Dubai’s RTA to allow motorists to change their licences without classes

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that motorists holding a licence for automatic transmission light vehicles can now convert their licences to manual transmission without going through any additional training classes.

The interested applicants can directly take a test with the RTA to change their licence.

“The test would not relate to driving skills, but would rather focus on the handling of the manual gear system,” said Jamal Al Sada, director of Drivers Licensing at RTA’s Licensing Agency.

“Dealing with manual transmission needs certain skills such as the attention to the road while shifting gears, ability to shift gears without distraction, and coping with the smooth shifting between gears while driving.

“It is a different case scenario for holders of manual transmission driving licences. They can easily cope with the automatic transmission without requiring tests, as the automatic transmission needs no action while driving,” he added.

On failing the test, the applicant will be notified about his or her weaknesses.

They can then “select the appropriate way for improving those points before re-applying for a test,” said Al Sada.

The service will start this October.

“RTA is making every effort to meet the needs of drivers through streamlined processes as they are closely related to the safety and security of roads and users,” he added.

The RTA has made several changes to the driving licence system in recent months.

Earlier this month, the authority said it has set up an online system to allow employers to issue NOCs (no objection certificates) to employees for getting their driving licences.

Meanwhile it also announced in August that motorists aged 65 and above who wish to renew their driver licences in Dubai will soon have to undergo medical tests.

The RTA also confirmed that the validity of the renewed driver licence for older motorists has been reduced to three years instead of five or 10 years.

The new regulations will be implemented from September 1.

Read more: Dubai to hold medical tests for motorists aged 65 and above

Also read: Dubai to implement new rules for driving licences from July 1