The RTA is the Dubai Government department responsible for roads and infrastructure, traffic, and transport in Dubai, including taxis, buses, the Dubai Metro, abras, water taxis and buses, driving licences, car registration, etc.
Channels for new and renewal of RTA driving licence and vehicle registration in Dubai
Service
Driving Licence
Vehicle Registration¹
Traffic Fine Payment
Number Plate Auctions
RTA branches and centers
Yes
Some
Yes
RTA website
Confusion
Confusion
Confusion
Telephone RTA
8009090 (24/7)
01 Nov 2010
01 Nov 2010
01 Nov 2010
Insurance Companies²
Some
Some
Some
Vehicles still need to be taken to a testing center for roadworthiness checks, where you might as well complete the registration or renewal process while you're there, so until you can drive your car into a telephone or a computer, the telephone and online facilities are a bit redundant.
RTA approved insurance companies can perform some services according to the 23 October 2010 press release.
H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Head of the RTA said in a press release 23 October 2010: "It is now possible for the public to process the renewal of vehicle registration/ driving licenses and effect payment of fines through four channels: RTA website (www.rta.ae), RTA customer service centers spread all over Dubai, RTA-approved insurance companies, and now through phone calls to RTA Call Center. ...
this service ... through the Call Center will be on offer 24/7"
Driving Licence and Vehicle Registration issue and renewal by phone is paid for by credit card, then a copy is sent by email to the customer to keep until original arrives by express mail. Press release also said RTA has coordinated with the Dubai Police General HQ to accept the temporary copy pending receipt of the original registration or driving license card. But no information supplied about whether police departments in other emirates will accept a copy.
RTA Licensing Agency
CEO of the RTA Licensing Agency is Ahmed Hashem Bahrozyan (August 2010 information)
RTA Public Transport Agency
CEO is Mohamed Obeid Al Mulla
Includes the School Buses Department
RTA driver's licence and vehicle registration renewal online
The RTA is planning to introduce online renewal of the driving licence, online renewal of vehicle registration, electronic scheduling of driving tests, online payment of fines, electronic eye testing, online allocation of distinguished numbers plates, and online open distinguished number plate auctions (Emirates Business 24-7 report 11 October 2010). Which is funny because we thought it was already possible to do renewal of some of those services online.
Dubai Digital Map of RTA locations announced 04 October 2007 as being available online on the RTA website but good luck trying to find it. Press release is on the RTA website but no obvious link to the map. A search of the RTA's site for Dubai Digital Map returns the message "No results found for: dubai digital map".
65 RTA Subsidiary Customer Service Centers in Dubai, locations usually at EPPCO petrol stations, Emarat Shamil Stations, bus & abra stations, social centers in the Al Tawar (Al Twar) and Al Karama Municipality Centers.
Seasonal parking cards and bus boarding cards are available in the Municipality Centers, and you can pay fines there also.
Director of Customer Service Centers Department is Laila Hareb
Last update Saturday 23-Oct-2010. Page development 1H 2T 3D 4L 5C.