watchout for my post on Bangkokkkkkkkkk :)

 

Driving License driving me mad...

Yayyy I got my first 1000 views to my blog and I'm so excited!!

I just gave my driving test a few days back so I thought what better to write than the whole drama of driving in the Gulf. I speak for Muscat and Dubai as these are the places I have had to learn so far.

In Muscat the whole process is quite straightforward. You get a no objection letter from your sponsor and then enroll with an instructor and voila he does the rest. I think you have to go in person to get your learner's license (I can't remember what I did). Anyhow, the procedure in Dubai is unfortunately not that simple.

 

Note - The below steps may or may not be in their correct sequence.

 

Step 1) Enroll

 

I enrolled for my 40 classes - you can't take any less if you don't have a license from another country which is valid for more than 2 years. So 40 it is. I asked for the total cost and was told it was AED 2,400 for 40 classes. I now proceed to the cash counter and pay AED 2,400 and am given my receipt. I notice it is split into lectures, signal test and books. So I presume that the 2,400 covers all this (40 classes and lectures etc). I was just too naive. I thought when I enquired about the cost of the classes they would give me the wholeee cost. So well I just found out 2 weeks ago that the 2,400 I paid did  not cover everything. They deducted a part of it for a few classes and as I said the remaining was for the lectures etc. So I had to pay some more for the remaining classes and by some more I mean AED 1,800 including 2 road test fees (assessment and final tests).

 

Step 2) Decide if you want the weekend or weekday class

 

Oh and since I enrolled for Friday classes I am now paying AED 80 for each class (20 mins) which is otherwise AED 60 for 30 mins. You have to take 4 classes on every Friday.

 

Step 3) Female or Male Instructor

 

I go for a female because I figured I would be more comfortable. I didn't know that the Friday female instructors are high in demand.

 

Step 4) Lectures/Tests

It's preferable to get the lectures out of the way before you begin driving classes. It can last a whole day if you opt for it as you can complete all the lectures in one day (which I did). You can now proceed to take the signal test (you can mug the stuff up from the books). Get this out of the way too. 

 

Step 5) On the road and missing classes due to emergencies or sickness

 

Sorry you are  not allowed you to skip any classes - if you do, you are considered absent and you have lost the money you paid for those classes. If you also by chance mention you need to miss a day they immediately pounce on you telling you that your instructor will be assigned to another eager student (because apparently you are not that eager otherwise you would not be missing).

 

Step 6) Pray that you finish the classes and all the tests in one shot

 

There is 1 signal test as I mentioned earlier. You will have to do it a small room with a few computers. It is mostly multiple choice and not that difficult to clear. After a few driving classes you can give the parking test which includes parallel parking, angle parking, garage parking, slope and emergency brake. Then comes assessment road test (taken by internal instructors) and finally the main road test (taken by RTA).

 

If after all this you have passed you should treasure your license and maybe even frame it on your wall.