No travel, no lessons, no test, and a UAE licence at the end of it. That was the promise behind a fake driving licence scheme that Dubai Police say has now been shut down. An eight-member criminal gang has been arrested for fraudulently obtaining driving licences from a neighbouring country for customers who had never been there, then helping them swap those licences for a UAE driving licence.
The gang charged AED 10,000 per licence. The arrests were made by Dubai Police’s General Department of Criminal Investigation, in cooperation with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
How the Fake Driving Licence Scheme Worked
Dubai Police’s Economic Crimes Department found that the gang exploited legitimate licence exchange agreements. These arrangements allow holders of driving licences issued by certain countries to exchange them for UAE licences without additional training or testing, provided they meet the necessary requirements.
The suspects used offices belonging to transaction processing companies in the UAE to approach potential customers and promote their services. They offered to arrange licences from a neighbouring country without customers needing to travel there, learn to drive or pass mandatory tests.
Once obtained, the licences could be presented for exchange through Dubai’s RTA. In effect, the scheme used an agreement designed to simplify the process for eligible drivers to bypass the training and testing meant to confirm that drivers are qualified.
Why Police Call It a Risk to Road Safety
Dubai Police warned that obtaining a licence through illegal means is more than a procedural violation. It can pose a serious threat to road safety.
Driving lessons and examinations assess whether motorists have the skills, knowledge and ability to handle different traffic situations. Skipping them could put unqualified drivers on public roads, endangering motorists, passengers, pedestrians and other road users.
The force urged residents to be cautious of individuals or businesses promising licences without the required training, testing or legal procedures.
Fake Driving Licence Buyers Could Face Legal Action
Police stressed that legal responsibility does not stop with those arranging the licences. Anyone who knowingly pays for a fake driving licence obtained through unlawful procedures may also face penalties and legal action.
Dubai Police also clarified a key point for buyers. Exchanging an illegally obtained foreign licence for a UAE licence does not make the original licence legitimate, and it does not exempt the holder from responsibility. Completing the official exchange process cannot be used to justify violations committed when the foreign licence was obtained.
What the Exchange Agreements Actually Allow
According to Dubai Police, international licence exchange agreements exist to make it easier to exchange legally issued licences that meet the relevant requirements. They do not allow applicants to bypass the rules that govern how licences are originally issued in their home countries.
The force urged anyone seeking a driving licence to follow approved procedures and deal only with authorised entities. Residents were also encouraged to report individuals or companies offering licences through unlawful means, to help authorities identify fraud and protect the community.
Dubai Police reaffirmed that properly trained and qualified drivers are fundamental to road safety, and that licence exchange arrangements must never be used to get around these requirements.
