UAE, October 27: The UAE government on Friday announced a significant change in its traffic laws, reducing the minimum age for obtaining a driving license to 17 years. The new federal decree will come into force on March 29, 2025.

According to the previous regulations, you had to be 18 years old to hold a car driving license and 17 years old for a motorcycle license. The new decision standardizes the legal age for motorcycles and cars at 17, making the UAE the first Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country to implement such a change.

In contrast, neighboring Oman maintains an age limit of 18 for obtaining a driving license, while Saudi Arabia has different age requirements: individuals can apply for a motorcycle license at 16 years, a car license at 18 and a temporary license at 17. Bahrain follows Oman’s regulations, requiring individuals to be 18 years old before obtaining a driver’s license.

Qatar has separate age requirements depending on vehicle type; Applicants must be 18 years old to obtain a license for light motor vehicles and 21 years old for heavy vehicles. In Kuwait, the minimum age for obtaining a driving license differs between citizens and expats: Kuwaiti citizens must be 18 years old, while expats must be 21 years old.

Globally, age limits for obtaining a driving license range from 15 to 18, with some countries allowing licensing at 14, provided young drivers are supervised.