ASTANA (IN): Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will officially begin mutually recognizing each other’s driver’s licenses from July 25, 2026, following the entry into force of a memorandum on the mutual recognition and exchange of driving licenses.According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, the agreement aims to simplify travel, reduce administrative procedures, and facilitate mobility for citizens of both countries.Under the new arrangement, Kazakhstani citizens visiting the UAE for tourism, business, or private purposes will be permitted to drive using their valid national driver’s license.
The same facility will be available to UAE nationals traveling in Kazakhstan.The memorandum also introduces a simplified procedure for Kazakhstani citizens who become residents of the UAE, allowing them to exchange their driver’s licenses without taking additional driving tests. The exemption applies to Category B and B1 licenses for passenger vehicles.To qualify for the license exchange, applicants must hold a valid UAE residence permit, possess a valid Category B or B1 national driver’s license, be at least 18 years old, provide an official translation of their license into the host country’s official language, and complete the required medical examination.
Authorities confirmed that drivers will retain their original national driver’s licenses after the exchange. Instead, the relevant authorities in both countries will notify each other once the exchange process has been completed.Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs also advised citizens traveling abroad to familiarize themselves with local traffic laws and road regulations and to comply with all applicable legal requirements.
