In oil-rich countries like Saudi Arabia with relatively lower fuel prices, having own car to drive and commute has become a norm and local people as well as expats prefer to have their own cars as travelling through a normal Taxi or app-based services (Careem, Uber etc.) can be more costly. Local public transport system is evolving in Saudi Arabia with trains and metros but yet, It is not widely adopted. Driving own car still remains the most opted choice due to its convenience and affordability.
For a country like Saudi Arabia where laws are strictly enforced and any violations of legal boundaries results in severe penalties, It is very important to ensure that you have a valid driving license in order to drive on Saudi Arabian roads. For expatriates who newly come to Saudi Arabia or for anyone living in Saudi Arabia and planning to start driving own car, the key question that comes in their minds is that how to get a driving license in Saudi Arabia or how to change their existing foreign driving license in Saudi Arabia.
In this post, we will explain in detail how to get a new driving license in Saudi Arabia and also explain how to change your foreign driving license in Saudi Arabia.
Who is Eligible to Apply for a Driving License in Saudi Arabia?
Below is the eligibility criteria to get a driving license in Saudi Arabia:
1. You age should be at-least 18 years. Any one with age below 18 is not eligible to get a driving license in Saudi Arabia.
2. If you are an expatriate, you should have a valid Iqama. Any one with expired iqama or with illegal status is not eligible to apply for a driving license (In fact a person with expired iqama or with illegal status is not eligible for any kind of services in Saudi Arabia).
How to Pay Fees Online for Driving License in Saudi Arabia
If you fulfil the above described eligibility criteria and want to get a driving license in Saudi Arabia, the first thing that you need to do is to pay the license fees. You can pay driving license fees online through online banking using SADAD payment method.
Depending on your bank, there can be a slight difference in the steps to be followed for paying the fees online. For SAMBA Bank, you can pay for your driving license by choosing SADAD Bills–>Government Services and then for Service Type choose Driving License and for Application Type choose Issue License. You will be asked to provide your Iqama ID. Choose License Type from drown down list. For a private car license, choose Private. Finally choose License duration. You can choose 2,5 or 10 years and fees will be accordingly.
Please note that you can pay fees for driving license through ATM as well. Moreover, there are many agents also doing the same thing on your behalf but they will charge you extra for their services so it is recommended to do it at your own.
Medical Test for Driving License in Saudi Arabia
Your eye-sight and your blood group are the two main things tested in driving license medical. Remember that you need to make sure that you go for any approved medical center only as every hospital or clinic is not authorized to conduct medical test for driving license. Only Efada approved medical centers can do the medical test for driving license and they are eligible to upload your medical results online for further processing.
For medical test, pay the required fees in the hospital counter and then you will be asked to go to the designated room where doctor will make an eye test. If doctors finds your eye sight weak, he will test it through lenses and through eye testing machine and then he will suggest you glasses by providing you details of your eye sight weakness numbers. For weak eye sight, your result uploaded by the hospital will also mention this and hence, your driving license will also clearly state that you should wear glasses while driving.
During your medical fitness test, your blood sample will also be taken to find your blood group.
Your medical test result will be updated in Efada in a day or so and you will get an SMS from Efada about this. Once your medical result has been uploaded, you can proceed for the next steps.
How to Get Driving License in Saudi Arabia
You need to visit Dallah Driving School/Center with following set of documents:
1. Your Iqama copy.
2. Your passport copy (front page and visa page).
3. Duly filled Saudi Driving License form (In Arabic).
4. Passport Size Photographs
5. Translation of your foreign driving license (if you already possess a foreign driving license).
Remember that depending on your choice of manual or automatic transmission car, you will be tested on a car accordingly. Your first test is very important as this test will decide if you need to attend further classes or not.
In the first test, you will be asked to drive the car and instructor will assess your driving skills. If you drive good enough to satisfy the instructor, you will get a grade ‘A’ which means that you don’t need to attend classes and you will be given a date for your final test.
However, if you fail in the first trial, you will be asked to attend classes. You will have to attend 30 to 90 hours of classes in a dallah driving school where they will teach you driving skills practically.
Remember that there is a computer test as well which needs to be passed. This computer test mainly focuses on driving rules and different types of driving signals/signs that a driver should understand for a safe and professional driving.
For final test, you need to reach dallah driving center well in time for the time slot specified for you. You will be given a car of your transmission choice selected while applying and you will have to prove your driving skills. You need to be calm, relaxed and focused to avoid any pressure and do all the steps cleanly and without any major mistakes.
If everything goes fine and you pass the driving exam, you will be asked to go to a counter where you will submit your file and within a small time, your name will be called and your printed driving license card will be handed over to you.
Unfortunately, if you fail during your final exam, you will have to try your luck again and show your skills after further polishing and practice. You can have a maximum of 3 attempts with your file opened and if you fail even after that, you will have to go through the entire process again.
How to Get Replacement for a Foreign Driving License in Saudi Arabia
If you already know how to drive that’s good for you as you will be confident enough to pass your first test and avoid the long spell of driving classes before appearing in final/second test. However, if you do have a driving license as well from another country, that’s great for you.
Remember that driving licenses from different countries don’t get same worth or value in Saudi Arabia. For example if you have a driving license from UAE, Bahrain or other Gulf countries or from countries like UK or USA, your foreign license will be valued more than for a driving license from some third world country.
For some countries, you will be able to get a replacement license immediately without any hassles of formal tests.
Recommended Reading: How to Renew Driving License in Saudi Arabia