URGENT INFO NEEDED - This could be a deal breaker & mean I have to go back to the UK!

Mac · #1 (**permalink**) 17th August 2008, 10:45 AM

Hi Guys,

Can anyone tell me if they know if you can rent a car here if you've held your UK driving licence for less than a year.

I really should have checked this out before I came here... but didn't.

From the car hire sites I've been on they all have the requirement that you've held the licence over a year for insurance purposes....

.... i need to be able to drive for my job. So just wondering if anyone can tell me if I should just be packing my bags & saying good bye to the people I've met.

Think I know the answer... What a gutter!

BLM · #2 (**permalink**) 17th August 2008, 10:55 AM

Don't give up so easily!!!

Why don't you ask the UAE Minister of Interior driving license people? There's a centre at Jumeirah Centre on Beach Road. It might just be that you'll have to sit a driver's test in Dubai, like a lot of other expats from Middle Eastern countries have to.

And when we first got here and rented a car, they never asked how long I'd had my license for...

katiepotato · #3 (**permalink**) 17th August 2008, 10:57 AM

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I think you're right - it seems to be a UAE requirement that anyone wishing to drive should be over 25 and have held their license for a minimum of one year.

How far away from 12 months are you? Can you manage with taxis / lifts from others in the meantime?

Mac · #4 (**permalink**) 17th August 2008, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLM

Don't give up so easily!!!

Why don't you ask the UAE Minister of Interior driving license people? There's a centre at Jumeirah Centre on Beach Road. It might just be that you'll have to sit a driver's test in Dubai, like a lot of other expats from Middle Eastern countries have to.

And when we first got here and rented a car, they never asked how long I'd had my license for...

Hey there, Need a residence visa for the driving test.... and it'll be bloody ages till I get it. Some guys here are about to do a visa run back home... so that's what makes me think I'll be waiting a while.

I was wondering if they would or wouldn't ask how long I've been driving, but it's on your licence anyway & i'm sure they'll check. There's bound to be an insurance declaration to sign too. If I crash & my insurance isn't valid... it'll probably mean doing a bit time in an arab cell!

Quote:

Originally Posted by katiepotato

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I think you're right - it seems to be a UAE requirement that anyone wishing to drive should be over 25 and have held their license for a minimum of one year.

How far away from 12 months are you? Can you manage with taxis / lifts from others in the meantime?

Erm... about 12 months! Lol!! I can manage with taxi's/lifts for a bit, but a big part of my job is business development. Need to be out there making contacts and all that. Lol, yes I know... you'd have thought I'd checked it all out since it's so important.

Sam75 · #5 (**permalink**) 17th August 2008, 02:46 PM

I go everywhere by taxi and it's not that bad at all.

Also, useful if your networking/business development involves alcohol consumption.

mazdaRX8 · #6 (**permalink**) 17th August 2008, 05:34 PM

you never had a driver license before? I'm guessing you are 25. Some people don't like to drive i guess.

Anyways there are TONS of car rental places here. Call up a place like Fast rent a car, and ask them on the phone if you can rent a car. Otherwise you'd have to hire a driver that has their own car to take you around (kinda expensive if he has to wait too). That is much better than Taxi's in dubai. So far i've only had ab out 50% of the taxi's I called for come to my doorstep.