Emad Eldinkhalil, Gulf Today
The UAE Digital government said that International Driving Permit (IDP) issued by the UAE could be used as an identification card in the event a passport is lost abroad.
The UAE Digital government has affirmed that UAE nationals and residents are not allowed to drive a vehicle abroad without an International Driving Permit.
According to the Digital government, five documents are needed to obtain an IDP in the UAE:
Documents are:
- Emirati ID
- The passport
- A valid residency visa,
- A copy of a valid driving licence issued by the UAE,
- Two personal photos
The authorities said that the IDP is valid for one year and is renewable.
The government also indicated that there are 6 options available to citizens and residents in the country to obtain an IDP.
An Emirati man drives a car while talking on the phone.
These are: “Electronically through the Emirates Automobile and Tourism Club portal with free delivery, or from the club branches in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Ain, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain and the Western Region, through the Ministry of Interior app (MOI UAE) on iTunes and Google Play, from the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) offices in Dubai, from Emirates Post offices, or from the Dnata office on Sheikh Zayed Road.
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The government clarified on its website that the IDP allows travellers and tourists to drive vehicles in other countries legally and safely, and is the only globally recognised document to drive the vehicle in other countries.
In the event a traffic accident takes place while driving abroad, the insurance will not be valid without the IDP, and in case of no IDP, the driver must pay the accident expenses directly, the Government indicated.
The IDP, the Government said, is issued in ten languages, including the six official languages of the United Nations, which are: English, Arabic, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, as well as German, Italian, Scandinavian languages, and Portuguese.
The government invited UAE nationals and residents wishing to obtain a DIP to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to find out the list of countries which replace a driver’s licence issued by the UAE with an IDP.