Claims that UAE driving schools purposely fail students to make more money have been strongly denied by the institutions, even as frustrated learners switch schools in search of better outcomes.
Maha L, an Emirati resident, expressed her exasperation after failing her driving test nine consecutive times. She then transferred to a different driving school in another emirate and passed on her first try. “It felt like my instructor at the first school was deliberately failing me even though I did everything right in my lessons. I can’t understand how I failed nine times there but passed so easily in another emirate on my first try,” she said.
Rumors have long suggested that some driving schools intentionally fail students to extract more fees for retests and additional lessons. Disgruntled students have shared their experiences and shifted to other schools. Despite these allegations, UAE driving schools unanimously deny any deliberate failure practices.
Student Frustrations
Bilal Yassir, a Dubai-based Lebanese expat, shared his experience of failing six times before switching to what he perceived as a better driving school. “It’s very easy for them to make us retake exams and give us more classes, costing more money. They don’t understand how much effort and money we put into this,” Yassir said. He also felt that some schools might have better relationships with examiners, potentially influencing results. However, he acknowledged that not all blame lies with the driving institutes. “Sometimes, students may make small and simple mistakes, but they need you to take the exam again,” he said.
Yassir also questioned the effectiveness of the 10-minute street exam in determining driving competency. “In the initial minutes, I can be very nervous, and the examiner might fail me because of this,” he explained.
Social media has become a platform for many disgruntled students to air their grievances. Videos with captions like ‘UAE license will suck your pocket dry’ have fueled beliefs that driving schools, rather than individual skills, control the process.
Driving Schools Respond
Sameer Agha, Head of Marketing at Galadari Motor Driving Centre, told Khaleej Times, “The perception that driving schools prolong the learning process for financial gain is a misconception. Our approach is student-centered, focusing on individual progress and readiness rather than a predetermined timeline.”
Wajahat Noor, an instructor at Emirates Driving Institute, agreed, stating, “The reasons for failure can vary, like not enough practice. Mostly, people get nervous while taking exams. But a driving school will never fail you intentionally. Our only aim is to ensure that we give the license to people confident enough on the street and not a hazard to themselves and others.”
Agha emphasized that examiners focus on objective criteria and student success, not personal bias. He highlighted that driving institutes maintain transparency through clear communication, regular progress reports, and feedback mechanisms allowing students to voice their concerns.
The Process
To obtain a driving license in the UAE, residents must apply to a registered driving institute and complete several requirements. This includes opening a traffic file at an approved driving center and completing 40 hours of driving courses if they have no prior experience.
Students must pass various tests set by the UAE traffic department, including a theoretical test on traffic laws, a yard test for parking maneuvers, and an on-road driving test to demonstrate practical driving skills in real-world conditions.
