Vehicle License and Fine Payments Online: UAE

In this increasingly digitalized world, more and more services and transactions are becoming possible through the internet. In UAE, many vehicle license services and fine payments can now be done online through digital devices. Payment of fines will be completely shifted to the electronic space.

This means that those services can no longer be done at Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) service centers from June 13, 2021.  Another thing disclosed by the Roads and Transport Authority is that now it is possible to swap in a UAE driving license for a UK license.  

Vehicle License services

The RTA plans to shift even more licensing services to smart and digital platforms in 2021.  Jamal Hashim AL Sadah, Director of Vehicles Licensing, Licensing Agency, Roads and Transport Authority, added that people can now utilize the Roads and Transport Authority’s website https://www.rta.ae/wps/portal/rta/ae/home?lang=en for processing the certificate online. Alternatively, using the Dubai Drive App or Smart Kiosks, or even contacting the Call Centre by dialing 8009090, can be a way for users to process these certificates. Vehicle ownership and vehicle export certificates will also soon be shifted to digital channels.

On Sunday, the RTA also revealed that five vehicle licensing certificate issuance services are going to be fully available online. These include Insurance refund (reimbursing the sum equivalent to the rest of the time in the motor insurance policy); vehicle ownership; non-ownership of the vehicle; vehicle clearance; and a comprehensive list of registered vehicle certificates. All these vehicle licensing services are now available virtually.

Driving License

Before, RTA had claimed that the period required to open a learning driver file in Dubai, which used to take up to four visits spread over two days, will now go down to just 15 minutes and can be done at home. The number of documents needed also decreased from 10 to just 1 or 2. In the last year alone, over two million transactions related to driving licenses were administered in Dubai, of which 72%, that is, more than 1.5 million were done through online means.

By the end of May 2021, drivers licensing services would be entirely virtually accessible. Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, commented on the growth of the same. He said that it includes over 140 services, which covers 54 for drivers, 53 for vehicles, 32 for commercial transport, and 1 for looking over licensing activities. Over 57 percent of driving license services now come under these improved services.  The online facilities are there on RTA’s smart platforms, all 9 driving institutes and its major 19 subsidiaries, and over 120 service delivery counters.

Technology leads to convenience and saves a lot of time. More and more sectors are transferring their services to online platforms, leading to easier accessibility, the requirement of fewer documents, and a lower need to visit the centers. Now, the RTA has brought about these benefits when it comes to fine payment, driver licensing, and vehicle license services as well.