United Arab Emirates, October 27: The UAE government on Friday announced a significant change to traffic laws, lowering the minimum age for obtaining a driving license to 17 years. The new federal decree will enter into force on March 29, 2025.

Under previous regulations, individuals had to be 18 years of age to hold a car driver’s license and 17 for a motorcycle license. The new ruling standardizes the legal age for both motorcycles and cars at 17, making the UAE the first country in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to implement such a change.

In contrast, neighboring Oman maintains an 18-year driving license age limit, while Saudi Arabia has different age requirements: individuals can apply for a motorcycle license at 16, a car license at 18, and a temporary permit at 17 years old. Bahrain follows Oman’s regulations, which require individuals to be 18 before obtaining a driver’s license.

Qatar has distinct age requirements depending on the type of vehicle; applicants must be 18 to obtain a license for light vehicles and 21 for heavy vehicles. In Kuwait, the minimum age for obtaining a driver’s license differs between citizens and expatriates: Kuwaiti citizens must be 18 years old, while expatriates must be 21 years old.

Globally, driving license age ranges from 15 to 18, with some countries allowing licenses at 14, provided young drivers are supervised.