Luxurious cars on the streets of Qatar may mesmerize many but reckless driving is not also an alien sight. Glamorous roads are inspiring people to drive but without a valid driving license it illegal and impossible to drive in Qatar. And when it comes to getting a driving license it is a very tedious task for expats. License not only comes with a heavy price but also with time that is used to hone skills in theory and practical driving classes. According to local driving school only 40% of candidates successfully clear their test in the first attempt while many make only after second or third attempt.
“Expats find it difficult to grasp rules about safe driving” said Babu Instructor in one the local driving school.
He further said that the driving curriculum includes information about road signs and mandatory signals are proving great help to expats but many are still finding difficult to cope.
While talking to one of the female student enrolled in local driving school she exclaimed that it took her nearly a year to get her a driving license while her friends are still finding it hard to clear after many failed attempts.
According to law if you fail on all four attempts in the full course you have to go back to the driving school again.
Another male student who got his license after clearing it in third attempt said that the moment looked if he graduated once again.
Even some expatriates admitted that they spent a whole month practising back home during their annual leave before enrolling at a driving school in Doha again.
Getting a Qatari Driving License
Once you have a Residence Visa for Qatar, you need to get a Qatari Driving License in order to be able to drive in the country. If you currently hold a valid driving license from one of the GCC countries, or from one of the following countries, you can get a Qatari driving license without having to take the driving test.
Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, USA and Vatican City.
If you do not a have a license, or you have a license from a country not listed above, you will need to pass the Qatari driving test.
In order to apply for a full-term Qatari driving license, the following documents must be presented at the Madinat Khalifa Traffic Department:
- Original license from one of the countries listed above
- A letter of no objection/permission from your sponsor, written in Arabic
- A copy of your sponsoring company’s trade license
- A copy of your sponsor’s ID
- Passport (original and copies)
- Three passport photos
- Qatar ID card
You will need to fill out an application form, which must be typed in Arabic, and signed by your sponsor. Translation typing services are available at Madinat Khalifa Traffic Department for a small fee.
You will also be required to pass an eye test, which can be conducted at the Madinat Khalifa Traffic Department as well. The fee that you pay for the driving license, must be paid by credit card. It includes the cost of the eye test.
No driving licence for labourers
It generally takes one working day for your Qatari license to be issued if you already hold a license from one of the countries listed above. The license is valid for five years and will entitle you to drive the type of vehicle specified in your original license.
Madinat Khalifa Traffic Department is located on Khalifa Street.
It is open from 7:00am to 11:00am and 4:00pm to 7:00pm.
For information and enquiries, the traffic department can be contacted on +974 4489 0666. Fax : 44872494.
If you need to apply for a new license:
In the event that you have to apply for a new driving license, an application has to be made to the Traffic Department of the Ministry of Interior. The contact details are:
Ministry of Interior Traffic Department
Tel: +974 4489 0666
Fax: +974 4487 2494
Email: traffic@moi.gov.qa
You will need to fulfill certain requirements and provide the following documents as part of your application:
- You must be at least 18 years of age to be eligible for a light driving license or motorcycle license
- Completed driving license application form (typed in Arabic)
- A no-objection letter from the applicant’s sponsor (in Arabic)
- A valid passport along with a copy
- A copy of your sponsor’s ID card
- Three recent, coloured, passport-sized photographs
- Residence permit
Applying for a Temporary license
You can apply for a temporary license (valid for three months) as an interim measure between using your International Driving License and getting a Qatari license. To do so, you need to follow the same steps outlined for a full license. The documentation required for this isn’t as extensive. You only need to bring:
- Original license from one of the countries listed above.
- Passport (original and copies)
- Three passport photos
There is a fee for a temporary license. It is possible to extend the license when it expires. Those who have temporary licenses are only permitted to drive rental vehicles. This is because insurance on privately-owned vehicles tends not to cover drivers of this status.
The Driving Test
If you don’t have a driving license from one of the countries listed above, you have to take a driving test before you can be issued a Qatari driving license.
Driving tests are administered by authorised driving schools and all applicants need to apply to a driving school for lessons before they can take the test. Those who do not have a driving license are required to take at least:
- 15 hours of theory classes
- 35 hours of driving lessons
Expatriates who already have a license (which is not exchangeable) may be able to take the test after sitting through just the theory classes.
Driving tests usually consist of four modules:
- An oral theory test where the applicant is asked questions about road signs and traffic regulations in English or Arabic
- Reverse parking test
- Straight parking test
- Road test
- An eye test is also necessary, but this is usually done before the theory and practice modules of the test.
Driving tests are usually carried out in manual transmission cars and generally, there are four people to a car. Women take the test with a female traffic police officer. If an applicant passes all modules of the test, the driving license is issued right away and is valid for five years. All modules are carried out on the same day; if an applicant fails any one of the modules they cannot move on to the next module.
If an applicant fails the test, they can usually take the driving test again in a month’s time. Sometimes more driving classes are required in order to be able to appear for another test.
Authorised Driving Schools
Al Rayah Driving School
Tel: +974 4487 7774
Doha Driving Center
Tel: +974 4479 2263
Gulf Driving School
Tel: +974 4465 2822
United Driving Company
Tel: +974 4468 1003
7 Must-Know Changes To Qatar Driving License Policy
Determined to make Qatar’s roads safer, the Traffic Department has introduced a number of changes to driving license system and are planning a few more. Here are 7 changes that you need to know :
1. Unified driving curriculum
The Traffic Department has finalised a unified driving curriculum and it will be introduced in all driving schools.
- Prepared by experts in the road traffic field, the revised curriculum will address the shortcomings in the existing one.
- All driving schools have been asked to provide interpreters to explain the points mentioned in the new curriculum and the traffic law to learners who come from different countries.
2. Road test after passing theory test only
No trainee will be allowed to take a road test unless he passes the theory test based on information provided in the new curriculum.
3. You need to know the basics of automobiles
In addition to driving skills and traffic laws, the syllabus addresses issues such as how to check the safety of a vehicle, lights, engine, engine oil and the pressure of tyres.
4. No more short courses
With the short course abolished some five months ago, new learners have to take either the half or full course.
5. You need to do really well to pass the tests
Determined to make the country’s roads safer, the authorities had recently made it “difficult” to secure a driving licence. An instructor at a school said expats rarely pass the first time they take the theory portion of the test.
According to sources, out of an average 35 persons who take the test on any given day, only three to four will get the licence, which means almost 90% learners fail the test!
6. Getting test dates are not easy either
The test includes a theory part, parallel and pocket parking and the road test. Each of the tests is taken on different dates.
In several cases, learners who failed the driving test have to wait for more than two months before getting a schedule for their second try.
7. No more exceptions for Saudi, Kuwait license holders
The provision of granting a driving licence to those holding licences issued by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait has also been discontinued in Qatar. They are now required to enroll in driving schools and take the tests.
The new regulation has also affected expatriates who shifted to Qatar recently from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and were hoping to get a licence based on the ones they had in these two countries.
Getting a driver’s licence in Qatar hard nowadays
Securing a driver’s licence in Qatar has become very difficult for new learners, a source from a leading driving school in Doha.
Out of an average 35 persons who take the test on any given day, only three to four will get the licence. “That is a very low passing rate and many learners are really struggling,” the source explained.
With the short course abolished some five months ago, new learners have to take either the half or full course.
In another driving school, a supervisor told Gulf Times that out of the 20 new instructors they hired this year, only two had passed the driving test.
“Those who failed had to wait for another two to three months to appear for the test again,” he recalled.
However, during the past weeks, there was a slight improvement in the pass rate at this driving school, with an average of 13 out of 35 persons getting the licence.
The entire test include a theory part, identifying vehicle engine parts, parallel and pocket parking, and the road test. Each of the tests is taken on different dates.
An Asian expatriate and his colleague who failed the driving test waited for more than two months before getting a schedule for their second try.
“I was really nervous during the test, with a policeman sitting beside me. But waiting for two to three months is really too long,” he stressed.
The failure of many learners to get the driving licence has not affected the enrolment at driving schools, according to a source.
“The only problem is that a large number are waiting for the next schedule (of the test),” he said.
Despite the ban on some 162 categories of workers, a huge percentage of applicants are being accepted by driving schools.
The Traffic Department implemented the ban in May 2013, according to which labourers, butchers, hotel service workers, welders, cooks, gardeners, shoemakers, security guards and others in low-income jobs are ineligible to apply for the driving course.
“All driving schools have a list of eligible categories of workers and we check the designation mentioned on the Qatar ID cards of the applicants to confirm if they could enrol,” the source added.
List of professions not eligible to apply for driving licence
Qatar traffic authorities insist restrictions will ease congestion
Expatriate secretaries, cashiers and cooks will not be allowed to drive in Qatar under new regulations.
The country’s traffic department had issued a circular limiting the issuance of driving licences to certain categories of expatriate workers in a bid to reduce the number of drivers and ease alarming road congestion.
Local daily Al Raya reported that the list would include workers, builders, blacksmiths, farmers, hairdressers, cooks, electricians, tailors, waiters, salespeople and computer technicians. Skilled professionals such as doctors, pilots, accountants, engineers, lawyers, clearance agents, sales representatives and architects will not face problems obtaining the licence, the sources said.
Driving schools in Qatar
An unexpected rise in the total population and massive construction work ahead of the 2022 Football World Cup has added to the pressure on the capital’s roads.
List of professions not eligible to apply for driving licence
The following is the unofficial translation of the full list of professions not eligible to apply for the Qatari driving licence, as announced by the Traffic Department:
Gypsum worker, technical assistant, service worker, watchman, horse trainer, labourer, sailor, servant, nanny, farmer, blacksmith, bakery worker, painter, herdsman, fisherman, tailor, calligraphy technician, shoemaker, grocery worker, tiles worker, builder, butcher, service worker, nutrition worker, industrial service worker.
Hotel service worker, financial services worker, vegetable seller, plumber, sea shipment worker, land shipment worker, jeweller, air cargo worker, cook, typist, boat carpenter, beauty saloon worker, welder, translator, painter, welding technician, installation technician, maintenance technician, mechanical technician.
Barber, baking mixer, cook, meat, shawarma and sandwich griller, falafel maker, sweets maker, waiter, laundry worker, prayer caller (moazin), rescue worker, security guard, gate guard, lift worker, shipping worker, carrier, packing and grinding worker, irrigation worker.
Gardener, agricultural worker, wood seller, horse hostler, fodder worker, machine operator, tailoring worker, plaster worker, tents tailor, embroider, general typing, stamp maker, crusher machine operator, glass technician, marble technician, metal-casting technician, tiles technician.
Getting a Qatari Driving License
Once you have a Residence Visa for Qatar, you need to get a Qatari Driving License in order to be able to drive in the country. If you currently hold a valid driving license from one of the GCC countries, or from one of the following countries, you can get a Qatari driving license without having to take the driving test.
Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, USA and Vatican City.
If you do not a have a license, or you have a license from a country not listed above, you will need to pass the Qatari driving test.
Getting a driver’s licence in Qatar hard nowadays
Securing a driver’s licence in Qatar has become very difficult for new learners, a source from a leading driving school in Doha told.
Out of an average 35 persons who take the test on any given day, only three to four will get the licence.
The entire test include a theory part, identifying vehicle engine parts, parallel and pocket parking, and the road test. Each of the tests is taken on different dates.
An Asian expatriate and his colleague who failed the driving test waited for more than two months before getting a schedule for their second try.
Despite the ban on some 162 categories of workers, a huge percentage of applicants are being accepted by driving schools. – Gulf Times Reported.
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Credit:Qatar Day
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