UAE driving licence tests require 75% minimum from January 2027

UAE driving licence regulations taking effect January 1, 2027 require applicants to achieve a minimum score of 75 per cent in both theory and practical tests. The regulations, set out in Article 68, specify that certain dangerous errors result in automatic failure regardless of the overall score achieved.

Automatic failure conditions under Article 68#

Article 68 identifies mistakes that trigger automatic failure: loss of vehicle control, contact with a kerb or barrier, disobedience of traffic signs or signals, and hazardous gear-changing errors. Where an examiner speaks to or physically intervenes with a learner to prevent a dangerous situation, the candidate automatically fails the test. The regulation distinguishes between serious mistakes that can cause immediate failure and minor errors that reduce the candidate's score through point deductions under the marking system. The regulation does not require the examination to end immediately following such an incident, and does not specify how feedback must be provided to candidates who fail. The law does not establish one identical marking system for every driving school across the UAE, with detailed assessment criteria determined by the relevant licensing authorities.

Retake procedures under Article 69#

Under Article 69, candidates who do not pass the practical test receive a new examination date from the licensing authority. No minimum waiting period is prescribed before retaking the test, no additional lessons are mandated as a precondition, and no requirement for a further test fee is stated in the regulation. The relevant licensing authority determines these procedural details. The regulation does not provide an exemption for applicants who began driving lessons or booked their tests before January 1, 2027.

Assessment framework and implementation#

Driving schools and licensing authorities must revise their examination procedures before the January 1 implementation date, though no specific preparatory steps are mandated in the regulation. Learners taking tests from January 1 will be assessed under the new requirements even if they began training months earlier. The 75 per cent threshold applies to both the theory and practical components, with the automatic failure provisions in Article 68 operating independently of the percentage score achieved. Detailed assessment criteria are determined by the relevant licensing authorities, and the regulations apply to UAE residents applying for a driving licence from January 1, 2027.