Dubai: All driving schools in Dubai will be regulated by the Licensing Agency within the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai, based on an executive resolution announced on Monday.

Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, has issued Executive Council Resolution No. (38) of 2018 that regulates the activities of driving schools in Dubai.

The new resolution covers all driving schools operating in the emirate, including special development zones and free zones. Military and security entities are exempted.

According to the Resolution, RTA’s Licensing Agency will issue licences and monitor adherence to regulations by the driving schools. The agency is also in charge of assigning areas for driving instruction and training, and issuing permits for temporary areas for providing driving instructions.

Providing vehicle driving instruction requires a licence issued by the Licensing Agency, including desert and advanced driving.

All licences are valid for a year, except for the licence for temporary driving instruction areas, which is valid for no more than six months. The instructor licence issued to non-UAE citizens will expire when the instructor leaves the establishment he is working for.

Driving schools are required to adhere to safety requirements, and respect laws and regulations as well as maintain all records as per RTA’s systems. The resolution specifies the equipment and tools required for training.

The resolution also specifies the duties and obligations of trainers and instructors which include carrying the licence during training, and presenting it when required. Violators will be slapped with penalties and fines. Authorities will double the fines of repeat offenders if the offence is repeated within a year. The fine will not exceed Dh30,000.

Appeals against fines can be made in writing to RTA’s director general within 30 days of the date of notification. Decisions on appeals will be issued by a committee formed by the director general within 30 days. The decision of the committee will be final.

This Resolution annuls Regulation No. (6) of 2009 about licensing of driving schools in Dubai. It also annuls any other law that contradicts this Resolution and its provisions. The provisions of Regulation No. (6) of 2009 will continue to apply to the extent that they do not contradict the provisions of the new resolution, until further notice.

The new Resolution will be published in the Official Gazette and will be effective within 60 days of its publishing.