Israel, UAE sign deal to recognize each other’s driver’s licenses

Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

Cars drive in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Cars drive in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Days after a free trade agreement was signed between the UAE and Israel, the two countries finalize a deal granting mutual recognition to their citizens’ driver’s licenses.

The agreement, which the Foreign and Transportation ministries have been working on for the past year, will allow Israeli tourists and temporary residents to drive in the UAE on their Israeli licenses, and will allow Emiratis to do the same in Israel.

Longer-term residents will be able to swap their licenses for local ones as well.

The agreement has no expiration date, and enters into effect immediately.

“Especially ahead of the Passover holiday, this move of mutual recognition of licenses will greatly ease the burden on the Israeli tourist, will avoid bureaucracy, and is another testament to the warm relations between the countries,” says Foreign Minister Eli Cohen.

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