Visitors can use UAE driving licence in Qatar for up to three months: Report

Published: 3 September 2024

NT Bureau
Doha

Residents holding a valid driving licence issued by a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country entering Qatar on a visit or tourist visa are permitted to use the UAE or GCC-issued licence for up to three months, Gulf News reports.

In a report titled, ‘Can you use your UAE driving licence in Qatar? Here’s what you need to know’ the daily said for non-GCC residents, driving in Qatar is allowed “if you possess a valid International Driving Permit, with a maximum driving period of six months”.

If UAE residents are driving from the UAE to Qatar, it advises them to pre-register their vehicles.
“If you are planning to drive to Qatar from the UAE, you will need to pass through Saudi Arabia, specifi-cally the Abu Samra border. To avoid long queues, it’s essential to pre-register your vehicle. To pre-register, visit the Hayya portal at hayya.qa/en and create an account,” the report says.

“If you are relocating to Qatar on a residency visa, you will need to apply for a Qatari driving licence. This process includes enrolling in a driving school, obtaining a learner’s permit, and passing the re-quired theory and driving tests.

To apply for a driving licence in Qatar, the following conditions must be met, as outlined by the MOI in Qatar:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Provide an eye test certificate.
• Hold a valid residence permit.
• Submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your sponsor, specifying the type of licence required.
• Provide a valid passport copy and passport-sized photographs.
  There are eight different driving schools in Qatar and you can visit any one of them to start your licence application process.