--- title: "Driving License Translation RTA Dubai — What You Need" description: "RTA rejected your driving license because it is not in English or Arabic. Which licenses need translation, what RTA accepts, and how to get it done." url: "https://onlinetranslation.ae/blog/driving-license-urdu-rta-rejected/" lang: "en-AE" --- [](/blog)Back to Blog *Daily Blog* # Your Driving License Is in Urdu. RTA Won't Even Look at It. 4 min read You've been driving for 10 years. You have a valid license. You walk into the RTA office to exchange it for a UAE license. The person at the counter takes one look, hands it back, and says they can't process it. Your license is in Urdu. They need it in Arabic or English. This catches a lot of people off guard. If you're from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, China, or the Philippines, your driving license is probably not in English. And RTA won't even start the process without being able to read it. ## What RTA actually requires RTA processes driving license exchanges and new applications. Every document you submit must be in English or Arabic. If your license is in any other language, you need a [](/personal/immigration/license)certified Arabic translation before they'll look at it. This applies to the license itself and any supporting documents — like driving records, medical certificates, or endorsement pages — that are in a language other than English or Arabic. The translation must include every detail on the license: your name, date of birth, license number, categories, issue date, expiry date, and any restrictions. RTA staff compare the translation to the original, so nothing can be missing. ## Which licenses need translation If your license is already in English, you don't need a translation. This includes licenses from: - English-speaking countries. UK, US, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa. - European countries with English text. Many EU licenses include English alongside the national language. - International Driving Permits (IDP). These are already in multiple languages including English. Licenses that typically need translation: - Pakistan. Urdu-only licenses. - India. Hindi or regional language licenses (some Indian states issue bilingual licenses that include English). - Bangladesh. Bengali-only licenses. - China. Chinese-only licenses. - Iran. Farsi-only licenses. - Japan, Korea. Japanese or Korean-only licenses. ## MOJ or certified — which one? For a standard RTA license exchange, [](/resources/moj-vs-certified)certified translation is usually sufficient. MOJ certification — which carries the Ministry of Justice stamp — is required for court submissions and certain government legal processes. That said, requirements can vary between RTA branches and individual staff. If you want to avoid any risk of being turned away, MOJ-certified translation is accepted everywhere. The cost difference is minimal for a single-page document like a driving license. ## The exchange process Step 1: Get your license translated. A certified or MOJ-certified Arabic translation of your driving license. This takes a few hours for a standard license. Step 2: Gather your documents. You'll need your passport, Emirates ID, residence visa, NOC from your sponsor (if applicable), eye test results, and the original license with its translation. Step 3: Visit RTA. Submit everything at an RTA customer happiness centre. If your country has a license exchange agreement with the UAE, you can exchange directly. If not, you may need to take driving lessons and a test — but the translation is still required for the application. If your license is about to expire, get it renewed in your home country first. RTA requires a valid license for the exchange. An expired license — translated or not — won't be accepted. ## Don't wait until you're at the counter The RTA visit goes much smoother when you arrive with everything ready. Send a photo of your driving license on WhatsApp — [+971 50 862 0217](https://wa.me/971508620217). We'll confirm whether you need certified or MOJ translation and have it ready before your appointment. ## Common questions ### Which driving licenses does RTA accept without translation? RTA accepts licenses printed in English or Arabic without translation. This covers the UK, US, Australia, Canada, and most European countries. If your license is in Urdu, Hindi, Bengali, Chinese, Tagalog, or any other language, you need a certified Arabic translation. ### Does my driving license translation need MOJ certification? For RTA license exchange, certified translation is usually sufficient. MOJ certification is required for court or legal proceedings. When in doubt, [](/resources/moj-vs-certified)MOJ-certified translation is accepted everywhere and the cost difference for a single-page license is minimal. ### How long is a translated driving license valid for RTA? The translation itself doesn't expire. But RTA requires that your original license is valid at the time of application. If your license expires before you complete the exchange, you'll need to renew it first and potentially get a new translation of the renewed version. ### License in Urdu, Hindi, or another language? Send a photo of your driving license via WhatsApp. We'll confirm the translation type and have it ready before your RTA visit. [WhatsApp Your License](https://wa.me/971508620217) +971 50 862 0217 [Your document concierge](/about/#concierge-model) — we review before you pay. ## Related [](/personal/immigration/license) ### Driving License Translation Certified translation of driving licenses for RTA exchange [](/personal) ### Personal Document Translation Certificates, IDs, and personal documents for UAE use [](/resources/moj-vs-certified) ### MOJ vs Certified Translation Which type of translation you actually need for your document