Driving License in Abu Dhabi (day 1)

Posting really after a long time…..

I just changed my job and really got busy in all those regular things like getting relieved from the duties, visa processing etc etc.

Any ways,….now a good thing. I have applied for a driving license. I  believe, people living in middle east understand the importance of having a driving license and off course the pain in getting it.

Well, I applied for the license last week. I was told that for light motor vehicle license you have to reach early in the morning to open your file. Some even suggested to reach there at 4 am. But, I am not that enthusiastic ones. I preferred to reach Emirates Driving School, at Mussafah, at around 6:30 am. I reached the reception, and the one of the helpful security guards directed me towards left side at the end, for opening the file. There, I reached the exit at the side, where I found a queue which was disappearing outside the door. Oh no!! I am late, I thought. But when I peeped outside, only around 15 odd people were standing. I also lined up in the queue. I had already brought all the required documents:

1) Passport copy, with visa page (2 sets)

2) Photographs, in white background  (6 no.)

3) Letter, in the prescribed format, in English and Arabic from my employer

4) Original Passport

The counter for opening the files opened at sharp 7:30 am. In 10 minutes, I was inside the registration room. There was a person on right side counter checking the documents and providing the token number. In 5 minutes my token number flashed. I went to counter number 9.  There was one lady who did my eye test and charged AED 20. I took the receipt and the form and again went to the counter which had issued the token. This time he again gave me a token.

Surprisingly only one counter for registration was open. It took more than hour for my turn. All the guys were Arabs. I went to the counter, he entered the information in the system. This guy wrote something on my form in Arabic and told me to go to Mussafah Police Station. I took the form and went to the Police Station. There also this guy was an Arab, who was not fluent in English. He asked me to go to Muroor Traffic Department. No one told me the reason. I went to Muroor Traffic Department. There also they made me run from one person to other. At last I was asked to meet some Lieutenant. I don’t remember his name now. The issue was that my designation mentioned on the visa was not in there database and they could not enter the info…..ooohhh now can’t they apply common sense and enter the matching designation? Any ways, this guy entered the new designation in their database. By now it was 10 am. So I went back to the office.

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