Express Driving Licence!

[Chilli]

Does anyone know if there is a way to fast-track the driving licence process. We have a staff member who we need to drive asap, and being a Filipino, he has to take 8 million lessons and fail his test 10 times before (hopefully) eventually passing.

I was just wondering if there was a private/executive system where he could have a week or so of intensive lessons and sail through the test?

Cheers.

[e21jason]

The only thing I know is you can do the minimum lessons back to back in 1 day. That's what we did with one of the guys in the office but he failed so after that he had to do the slow way on his own time

J

[shirt]

I'd hire someone else.

If I needed someone to drive for me that urgently it would not be someone who's done a week's worth of driving in their life and taught by the laughing stock which is the dubai learner system.

[Chilli]

shirt said:

I'd hire someone else.

If I needed someone to drive for me that urgently it would not be someone who's done a week's worth of driving in their life and taught by the laughing stock which is the dubai learner system.

You mean, fire the guy who is an expert in his field, who knows our business, our suppliers, and our clients, pay 3,00 for his flight home, pay another 10,000 to hire someone else, and no doubt pay the new guy more because finding people with this guys skills is almost impossible? It's not that urgent.

Have you never used a Dubai taxi then?

[shirt]

Chilli said:

Have you never used a Dubai taxi then?

yes, but then it doesn't cost me anything if they crash. and keep your wig on, thought this was for hired help not your boyfriend

[IanUAE]

Just signed the son up his driving licence so this is what Belhasa said to me:

Sign-up (5 days to process paperwork)
Do signal test (8 hours of "tuition")
Book 16 lessons a week, which means the 40 lessons will be done in 2-3 weeks

Cost ~8-9K.

[dxbtiger]

IanUAE said:

Just signed the son up his driving licence so this is what Belhasa said to me:

Sign-up (5 days to process paperwork)
Do signal test (8 hours of "tuition")
Book 16 lessons a week, which means the 40 lessons will be done in 2-3 weeks

Cost ~8-9K.

Ouch, assume he is not going to be in the UK anytime soon?

[IanUAE]

He registered yesterday (12 lessons a week so with student discount 5K AED) so he "should" be all done and dusted by the end of August, which is good as he heads off the UK for Uni end September.

[Asterix]

My wife passed her test here - she has zero intention of driving as she know's how st she is - I concur and so would anyone else that saw the standard they passed her at.

Not her fault - she did XX number of lessons (one where the 8 months preggers local bint instructor fell asleep halfway into the lesson) and then after the fourth test, they passed her.

A complete joke.

[Fats25]

Can't help with the question Nick. I am only on this forum to ask questions, not to answer any!

Did get one piece of information this week though from the company dealing with my relocation where it comes to driving, and driving licences...

"Driving in Dubai:

Once your visa process has begun, no driving of any type (leased/rental) will be permitted UAE under any type of license be it international or local. The moment you recieve your employment visa, you are not allowed to drive a car until you have the residency visa stamped in the passport and valid UAE drivers license.

Not many people are aware of this and often drive a rental car obtained with a foreign drivers license while on a tourist or temporary 60 day employment visa (pink slip). However, in case of an accident the insurance will not cover damage and could lead to an arrest. Please be aware."

I was not aware of this before, and had not heard anyone else mention it. Seems I will be reliant on cabs for the first few weeks to get around.

[Chilli]

Hiya Chris,

That's interesting. When my bother was her a year or so ago, he drove my hire car with no problems, We phoned up the company and they said he was covered and there wasn't even an extra charge. You never know though do you? You will find people here will just simply say "yes sir" without actually understanding the question.

Bet you're counting down the days now eh? Mrs C has 2 weeks off around the time you get here, so we'll be around for a beer or two when you arrive!

Cheers.

[K50 DEL]

What Chris says is correct, when I first moved here I hired a car on my UK license.
The hire company were insistant that I informed them the moment I had official UAE employment visa as I would be unable to drive on my UK license from that point.

When I queried why, I was told the same as Chris stated.

As far as guests are concerned, the exact situation is that they are legally allowed to drive a privately owned vehicle here as long as they have an internationally transferrable license (that is were they to move here they wouldn't need to pass a test, so UK, USA licenses are fine, Indian, Brazilian are not).

Individual insurance companies may impose additional restrictions (my Ferrari insurance requires any driver to be over 25, the Cayenne is covered for any age)

[Psychobert]

Thanks Del, thats interesting.. I presume then the situation is the same when swapping jobs and therefore Visas? i.e. in the period between one being cancelled and the other granted you shouldn't drive?

[shirt]

As with all things in dubai, the letter of the law is not always the be all and end all.

I once needed a hire car but had lost my uae licence. I rented using my uk licence and 2nd passport.

Having had a car park bump they subsequently realised that
passport had no entry visa and that my other one when Presented made it clear that I was a resident.

Now, whilst this fact rendered the insurance invalid, it also meant that the hire co. Had broken the law by renting to me in the first place. The whole thing was swept under the carpet.

[Fats25]

Chilli said:

Bet you're counting down the days now eh? Mrs C has 2 weeks off around the time you get here, so we'll be around for a beer or two when you arrive!

Cheers.

I don't have time to even countdown! Is scary how quick it is all happening..... Still as it stands today D-Day is 18th August 2014.

I am sure by the weekend of the 22nd August I will be screaming for a beer and a relax - so will take you up on your offer!

[Fats25]

K50 DEL said:

As far as guests are concerned, the exact situation is that they are legally allowed to drive a privately owned vehicle here as long as they have an internationally transferrable license (that is were they to move here they wouldn't need to pass a test, so UK, USA licenses are fine, Indian, Brazilian are not).

Individual insurance companies may impose additional restrictions (my Ferrari insurance requires any driver to be over 25, the Cayenne is covered for any age)

That is interesting, and was a query I had not gotten around to asking yet. I assume the visitor is insured at the same level as the insured?

i.e. if I was visiting on a UK licence I could drive your Ferrari (with your permission)to the same level of insurance as you have. That will be very handy for visitors coming to see us if that is the case.