Exchanging a UAE Driving Licence in Cyprus (2026)

If you hold a driving licence from Dubai, Abu Dhabi or another emirate, you are in a better position than most non-EU arrivals: the UAE is on Cyprus's list of recognised countries, so you can normally swap your licence for a Cypriot one without a test. The catch is the clock. Once you live in Cyprus, your UAE licence is only good for a limited time, and you need to exchange it while it is still valid.

This guide covers what is specific to UAE licences. For the general procedure, read our driving licence exchange guide, and for the whole move, our complete guide to moving from Dubai to Cyprus.

Can a UAE licence be exchanged in Cyprus without a test?

Yes, according to the most recent official list we could find. Under section 20 of the Driving Licence Law of 2001, the Registrar of Motor Vehicles recognises licences from non-EU countries by publishing a notification in the Official Gazette. The current notification we found, K.D.P. 5/2021, was signed on 5 January 2021 and published on 8 January 2021. It lists 22 countries, and the United Arab Emirates is number 17:

Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Australia, Switzerland, Zimbabwe, the USA, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, South Korea, Serbia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, China, Morocco, Montenegro and the United Kingdom.

The Road Transport Department's own page on converting a foreign licence says that licences from countries named in this notification can be exchanged, and that their holders "are obliged to exchange" them after six months' stay. The RTD page itself does not reproduce the list of countries, and some older official material does not mention the UAE: the Deputy Ministry of Tourism's road safety leaflet Keep safe on Cyprus roads still gives a shorter list of 16 countries without it. As of October 2026 we found no newer notification that removes the UAE, but the list can change. Before you rely on it, ask the RTD to confirm (see below).

Does your nationality matter, or where the licence was issued?

Where the licence was issued. The notification recognises licences "issued by the competent authorities" of the listed countries and attaches no conditions about the holder's nationality, the licence category or how the licence was obtained. In practice:

• Any nationality with a UAE licence (Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, British, Russian, Lebanese, EU and others) follows the same exchange route.
• EU and EEA citizens who also hold a valid EU licence don't need to exchange anything: an EU licence is valid in Cyprus as it is. If your only licence is from the UAE, you exchange it like anyone else.
• UAE nationals follow the same route, with a Cypriot residence permit as proof of residence.
• Converted licences. Many Dubai residents got their UAE licence by swapping an earlier one from home. The Cyprus notification sets no condition about this, and we found no official rule treating converted UAE licences differently. Mention it when you contact the RTD, and bring your older licence if you still have it.

What does change by nationality is the residence document. The RTD asks non-EU applicants for their Alien Registration Certificate and residence permit, while EU citizens show their registration certificate (yellow slip). Our guide to visas and residence for people moving from Dubai explains which one you will get.

Your situation and what applies

How long can you drive in Cyprus on a UAE licence?

Section 20 of the Driving Licence Law says a recognised non-EU licence is valid in Cyprus only while it remains valid, and in any case for no more than six months. For residents, the RTD treats six months as the point at which you have to exchange.

The tourism authority's visitor leaflet is stricter for visitors in general, saying non-European visitors may drive on their national licence for 30 days or on a valid international driving licence. We could not find an official statement on whether a UAE licence holder needs an International Driving Permit in Cyprus, so if you will be driving during your first weeks, or hiring a car, an IDP is a cheap precaution. Dubai's RTA issues one online for holders of a Dubai licence, for AED 197 (as of October 2026), valid for one year. An IDP does not replace the exchange once you are resident.

Six months goes quickly while you are waiting for a residence permit, so book your RTD visit as soon as you can show residence.

What documents do you need?

These are the documents on the RTD's conversion page. Bring originals and photocopies.

About translations. The RTD page still refers to translations through the Press and Information Office, but the PIO stopped translating documents on 1 July 2019 and now points people to the register of sworn translators.

A certificate from the UAE. The RTD list does not ask for a document from the issuing authority. But the RTD says it sends your licence back to that authority, and your driving history may matter if your current card is recent. Before you leave, it is worth getting the Dubai RTA Driver Experience Certificate, which states when you started driving. As of October 2026 it costs AED 120, is issued instantly through the RTA website or RTA Dubai and Dubai Now apps, and is valid for 60 days. The RTA notes that some countries require it to be certified by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so ask the RTD whether it wants this. Abu Dhabi licences are handled through Abu Dhabi Mobility's driver licensing services on TAMM; ask there for an equivalent certificate.

How does the exchange work?

1. Get your residence document. The RTD asks for it, so this usually sets your timing.
2. Check that the UAE is still recognised. Ask the RTD (see below).
3. Gather the documents in the checklist, and keep a photocopy of every page of your UAE licence.
4. Apply in person at the RTD district driver examiner office for your area.
5. Hand over your UAE licence. You don't get it back: the RTD sends it to the authority that issued it, and under section 11 of the law your Cypriot licence carries a note of its origin. If you may drive in the UAE again, ask the RTA before you leave what you would need.

Fees. The RTD's conversion page does not publish a fee, so check the current amount with the RTD; our general exchange guide has the figure reported in 2026. The RTD page gives no processing time either.

How do you confirm with the Road Transport Department?

Because the RTD's site does not show the country list, ask before you rely on it, ideally by email so you have a written answer. Use the contact details and district offices listed on the Road Transport Department's page, and ask three things: whether the UAE is still recognised under the current notification, whether a licence converted in the UAE from another country's licence is treated the same, and whether they want an RTA certificate (and Ministry of Foreign Affairs certification) with your application. This guide is general information, not legal advice; if your case is unusual, a Cyprus lawyer can help.

What if your UAE licence cannot be exchanged?

If your licence has expired, or the RTD refuses the exchange, you need a Cypriot licence from scratch: an eyesight check and oral theory test, a learner licence, then the practical test. Our guide to getting a driving licence in Cyprus walks through it. Don't let your UAE licence lapse in your last months in Dubai, because Cyprus only recognises a valid one.

What changes after you turn 70?

The RTD asks for a medical fitness certificate when anyone aged 70 or over exchanges a foreign licence. Once you hold a Cypriot licence, check the renewal rules for older drivers with the RTD. Our exchange guide has more.

What else do you need to drive your own car?

A Cypriot licence is only one part. If you are shipping a car from Dubai, see shipping your belongings and car from Dubai to Cyprus and registering an imported car. Then sort out car insurance, and tell your insurer once your licence is exchanged; pay road tax every year; and get used to slippery roads after the first autumn rain with our guide to driving in the rainy season.

What to do next

• Before you leave the UAE: renew your licence if it expires soon, and get an RTA Driver Experience Certificate (or the Abu Dhabi equivalent) close to your departure date.
• Ask the Road Transport Department to confirm that the UAE is still on its list.
• Apply for your residence document early: Cyprus visas and residence for people moving from Dubai.
• Book your RTD exchange well within six months.
• Work through the rest of the move with our complete guide to moving from Dubai to Cyprus and closing your life in Dubai.