How to Acquire the Saudi Arabia Driving License

Do you want to acquire a driver’s license in Saudi Arabia? If you’re willing to do it, there is a process that must be followed. In this article, we’ll walk you through all the steps you need to take to acquire a Saudi Arabia driving license.

Let’s get started.

Prerequisite Eligibility to Drive in Saudi Arabia

Candidates must be above 18 years

First, to acquire a Saudi Arabia driver’s license, you need to be above the age of 18 years. However, if you’re 17 years old, you could always acquire a learner’s permit.

For women, the requirements to get a driver’s license in Saudi Arabia are the same as those of men.

Pass the Medical Test

Before you’re considered eligible to drive on Saudi Arabian roads, you need to take an eye and blood test to determine whether you’re fit to sit behind the wheel. This means you will need to get a medical certificate from an approved medical center; the medical test can be done in a private or public hospital.

Prepare the Documents

Required documents for Saudi Arabia citizens

If you’re a Saudi Arabian national, you’ll need to prepare the following documents:

Medical Check Report.
Copy of Civil Affairs ID.
Six photos with the size of (4×6) cm.
Proof of driving license fee payment.
Medical test certificate.

Required documents for foreign driver’s license holders

If you have a foreign license, you’ll need to prepare the following documents:

Four photos with the size of (4×6) cm.
Your original driver’s foreign license along with its Arabic translation.
Copy of your resident permit (Iqama) and passport.
Certified translation of your original license.
Proof of payments of the required fee.

Required documents for Diplomatic driving license

If you want to acquire a diplomatic driver’s license, you need to submit the following documents:

Four passport photos (4×6), stamped by the diplomatic authority.
An approved letter signed and stamped by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Copy of your driver’s license from your own country.
Translation of your driver’s license (if it’s not in Arabic) that is stamped by the diplomatic authority.

Open an Absher Account

After your documents are in check, the next step is to open an Absher account and pay the required fee and fill in the form to schedule a driving school appointment.

To do this, you will need to do the following:

Log in to the Absher website.
Click on individual.
Select appointments.
Select Traffic.
Click on “Book new appointment”.
Select the “Training in Driving Schools”.

Attend Driving School and Complete the Driving Course

If you’re a foreigner with a license that is not recognized in Saudi Arabia or if it’s your first time applying for a license, you’ll need to attend a driving school and complete 8 hours of theoretical course and 20 hours of practical training.

Theoretical Course

What does the 8-hour theoretical course cover? Just from the name, the theoretical course covers regulations and concepts of safe driving that will be tested on the computer test. These lectures are divided as follows:

Lecture 1: Attitude and Responsibilities
Lecture 2: Traffic Signs
Lecture 3: Managing Risks
Lecture 4: Driver Condition
Lecture 5: Driving Environment
Lecture 6: Rules Of The Road
Lecture 7: Anticipating Hazards and Emergency
Lecture 8: Your Vehicle

Practical Training

The practical training is divided into two phases; yard training and road training.

Yard Training

This type of training is usually six hours and it involves driving a car alongside a trained instructor in an empty yard. During the yard training, you will learn basic driving skills such as maneuvering, parallel parking, angle parking, and other necessary driving skills.

Yard Training Test

After the six hours of training, you will be subjected to a test to see whether or not you’ve grasped the skills that were taught during the yard training. If you fail the test, you will go through an hour of training for each skill you failed before you begin the practical training on the roads. If you pass the yard test, you will start the practical training on the road immediately.

Road Training

After you pass the yard training, the next level of training will be on the road. This means it’s going to be more intensive than yard training because you will be on the road with other vehicles and pedestrians.

Nevertheless, there’s nothing to worry about since you will take the training for 14 hours to ensure that you master all the basic skills.

Of course, you won’t be alone in the car, and you’ll learn everything with the guidance of a trained instructor. This includes the rules of the road, safety principles on the road, and other basic driving skills.

Practical Road Test

After you’re through with the training, just like the yard test, you will take another practical driving test that examines 16 basic driving skills and your compliance with traffic rules and safety principles while on the road.

If you pass the road test, you will take the computer test that consists of 20 questions derived from what you learned during your theoretical course. If you are successful, you will be eligible to acquire your driver’s license.