British citizens to no longer enjoy automatic driving license transfer in Qatar
In a major rule change, the Qatari government has made it mandatory for British citizens in Qatar to pass a theoretical exam, driving tests and eye examination in order to obtain a new driving license.
Earlier, holders of a valid full UK driving licence could convert it to a valid Qatari driving licence without any additional tests.
The British Embassy in Doha, in a letter to the country’s nationals in Qatar, spoke about the changes.
“Dear British Community, we have recently been made aware of changes to the requirements for expatriates seeking to obtain a local Qatari driving licence,” the communiqué read.
The letter laid out the ground rules for British nationals to obtain new Qatari licenses.
“From the beginning of 2017, UK licence holders are required to pass a driving test at a government approved testing centre, pass a theory test on local driving rules and pass an eye test. At present, this change does not affect the renewal of existing licences,” it said.
Meanwhile, visitors holding valid full UK licences may still drive for up to 7 days from arrival, or up to 6 months from arrival if held in conjunction with a valid International Driving Licence.
The British Embassy also referred all further enquiries to the Hukoomi Government Portal and the Traffic Department Headquarters at Madinat Khalifa.
Have you heard about this? Will you be affected?
Monizag...I agree with your comment.
Today, I took my street test.
I am female and have held a driving license for over 20 years. What myself and a co driver both of us female and European were subjected to with a male examiner was appalling. We both failed.
He failed my co driver on everything. All 11 points...he said she did not wear her seat belt..,she did, she drove to close to other cars...there were no other cars on road, etc etc...all untruths.
He failed me also...he said I didn't turn left or right when he asked me to...untrue as I did. He spent the whole test on his phone texting. At one point he pushed the steering wheel to the left as I was driving...the road was empty. I ignored him and continued driving.
He shouted constantly at us both, my co driver was crying.
When I refused to pay for another test at this centre due to the appalling aggressive manner of the examiner, they phoned my husband and said I swore at him...untrue...they said they didn't want me to go there again... lol... after I had already refused to book another test with them again. Appalling behaviour that you could not imagine or even dream of.
Lol. This is hilarious
not strictly true omarm88 non British driving licence holders can drive for in the UK for 12 months on their original licence
Disappointed but understadable. When Qataris go to UK they have to pass theory and practical test to get a license. It cots a lot too. Very fair that British people should face the same.
I wonder if this is one of the Brexit's benefits... :)
Fair enough though....
I believe the decision to require the British citizens to attend theoretical and practical test is because of the accidents involving them in Qatar. It has nothing to do with left/right hand-driving. Don't be upset, the law is now enforced, just too bad.
where exactly can the information regarding this be found. I've looked on the The British Embassy website and the Hukoomi Government Portal and I can't find any reference to it.
How on earth were they been given preferential treatments before now?
Nations that practice/use Right Hand Driving get direct driving licence in a Nation that uses/adopts Left Hand Driving ahead of Asians, Africans and the Rest.
Switching from Right Hand to Left Hand driving can be so tasking and ought not be handled with levity
emy: You must be mistaken - A Brit would never be seen in a Jeep - especially a Grand Jerokee
Yeah! including that arrogant idiot who almost hit me when he entered from the service road with his grand cherokee
This is a travesty of a travesty - we all know that Brits are the best drivers in the world
This is a good development.
It's beyond understanding why some passports were given unmerited priority in this regard.
Now that makes sense. I think everyone who enters the country should pass the tests to get a driving license. It's just not cool having majority of the expats have to enroll full course 4 - 5 times to get passed while people of certain passports were granted license when they arrive. I don't get it. What makes them fit for driving here? Don't they make accidents here or in their countries?
Taking the theory and practical tests are not the problem. The real problem are the testers themselves. Is there an audit on them? Ask anyone who had taken the practical tests and they will all agree unanimously that they were failed for no apparent reason. Driving school instructors offer top class instructional lessons theory and practical, but it is very unfortunate, the testers are doing something else. I hope the authority reads this message and launch into auditing of the testers. Carry out an undercover investigation to determine if applicants have been failed unjustly.
This is a good move .. safe driving
I hadn't heard about this.
It will not affect me