Searches for a 10-year UAE driving licence jumped 1,000% in a week, but expatriate residents still get 5 years on renewal. The 10-year validity is for UAE and GCC nationals only. Here is what Cabinet Decision No. 174 of 2026 actually changes from 1 January 2027.
More than 20,000 people searched for a 10-year UAE driving licence in a single week in November 2026, a 1,000% spike that tells its own story. The short answer for expatriate residents is: no. On a qualifying renewal, UAE and GCC nationals receive a 10-year licence; expatriate residents receive 5 years. That split is not new, and Cabinet Decision No. 174 of 2026 does not change it. What the Cabinet decision does introduce, from 1 January 2027, is a 2-year first licence for adults aged 21 or older and a single national framework replacing a patchwork of emirate-level rules.
Cabinet Decision No. 174 of 2026 is the Executive Regulation of Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024 on traffic. Gulf News reports it was issued on 6 October 2026; the Emirates News Agency (WAM) published the announcement on 4 November 2026. It replaces Ministerial Resolution No. 130 of 1997 and takes effect on 1 January 2027. The official text is expected on the UAE Legislation portal, but had not appeared there at the time of writing. Article numbers below come from consistent media reporting, not from the official text. The Arabic term رخصة قيادة (driving licence) covers every category discussed here.
Not legal advice
No. The 10-year validity on renewal applies exclusively to UAE nationals and GCC nationals. Expatriate residents receive 5 years on a qualifying renewal, exactly as they do today in Dubai under the existing RTA framework. The 1,000% search spike this week appears to have been driven by headlines that led some readers to assume the 10-year figure applied to everyone. It does not. If you hold an expat residency visa, your renewed رخصة قيادة will be valid for 5 years under the 2027 rules, the same as it is under the current Dubai RTA rules.
The UAE Government portal on driving and licensing is the authoritative source for federal-level rules. For emirate-specific processes, the RTA in Dubai and the relevant authority in each other emirate remain the operational contact points.
AED 699,000
AED 1,249,000
AED 699,000
Article 55 of Cabinet Decision No. 174 of 2026, as reported by Gulf News on 4 November 2026 and The National on 5 November 2026, sets the following validity periods:
To obtain a licence under the new framework, the u.ae getting a driving licence page will carry updated requirements. Based on current reporting, applicants must present: a valid Emirates ID, proof of meeting the minimum age, a medical fitness report from an approved health authority, the driving tests, and the prescribed fees. No fee amounts for 2027 have been published at the time of writing.
Also new from 2027: stricter eyesight standards for bus and heavy-machinery licence categories. Notably, The National reports that eyesight reports obtained abroad may be accepted for renewal purposes, which will benefit residents who spend extended periods outside the UAE.
It is worth being precise about what is genuinely new and what is simply being formalised at a federal level. The practical changes are:
The following reflects Dubai's current RTA process as listed on the RTA renew a driving licence page, checked 7 November 2026. Other emirates differ, and 2027 fees are unpublished. This section is Dubai-specific.
Late renewal fine: If your licence has already expired, the RTA applies a fine of AED 10 per month from the expiry date, capped at AED 500. If your licence expired more than 10 years ago, you must pass an Evaluation Test before renewal. For RTA driver and car owner services covering all categories, the main RTA portal is the starting point. If you are buying a new car alongside your licence renewal, it is also worth reading up on how to transfer car ownership in Dubai and sorting car insurance for used cars in the UAE at the same time.
This is genuinely unresolved. In 2024, multiple outlets widely reported that the minimum age for a light vehicle licence was being lowered to 17, effective from 29 March 2025. Coverage of the new Article 54 under Cabinet Decision No. 174 of 2026, however, gives the minimum age as 18. The two figures appear in separate rounds of reporting and have not been reconciled publicly. Neither should be treated as definitively confirmed until the official text of the Cabinet decision is published on the UAE Legislation portal. For planning purposes, speak directly with the RTA or your emirate's licensing authority before making assumptions about age eligibility for a first licence.
No specific rules covering senior drivers aged 65 or older have been published as part of Cabinet Decision No. 174 of 2026. Neither the WAM announcement, Gulf News coverage, nor The National's reporting mentions an age cap, mandatory re-testing, or medical requirements specific to older drivers under the 2027 framework. If you are in this age group, the same general medical fitness report requirement applies. Beyond that, nothing has been confirmed at the time of writing.
With a fresh licence in hand, many new drivers in the UAE begin looking at the market seriously for the first time. The 2-year first licence period under the 2027 rules is a natural prompt to explore options. If you are drawn to a premium first car, browsing GCC-spec cars for sale in Dubai is a good starting point, since GCC-specification vehicles are built for the region's climate and fuel grades. For those with broader ambitions, brand-new Range Rover listings represent some of the most popular choices among residents who want both practicality and presence on Sheikh Zayed Road. And for drivers who already know exactly what they want, Porsche listings cover everything from daily-usable sports saloons to weekend performance cars. For the registration side of ownership, the u.ae registering vehicles page covers what is needed after purchase.
Several points raised in public discussion of the 2027 rules remain genuinely open. Carzle will update this article as official clarifications are issued. The following should not be treated as settled:
Compare Porsche 911 Turbo S with Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica
Quick answers from the Carzle Editorial
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not legal, financial, tax or insurance advice. Prices, specifications and availability are indicative, vary by trim and GCC specification, and change without notice - confirm current figures with the selling dealer. Government fees, registration, import, customs and traffic regulations are subject to change; always verify current requirements directly with the relevant UAE authority (RTA, MOEI, Customs, your emirate's traffic department) or your insurer before acting. Carzle is a marketplace: vehicles are listed and sold by independent dealers, and Carzle is not a party to any sale.
