Dubai Police dismantle network selling fraudulent driving licences for Dh10,000
Eight suspects arrested for allegedly procuring foreign driving licences without travel or testing, exploiting UAE's international licence exchange programme to bypass mandatory training requirements.
Mariam Al Mansoori
Dubai Police arrest eight over alleged illegal driving licence scam
Dubai Police have dismantled an alleged fraud network that supplied driving licences to customers who never travelled abroad or completed mandatory training, allowing them to circumvent the UAE's standard licensing procedures.
Eight individuals were arrested in a joint operation by Dubai Police's General Department of Criminal Investigation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Roads and Transport Authority. The suspects allegedly charged customers Dh10,000 ($2,720) to obtain driving licences from a neighbouring country, which could then be exchanged directly for UAE licences under international agreements.
The scheme exploited the UAE's legitimate international licence exchange programme, which processed 58,082 foreign driving licences from over 50 eligible countries in 2025, covering five GCC states, 38 European nations, 13 Asian and Latin American countries, and one African country.
Authorities said the suspects operated through offices belonging to transaction-processing companies in the UAE, where they approached potential customers and promoted their services. Buyers received licences from a neighbouring country without travelling there, attending driving lessons, or passing mandatory tests.
Bypassing safety requirements
Standard driving licence training in Dubai requires complete beginners to attend a minimum of 20 practical hours and eight hours of mandatory theory lectures before passing both theory and practical tests. By obtaining licences through fraudulent means, customers bypassed these requirements designed to ensure motorists possess the necessary skills and knowledge for safe driving.
The UAE issued 558,191 new driving licences in 2025, compared to 504,377 in 2024, representing a 10.7 per cent increase in new drivers on the road. Against this backdrop of growing demand, the country recorded 6,014 traffic accidents in 2025, a 23 per cent increase from 4,898 in 2024, with new licence holders accounting for 15 per cent of major accidents according to Ministry of Interior data.
Dubai Police emphasized that driving lessons and tests help ensure motorists have the skills and knowledge needed to drive safely. Bypassing these requirements and allowing unqualified people to drive could put other motorists, passengers and pedestrians in danger. Ministry of Interior data shows that UAE authorities recorded 36 traffic accidents in 2025 involving motorists driving without a valid licence.
Legal consequences
The force warned that anyone who pays for a driving licence obtained through illegal means may face penalties and legal action. Under UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024, which came into force on March 29, 2025, driving with a foreign licence not recognised in the UAE carries fines between Dh2,000 and Dh10,000 for first-time offenders. Repeat offenders face at least three months in jail and fines between Dh5,000 and Dh50,000.
Exchanging a fraudulently obtained international licence for a UAE licence does not make the original licence legitimate or remove responsibility for any wrongdoing, authorities stressed.
The Dh10,000 charged by the alleged fraud network was comparable to or higher than legitimate training costs, which range from approximately Dh2,720 plus VAT for a 20-hour course to over Dh7,000 for packages with unlimited theory test attempts. This suggests buyers may have been motivated by convenience or inability to pass tests rather than cost savings.
Anyone seeking a driving licence is advised to follow official procedures and deal only with authorised entities. Residents are also urged to report individuals or companies offering licences through unlawful means.
