Dubai Police arrest 8 suspects over driving licence scam

By the Editorial Team · Monday, October 19, 2026

Dubai authorities have arrested eight people linked to a fraudulent operation that helped customers obtain foreign driving licences without proper training or testing, enabling them to convert these into UAE licences illegally. The crackdown highlights efforts to protect road safety by ensuring that licence exchange agreements are not exploited to circumvent essential driving competence requirements.

Dubai authorities have detained eight individuals believed to be involved in a scheme that enabled customers to obtain driving licences fraudulently from a neighbouring country without undergoing the required training, testing, or travelling to that country. The group is suspected of charging around 10,000 dirhams (approximately $2,700) per licence as part of the operation.

The arrests were made through a coordinated effort by Dubai Police’s General Department of Criminal Investigation, working alongside the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The Economic Crimes Department initially uncovered the fraudulent activity during an investigation.

According to Dubai Police, the suspects exploited international driving licence exchange agreements that permit holders of valid foreign licences from certain countries to convert these into UAE licences without additional testing or training. These agreements are designed to streamline the process for legitimate licence holders but do not permit bypassing the standard requirements applied by the original issuing authorities.

Investigators found that the suspects operated through offices registered under transaction processing companies in the UAE, where they actively promoted their services to potential clients. They allegedly arranged for driving licences to be obtained from the neighbouring country remotely, circumventing the mandatory tests and driving lessons normally required by law.

Once customers received these foreign licences, they could present them to the RTA to exchange for UAE driving licences under the existing bilateral or multilateral agreements. This process effectively allowed unqualified individuals to secure valid licences, undermining the regulatory framework intended to guarantee that drivers on public roads possess the necessary competencies and knowledge.

Dubai Police emphasized that while international licence exchange agreements facilitate simplified licence conversion for eligible drivers, these arrangements must not be used to evade the legal standards and procedures governing the initial issuance of driving licences. The authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to upholding road safety through stringent enforcement against such fraudulent schemes.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.