UAE driving licence photos must be 40×60mm — the same size as a UAE passport photo and an Emirates ID photo. Plain white background. No glasses. The licence is issued by the relevant traffic authority in each emirate: RTA in Dubai, and equivalent bodies in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and the remaining emirates.
Once you pass your driving tests, the licence is issued the same day or within 24 hours. The fee ranges from AED 100 to AED 350 depending on the licence type and the emirate. The licence is valid for 10 years.
UAE Driving Licence Photo Specifications (40×60mm)
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Print size | 40×60mm |
| Digital equivalent | 472×709 pixels |
| Background | Plain white |
| Glasses | Not allowed |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed |
| Head covering | Allowed for religious reasons; full face must be visible |
| Recency | Within 3 months |
Get a compliant passport photo online
UAE Driving Licence Issuing Authorities by Emirate
The UAE is a federation of seven emirates, and each emirate's traffic and licensing authority operates independently. The photo requirement is consistent across all of them — 40×60mm, white background, no glasses — but the application process and service locations differ.
Dubai — RTA (Roads and Transport Authority)
The RTA is the most well-known UAE licensing body, partly because Dubai has the largest expatriate driving population. New licences, licence transfers for visitors from approved countries, and renewals are all processed through RTA service centres or the RTA app and website. The photo is submitted digitally as part of the application, or captured at an authorised driving school.
Abu Dhabi — ADTA (Abu Dhabi Digital Authority / TAMM services)
Driving licence services in Abu Dhabi are administered through the Abu Dhabi Traffic Department and accessible via the TAMM service portal. Photo submission follows the same 40×60mm standard. Authorised driving institutes in Abu Dhabi also handle the photo capture process as part of training packages.
Sharjah — Sharjah Traffic Department
New and renewal licence services through the Sharjah Police Traffic Department. In-person service at Sharjah Traffic headquarters or authorised driving schools.
Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain
Each emirate operates its own traffic department. The 40×60mm photo standard applies in all of them. Service volumes are lower and processes are more straightforward than in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
One 40×60mm Photo Standard for Three UAE Documents
The UAE passport, Emirates ID (بطاقة الهوية الإماراتية), and driving licence all use the same 40×60mm photo specification. This is deliberate. The UAE integrated its biometric identity infrastructure under a single national standard — meaning a photo taken for one document will work for all three, provided it's recent and compliant.
If you have a current passport photo on file from a recent application, the same image can be submitted for your driving licence or Emirates ID renewal. No resizing, no new session required — as long as the photo is within 3 months and your appearance hasn't changed.
UAE Driving Licence Transfer for Expatriates
Residents who hold a driving licence from one of the UAE's approved countries can transfer their foreign licence without completing full driving training. The approved list includes the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, and several dozen other countries. The transfer process still requires submitting a 40×60mm photo along with your foreign licence, UAE residence visa, Emirates ID, and an eye test.
Residents from non-approved countries must complete the full training process at an authorised driving institute. This includes theory tests, yard tests, and road tests. The full licence process in Dubai typically costs AED 3,000–5,000 and takes 3–6 months depending on test performance.
Preparing Your UAE Driving Licence Photo
UAE driving licence photos are typically submitted digitally via the relevant authority's app or portal, or printed and submitted to a typing centre. Either way, the spec is the same.
Background. Pure white. Light grey walls, patterned backgrounds, and visible furniture in the frame will cause an automated rejection.
Glasses. Not permitted. Remove prescription glasses, reading glasses, or any eyewear before the photo.
Expression. Neutral. Mouth closed. A slight closed-mouth smile won't cause a rejection in most cases, but a visible wide smile or open mouth will.
Lighting. Even lighting with no shadows across the face or behind the head. If you're taking a photo at home for digital submission, stand facing a window in natural light — it's the most reliable way to avoid face shadows without studio equipment.
Expression and Appearance Rules for UAE DL Photos
The UAE driving licence uses the same biometric expression standard as the passport and Emirates ID:
- Mouth closed — no teeth visible, lips together gently
- Neutral expression — no smiling, no frowning
- Eyes open — both eyes fully visible, looking directly at the camera
- No glasses — all types banned, including clear prescription lenses
- Hair away from face — forehead and both eyes must be fully visible
- Head coverings — allowed for religious or cultural reasons (sheila, hijab); full face from chin to forehead must remain visible
- No heavy makeup — the photo should represent your natural appearance
Common UAE Driving Licence Photo Rejection Reasons
Glasses in the photo. The UAE uses biometric matching across government databases. Glasses interfere with facial recognition and are banned in all identity photos.
Background not white. Any tint, shadow, or gradient in the background triggers automated rejection in the digital submission systems.
Wrong dimensions. 40×60mm is larger than the international standard (35×45mm). Photos taken at studios outside the UAE often default to 35×45mm. Always specify "UAE passport size" or "40×60mm."
Photo older than 3 months. The UAE has a stricter recency rule than most countries (which allow 6 months). Check the date before reusing an older photo.
UAE Driving Licence Photo Size vs Other Countries
| Country | Size | Background | Glasses |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAE | 40×60mm | White | Not allowed |
| Saudi Arabia | 40×60mm | White | Not allowed |
| USA | 51×51mm | White | Not allowed |
| UK | 35×45mm | Light grey | Allowed |
| India | 35×35mm | White | Not allowed |
The UAE and Saudi Arabia share the same 40×60mm format. Most European and Asian countries use 35×45mm. The US uses the square 51×51mm format. India uses a square 35×35mm format. If you've recently arrived in the UAE from any of these countries, your existing photos are the wrong size. Get fresh 40×60mm photos before starting the licence process.
The UAE also uses a different size for its visa (43×55mm) compared to the passport and Emirates ID (both 40×60mm). If you're preparing photos for multiple UAE documents, confirm which size you need for each.
Quick Checklist for UAE Driving Licence Photos
- Size: 40×60mm (472×709px at 300 DPI)
- Background: white
- Expression: neutral, mouth closed
- No glasses (any type)
- Photo taken within 3 months
- Eye test certificate (required for licence transfer)
- Emirates ID active
The passportsize-photo.online checker verifies compliance with the 40×60mm UAE standard before you submit. For context on how UAE driving licence photos relate to other UAE documents, see the Emirates ID photo requirements and the UAE documents page.
