling. Dubai RTA’s standard IDP requirements state that applicable driving-licence fines must be paid before the application can be completed.
Obtaining the permit at the airport should be a convenient final step—not a replacement for checking the driving, rental and insurance rules of the destination country.
SOURCES
- ARN News Centre — International driving permits issued in five minutes at DXB — launch details, location, eligibility, documents and operating hours.
- Dubai RTA — Apply for an International Driving Licence — official fee, validity, application rules and usage conditions.
- Khaleej Times — Five-minute international driving licence service — reported airport-service fee and traveller guidance.