While renting a car in United Arab Emirates it is uncertain whether our Australian license will be accepted. We will clear the uncertainty in this article.
Differnet rental branches may ask you to show an IDP.
Please select your upcoming trip rental branch for the most accurate guidelines.
At this point in time, we have not yet collected the rental terms of rental companies in United Arab Emirates. Please visit us again in a later time to get more specific details.
To determine with confidence whether you need an IDP or not, we check multiple data sources. Please review the following legal terms of: the Australian laws, the local laws in United Arab Emirates, the rental company requirements and real life reports we collected from other Australian travelers in United Arab Emirates.
We have not yet collected the Australian laws. Please visit us again in a later time.
The laws in United Arab Emirates say the following:
If you are on a visit to UAE and holding a valid international driving license, accordingly you can rent a car or drive a car registered to your name or one of your 1st degree relatives. For more information, please visit UAE automobile and touring club website.
Source: Government of Dubai - Roads and Transport Authority
It means that:
Based on the information provided, holders of an Australian driving license can drive in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) if they have a valid international driving license, as per the Roads and Transport Authority of the Government of Dubai. The Australian driving license complies with annex 6 of the International Road Traffic Convention of 1968 and annex 9 of the Geneva Road Traffic Convention of 1949, which suggests that it is recognized internationally.
However, the Australian driving license is not the same as an International Driving Permit (IDP), which is a separate document that serves as a translation of a national driving license. The IDP is recognized internationally and is often required alongside the national driving license when driving in a foreign country.
Given that the UAE authorities specifically mention the need for a valid international driving license, it implies that an Australian driving license alone may not be sufficient for driving in the UAE. Therefore, an International Driving Permit would be mandatory in addition to the Australian driving license when driving in the UAE. This conclusion is drawn from the requirement stated by the UAE's Roads and Transport Authority and the distinction made between a national driving license and an IDP.
Different rental agencies might still require an IDP even while the local laws do not require it. Please find your appropriate local supplier in the list above to verify.
We don't have any real life reports by Australian travelers in United Arab Emirates.
If you've been there and was pulled over by the local officials, please share your experience with us and we will publish it to help others.
Facts check reviewed on 6 March 2024 at 10:50 pm by PaapmPaapm editorial team.
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