How to apply and Obtain Passenger Bus Driver Permit in Abu Dhabi?: Procedure, Documents required, Cost, Validity, Renewal
UAE nationals and expatriates of legal age and are residents of Abu Dhabi, are eligible to apply for a UAE driving license to operate multiple
types of vehicles, as stated in the table below:
Type of Vehicle | Minimum Age |
Light Vehicle | 18 |
Motorcycle | 17 |
Light Bus | 21 |
Heavy Bus | 21 |
Light Mechanical Vehicle | 20 |
Heavy Mechanical Vehicle | 20 |
Heavy Truck | 20 |
Procedure to apply and Obtain Passenger Bus Driver Permit in Abu Dhabi
Step 1: Conducting an Eye Exam.
Step 2: Opening a Traffic File
Step 3: Passing through a theory exam and internal practical training
Step 4: Issuing a driving test date and Requesting a training permit
Step 5: Go through 6 hours of external practical training
Step 6: Passing the driving test
Final Step: Getting the License.
Step 1: Conducting an Eye Exam
Documents required
Emirates ID An eye examination center accredited by the licensing authority is the relevant entity involved in conducting eye exam.
Cost: AED 100.
Step 2: Opening a Traffic File
Documents Required:
- Â Emirates ID
- Eye Test Certificate
- Personal Photo
Traffic file can be opened online either through the TAMM portal, which is the official portal for Abu Dhabi Government services, or through the Abu Dhabi Police mobile application.
Cost: AED 200
Applying through TAMM
- Visit tamm.abudhabi
- Go to the ‘Vehicles and Transportation’ category on the home page and then select ‘Driving Services’.
- Scroll down and click on ‘Request to Open a Driving Licence File’. Alternatively, click on this link to go to the service directly: https://www.tamm.abudhabi/
- Click on ‘Start’.
- Should be logged in using the UAE Pass.
- Select a license type.
- Choose the requested category as ‘new’.
- Choose the preferred driving test center, which is Abu Dhabi Police traffic and licensing department branches. This is the center where the final driving test will be conducted.
- Select Transmission type – manual or automatic.
- Next, personal information will be automatically filled in, as you have signed in through the UAE Pass account. The details include full name, Emirates ID number and expiry, nationality, the Emirate you reside in, Date of Birth, mobile number, and email address.
- Upload the required documents.
- Make the payment for opening a traffic file.
Step 3: Passing through a theory exam and internal practical training
Next Step is to visit Emirates Driving Company(EDC) to register for the theory classes and test.
While you are at EDC, it is also needed to enroll for parking and yard training and test. This is referred to as internal practical training.
Under 17 years old, a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the guardian is needed. This is not required for 18 years and above.
After having passed the theory test and completed the internal practical training and test, a ‘Successful Completion of Theory Exam and Internal Practical Training certificate’ will be received.
Documents Required
- Traffic File Number
- Emirates ID
- Passport Copy
- Residency Visa Copy
- Personal Photo
Cost: Varies depending on the level of previous driving experience (refer to Emirates Driving Company for details)
Step 4: Issuing a driving test date and Requesting a training permit Documents Required: Successful Completion of Theory Exam and Internal Practical Training
Before start taking driving lessons, one should first need to book a date for the road test. Here is how to do it through the Tamm portal:
- Visit this link: https://www.tamm.abudhabi/
- Log in with UAE Pass.
- Click start.
- Personal information tab can be seen, which will automatically be filled in by UAE Pass.
- Next, the traffic file number should be entered.
- Confirm the driving test location you selected in Step 2 (This is the center where your final driving test will be conducted).
- Payment of the fees.
- An SMS confirming the driving test date and location will be received.
- After having booked a driving test date, a training permit card will also be issued.
- After the road test has been scheduled one can start the ‘external practical training’ or ‘external road training’, which are the driving classes one needs to take.
Cost: Dh100 for issuing the training permit and Dh200 for the road test.
Step 5: Go through 6 hours of external practical training
Documents Required
- Traffic File Number
- Emirates ID
- Passport Copy
- Residency Visa Copy
- Personal Photo
- Training Permit
- Successful Completion of Theory Exam and Internal Practical Training
At least six hours of driving classes from any private driving school in Abu Dhabi, like the Emirates Driving Company is to be taken.
Cost: Varies depending on the selected school and the level of previous driving experience (refer to the private driving schools for details)
Step 6: Passing the driving test
Documents Required:
- Training Permit
- Successful Completion of Internal and External Training and Exams
To pass the driving test, one needs to visit the traffic licensing department branch in Abu Dhabi selected at the time of opening the traffic file to take the road test. Having passed the road test, a driving license will then be issued.
Cost: AED 200
Final Step: Getting the License
The driving license card can be collected from the driving school or through the Abu Dhabi Police Customer Happiness Centres.
The card can be received in two ways:
- An e-driving license card through your registered email or via SMS. The electronic version of the driving license can be viewed through the Abu Dhabi Police app.
- The physical driving license card will be issued within 10 days.
Cost
- It cost AED 100 for Receiving a new driving license (under 21)
- It costs AED 300 for Receiving a new driving license (above 21)
Validity and Renewal:
A new driving license is valid for two years for citizens, GCC nationals, and other nationalities. When you renew your driving license, its validity would be for 10 years for UAE and GCC citizens and five years for residents.
Fact Corner
GCC person means
- A citizen of a GCC country (namely, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, and the State of Kuwait).
- Any legal entity owned by GCC citizens and established under the laws of a GCC-country.