livbel

I am about to sort out my UAE drivers licence - one question I have, do they literally swap your UK one for a UAE (i.e taking away your UK one). If so how does that effect driving in the Uk on trips back?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Blue Cat

course they don't take it away!

CeeBee

Something came up on here recently that for trips back to the UK you should use the driving licence of the country in which you are residing.

I've never seen anything official but this is what i have read.

Mogs

I would suggest trips anywhere you use your UAE licence as opposed to the UK one......will require some seriously joined up thinking for any overseas incurred traffic violations to end up on UAE licence.

Blue Cat

I would be rather surprised if the UAE licence is valid in the UK?

Mogs

You can hire a car in the US with it. I've never actually tried using it in the UK, but will do next time I'm there.

Blue Cat

I will be very worried if they accept it I have to say

glynster

It could explain the parking mishaps outside Harrods, bet its funny as **** at prayer time when the wardens tell em to shift from parking right outside the musk..... pmsl.

Blue Cat

they may as well scrap the British Driving Test if they are letting UAE license holders in!

CeeBee

I have friends here that hire cars in the UK on their UAE licence however, a few companies i tried would only accept the UAE licence if it was added as a second driver...i.e. you couldn't be the main hirer of the car.

I think Budget accept it though.

Brains1983

Genius!

Bahtatboy

Absolutely right. Mind you, if Plod asks if you have a UK licence then you'd need to be honest.

lionheart

As there is a reciprocal arrangement allowing UK licence holders to get UAE licences without taking a driving test here, the UK governmemnt would look foolish if they then refused to accept UAE licences back home, surely? Not certain if the same applies to other European countries though. My guess is that France would probably insist on an International Driving Licence. Are they easily obtainable?

Bahtatboy

4 quid plus postage from the RAC, download the application form from their website. Or on demand at any major Post Office.

Meow

International Driving Permits can be obtained from Emirates Post.