Ministry of Interior: Digital driving licence and vehicle registration are officially accepted in place of paper copies

By Ahmed Abed, Emirates 24|7The Federal Traffic Council at the Ministry of Interior has confirmed that digital driving licences and vehicle registration cards are considered an official and complete alternative to printed copies, noting that drivers are no longer required to carry the original printed documents while driving.In a special statement to Emarat Al Youm, the council said this is subject to drivers downloading these documents through the smart applications of the Ministry of Interior and the relevant licensing authorities, to ensure easy verification, correct access to the data, and the ability to present them when needed.The council pointed out that the Ministry of Interior has been among the leading government entities to adopt comprehensive digital transformation, using smart technologies to enable users to complete transactions electronically. These include paying traffic fines and instantly obtaining digital copies of driving licences and vehicle registrations through the MOIUAE smart app. This eliminates the need for paper transactions and provides a seamless and secure experience, reflecting the UAE’s leadership and its continued efforts to improve quality of life through proactive services that exceed expectations.For its part, Abu Dhabi Police confirmed to Emarat Al Youm that the electronic vehicle registration card eliminates the need to carry the paper version issued to drivers when renewing their vehicles. The same applies to driving licences, as electronic copies of both the registration card and licence can be obtained through the TAMM smart app, which offers a wide range of electronic and smart police services. Users can also access all their traffic-related data, including vehicle ownership details and driving licence information.Two legal and traffic experts also confirmed that recognising electronic licences available through the smart applications of the Ministry of Interior and police authorities as an official alternative to paper documents would make life easier for drivers and help them avoid fines related to forgetting their physical licences.They also proposed adding an explicit provision to the traffic law formally recognising digital copies as definitive proof, in order to strengthen the legal framework and keep pace with the country’s comprehensive digital transformation.Traffic expert and retired brigadier Ahmed Al Sam Al Naqbi said that with the technological advancements in the country’s traffic systems, there is no longer a need for drivers to carry original driving licences and vehicle registration cards, as their validity can be verified through electronic copies and smart applications.He noted that licensing authorities now give drivers the choice between receiving a printed licence delivered to their home or relying solely on the electronic version sent via email, in a move that reflects the digital transformation of government services and simplifies procedures for customers, saving time and effort.Al Naqbi added that driver and vehicle data are now stored in traffic systems, making it easy for traffic enforcement officers to verify licence validity with the click of a button, without needing to inspect physical copies.Meanwhile, lawyer Hossam Al Mowafi said road safety remains a top national priority in the UAE, reflected in strict legislation that imposes deterrent penalties on violators, particularly for the offence of “driving without a driving licence or vehicle registration.”He noted that the UAE, as a global leader in digital transformation, launched the UAE PASS digital identity system years ago, giving citizens and residents secure access to certified digital copies of their official documents, including driving licences. He added that smart police applications already allow instant verification of the validity of these digital licences with ease.Al Mowafi pointed out that many drivers may forget their driving licence or vehicle registration at home or in the office, but they are now able to present secure electronic copies through their smartphones.From a legal perspective, he stressed the need to align legislation with the rapid digital and technological changes taking place in UAE society, in order to strike the right balance between maintaining road safety and granting drivers the recognised right to use officially approved digital copies as legal proof documents.He proposed practical amendments to relevant legal provisions, including allowing the use of digital copies of licences through UAE PASS or smart police applications, and recognising them as valid standalone legal proof while driving, in line with technological progress and the public interest.He added that while penalties for driving without a licence remain an essential tool for ensuring order and public safety, adopting digital copies is a natural and necessary step towards modernising traffic legislation in line with the UAE’s smart society vision.PenaltiesArticle 41 of the Federal Traffic Law states that anyone who refuses to provide their name or address, or provides false information to a traffic enforcement officer, may face up to three months in prison and a fine ranging from AED 10,000 to AED 20,000, or one of the two penalties.Article 8 of the law also prohibits driving a vehicle without a valid driving licence designated for that type of vehicle and requires drivers to carry it while driving. It also prohibits any person responsible for a vehicle from allowing someone without a licence to drive it. An AED 400 fine is imposed for both violations of “not carrying the vehicle registration card” and “not carrying the driving licence.”