Kazakhstan and UAE to recognise each other’s driving licences from 25 July

From 25 July 2026, citizens of Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will benefit from a new system of mutual recognition and exchange of driving licences, following the entry into force of a bilateral memorandum signed by the two countries. This is reported by Kazinform, a TV BRICS partner.

The agreement is designed to simplify travel and reduce administrative procedures for motorists travelling between Kazakhstan and the UAE. Under the new rules, Kazakh citizens visiting the Emirates for tourism, business or private purposes will be able to drive using their valid national driving licence. The same arrangement will apply to UAE citizens travelling to Kazakhstan.

The memorandum also introduces a simplified licence exchange mechanism for Kazakh nationals who obtain UAE residency. Holders of Category B and B1 driving licences for passenger vehicles will be able to exchange their licences without taking additional driving examinations.

To complete the exchange, applicants must hold a valid residence permit, possess a national Category B or B1 driving licence, be at least 18 years old, provide an official translation of their licence into the official language of the host country and undergo a medical examination.

Authorities confirmed that drivers will retain their original national driving licences after the exchange process. The competent authorities of both countries will simply notify one another once a licence has been exchanged, eliminating the need to surrender the original document.

The memorandum was signed by the interior ministries of Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi. The initiative is expected to facilitate tourism, business travel and long-term mobility while supporting closer economic and people-to-people ties between the two countries.