ctfc

A friend, ahem, has recently changed jobs. Her old residency was cancelled but the new one is taking a while to process as it's a new company and more steps keep appearing in the system.

Since she's currently on a visit visa, is she allowed to drive her (fully owned) car here? The new residency visa has been applied for but is "in process" and may continue to be for a while.

norsk

I believe the insurance will be void if you don't have a current residence visa and your drivers license is probably invalid for the same reason, but then again there may be some grace period. Alternatively pigs may fly and it could rain diamonds..

I'm not sure how you would be able to confirm this without having doubts. It's not like you can call up someone like RTA and expect to get the same answer every time you ask...

Sorry

Millhouse

Short answer is No. Driving license isn't valid either.

auzdafluff

Interesting question is; do you have to reapply for your driving license after you get a new job, or does it suddenly become active again?

benzonar

Not good news, am about to leave my current job for a sabbatical - didn't realise I'd have to sell my car

LaLaLayla

Not the case. I drove on my Abu Dhabi driving licence for a while whilst waiting for my Dubai Residence Visa and I checked many times that it was OK to do so.

Can't comment on the insurance.

norsk

not really the same situation though is it? you still had residence in one of the emirates..they may not be fully integrated, but there are some connections..

csdf

Out of curiousity, with whom did you check? And have you now swapped your AD DL for a Dubai one? And if so, how did you do it?

spartans53

No such thing as a DXB or AUH Driving Licence now, they are federal and all look the same.

Lost my DXB one in Saudi and when i got a replacment ( Which was so easy ??? ) I got a new federal one.

Just another small part of the Abu Dhabians taking over bit by bit

LaLaLayla

No. I did Visa Runs for a while whilst not working, and drove the whole time on my Abu Dhabi licence. I was told (and I checked many times) that the licence is valid until it expires.

LaLaLayla

I checked with the RTA in both Emirates. I also spoke to somebody in the AD government and the police, and checked with a British PRO working in Dubai.

I am still driving on my AD licence. In order to change it, you need to get a No Objection Letter from AD RTA and take it to Dubai RTA and they will issue you with a new Dubai one.

jebelaligardener

I also checked with RTA since I was going on to visit visa for a few months, and they said as long as my UAE driving licence and vehicle registration hadn't expired then I could still drive my own vehicle.

Someone I know managed to renew their vehicle registration online whilst on a visit visa. RTA had their previous visa in their system so looked as though they were still on a residence visa. Driving licence was a similar story but with a copy of the old visa submitted at their office along with all the other docs required.

norsk

that's all good, but what happens if you have an accident? as long as nothing is written in a law or regulation anywhere they could easily change their minds (especially when being pressured by the insurance company trying to avoid having to pay out)..

Millhouse

Well. Actually, maybe this is true.

I'm on a Dubai visa and have an AD license. I have cars registered in DXB and AUH. I had an accident a while back with the DXB car and there were no problems with the insurance etc.

Of course, I had hit a taxi, had it been a local it may have been different.

I also did visa runs (in ignorance) in my car - never seemed a problem. Then again, I wasn't stopped.

LaLaLayla

I have had 2 accidents whilst on Dubai visa with AD licence, with no problems. Although my vehicle is registered in AD, so not sure if that makes a difference.