If you have an Abu Dhabi visa, then you will need to get your license in AUH. You need to head to downtown Abu Dhabi (they don't accept Dubai translations as far as I am aware - well that's what they said to me in any case!) and use one of the legal translators there. Better to get this done before you head down to the Driving License Department (on Muroor Road) else they will just send you packing until you have the translation.
You also need an NOC from your employer typed in ARABIC.
Next, you need to do an eye test. You can only do this at the Driving License Department - they DO NOT accept Dubai eye test or any other eye test reports apart from that issued by the Driving License Department for that matter!
Translation and eye test report in hand, head across the road to the women's section (turn right out of the main building and keep walking across the car park and until you reach a dilapidated building with loads of policemen hanging outside and badly parked cars blocking the way!!), pay AED 200 and they will sort you out with a license in anything between 10 minutes and 2 hours - all depends on how many times the machine breaks down. You also need one passport photo for some weird reason - they actually take your photo there but like to ask for the passport photo still. Try and smile as you walk to get your photo taken cause the lady will snap away and get you out of that chair before you even have time to sit down - trust me on that one, I look like I've seen a ghost in my photo!
HTH
