Suspects procured foreign licences without travel or testing to exploit the UAE’s direct licence conversion system; police warn buyers face prosecution
DUBAI, Oct. 17, 2026 :Dubai Police have broken up an eight-member criminal ring accused of selling fraudulently obtained foreign driving licences for Dh10,000 each, allowing buyers to bypass mandatory driving tests and swap them directly for UAE permits.
The operation, led by the General Department of Criminal Investigation’s Economic Crimes Department, dismantled a scheme designed to manipulate legitimate bilateral driving licence exchange accords. Investigators carried out the arrests in close coordination with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
According to investigators, the suspects operated out of transaction-processing and typing centre offices across the Emirates to seek out prospective clients. They offered clients the ability to acquire an official licence issued by an unnamed neighbouring country without ever crossing a border, enrolling in driver education, or sitting for practical examinations.
Once secured, clients intended to present these documents at licensing counters to take advantage of reciprocal recognition agreements. Under these official pacts, nationals and valid licence holders from specified jurisdictions can swap their home licences for a full UAE driver’s permit without undertaking standard local driving lessons or yard and road tests.
The ring charged Dh10,000 ($2,720) per transaction.
Dubai Police emphasized that skipping mandatory driver training presents a direct danger to the general public, elevating the offense from administrative paperwork fraud to a severe road safety hazard. Practical instruction and formal testing serve as critical regulatory safeguards to confirm that motorists can anticipate roadway hazards and operate vehicles safely.
Authorities explicitly warned that legal liability does not stop with the brokers. Motorists who knowingly purchase fraudulently arranged foreign licences face direct criminal prosecution, fines, and legal measures. Police stressed that successfully completing a swap through official RTA counters does not legitimize the permit, nor does it shield the applicant from prosecution once the initial fraud is uncovered.
Motorists seeking a driving licence must complete the established training pathways through accredited driving institutes. Residents encountering solicitations promising shortcuts or test-free conversions have been urged to report the entities immediately via Dubai Police digital channels.
