DUBAI: There’s a popular Filipino adage that says, “Dumaan sa butas ng karayom,” which, in English means having gone through a really tight squeeze – “karayom” being the needle’s eye.
In the UAE, getting a driver’s license is often likened to a similar experience; but for a worthy cause: educating people to make them responsible motorists, which in turn, contributes to road safety.
Another consideration is the fact that UAE is second home to people from over 200 countries who have their own driving habits and idiosyncrasies that may not sit well with the guy on the other lane.
According to August 2019 data by the Ministry of Interior (MoI), the number of traffic-related road fatalities has dropped from 712 in 2014 to 468 in 2018 and the number of serious traffic accidents has decreased from 4,895 in 2014 to 3,712 in 2018.
Officials attribute this to three factors: law enforcement, continuous road upgrades, and rigid driving lessons.
Furthermore, these figures were even more impressive in view of the fact that the number of vehicles increased in the UAE during this five-year period, MoI said.
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2018 Global Status Report on Road Safety, said the UAE’s record shines bright. The WHO report says annual road traffic fatalities was at 1.35 million, or almost 3,700 people daily, worldwide.
Learning to drive
The UAE’s guidelines for acquiring a driver’s license is at par with international — standards – reason why it is honored in about 50 countries.
In the UAE, student-drivers need to finish 20 classroom hours of “theory class,” culminating in an exam, failure of which brings them back to their seats to start over.
This is followed by up to 40 hours of practical training which concludes in parking as well as assessment tests.
Failing these rigid evaluations sets you back to the driving school car, spending hours once again with your trainer.
Assessment test is a pre-requisite to the actual test where an officer from the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) sits with you and gives orders as you drive down the road.
Requirements
To have a UAE driver’s license, one must have a residence visa and be 18 years or older.
Needed are a copy of the Emirates ID; a passport with residence visa; a “no objection certificate” from the employer or sponsor; eight passport-sized photographs; and an eye test certificate, available at any RTA-approved optician.
There are at least 13 countries whose driver’s licenses are honored in the UAE; the Philippines’ is not included.
Passing rate for OFWs
Based on interviews with driving schools, it can be said that eight of 10 Filipino student-drivers make it, with about three getting their license on first attempt at the actual test; and another three on the second or third attempt; the remaining two finally making it in more than 4 actual tests.
“It’s not a matter of nationality,” said Mohammed Ibrahim, customer service officer at Belhasa Driving School. “There are students who make it on first actual test. They are only allowed to take the actual test when the instructors are satisfied with their performance during training,” he added.
Basing on a straw poll done by TFT on OFWs who have obtained their UAE driver’s license, the number of actual RTA tests failed ranged from two to as many as five, with some even having to take it eight times.
Filipinos are known to keep coming back till they get their driver’s license.
This is why the most common question asked to someone who got his driver’s license in the UAE is: “How many actual tests did it take?”
Officials said that with Filipinos being the third largest expatriate community in the UAE at about a million, they comprise approximately 20% of a driving school’s student footfall.
New rounds of fees, training hours and tests
Meantime, failure at each test entails a new round of fees, which could amount to a total of approximately Dh2,125, according to driving schools interviewed by The Filipino Times.
This, on top of the Dh5,360 you have already cashed out upon enrollment for a regular schedule – Friday rates are higher – which already brings your running total to roughly Dh7,500.
These fees are:
- Classroom lectures, a new round of eight hours for some Dh333;
- the fully automated yard assessment for Dh115, which is composed of five maneuver tests to which the applicant would have to first undergo an hour’s training before he could do it;
- the road assessment test for about Dh567 and to which the applicant would have to take four hours’ prior training;
- the RTA parking test at Dh313;
- and the final test at Dh795 which likewise requires four hours of repeat-training. Note that this means you will have to shell out this amount every time you fail the actual test.
How much is your budget?
A breakdown of expenses incurred going to driving school:
Enrollment – Dh5,400 covers 20 classrooms hours and 40 training hours plus tests.
Dh8,850 includes 3 knowledge tests (in case you failed during prior exams); 6 parking tests and six final tests before RTA actual test.
Dh10,800 – fixed price course till you pass the actual test.
Fees for repeat classroom hours and training in case you failed in previous attempts:
- Classroom lectures (theory/knowledge class) – Dh333.
- Fully automated yard assessment – Dh115.
- Road assessment test – Dh567
- RTA parking test – Dh313
- RTA actual test – Dh795
Note: Average rates
*Source: Driving schools
