Kazakhstan, UAE launch mutual driver’s license recognition deal

A new agreement between Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the mutual recognition and exchange of driver’s licenses entered into force on July 25, 2026, simplifying the process for residents relocating between the two countries.

Under the agreement, Kazakhstani citizens temporarily residing in the UAE may use their valid national driver’s licenses in accordance with UAE laws. Those who move to the UAE permanently will be able to exchange their licenses without taking written or practical driving tests for Category B (passenger cars) and Subcategory B1 (tricycles and quadricycles), Caliber.Az reports per Kazakh media.

The same provisions apply to UAE citizens who relocate to Kazakhstan on a permanent basis, allowing them to exchange eligible licenses without additional testing.

To qualify for the simplified exchange, applicants must hold a valid national driver’s license, possess a residence permit in the host country, provide an official translation of their license—into Arabic for use in the UAE, or into Kazakh or Russian in Kazakhstan—and complete a mandatory medical examination.

The agreement also stipulates that national driver’s licenses will not be confiscated during the exchange process. Instead, the relevant authorities in both countries will notify each other once a license has been exchanged.

The streamlined procedure applies exclusively to Category B and Subcategory B1 licenses. Drivers seeking to exchange licenses for other vehicle categories will remain subject to the standard licensing requirements of the host country.

By Sabina Mammadli