All About Driving Schools in Sharjah

You can get your driver’s license in Sharjah from a number of good driving schools, and the Sharjah Driving Institute is one of the best and most reputable ones. To get a driver’s license, you must be at least 18 years old, bring your Emirates ID and passport, pass an eye test, and then go through formal classes and hands-on training. 

The whole process takes about two to three months and costs around AED 4,000 to AED 7,000 for expats. worth mentioning that people who are from the UAE pay less and need fewer classes. 

What Are the Eligibility Criteria for the Sharjah Driving Institute?

The sharjah driving institute requirements aren’t too complicated, and once you preparethem, you’ll be on your way to getting your license.

• Age Requirements: You must be at least 17 years old to drive motorcycles and vehicles if you have special needs, 18 years old for regular cars, and 20 years old for big vehicles like trucks. So remember, bigger vehicles need older drivers!
• License Conversion: Already have a driving license from places like the UK, USA, or Germany? If yes, you can simply convert it without taking all those driving lessons. 
• Required Documents: Make sure you bring your Emirates ID, passport with a valid visa, a letter from your sponsor saying it’s okay, your eye test results, and a few recent photos. Don’t forget any of these, or you’ll have to come back again!
• Testing Process: Everyone needs to pass an eye test, a test about road rules, and an actual driving test. Some Sharjah driving institutes, like the Sharjah Driving Institute, can help you get ready so you don’t fail your first try.
• Legal Consequences: Driving without a proper license in Sharjah can get you in big trouble, and you might have to pay up to 5,000 AED or even go to jail for up to three months. 

What Documents Do You Need to Enroll in Sharjah Driving Institutes?

The Sharjah driving institute and most other driving schools in Sharjah need the same basic paperwork to get you started.

• Emirates ID: You need both the real card and a good copy of it. Don’t forget this, because it’s your main form of ID in the UAE.
• Passport and a valid visa to live in the UAE: Bring a copy of the main page of your passport and the page for your residence visa. Make sure your visa hasn’t run out, or you could have problems.
• No Objection Certificate (NOC): A No Objection Certificate (NOC) is a letter from your employer or workplace letting you know that they don’t mind if you get a driver’s license.
• Report on Eye Exam: Before you can join, you have to get an eye exam at a center approved by the RTA. You can get the test at places like Rivoli Eyezone or Al Jaber Optical for about AED 150.
• Passport-Sized Photos: Most schools need 4 brand-new pictures with a white background. That’s where your papers and training file will go.
• Extra Proof (Sometimes Needed): Some people may need to present a duplicate of their business license or Sharjah Chamber of Commerce Certificate. It is better to ask your school if you need these extra papers.

What Types of Driving Lessons Can You Take in Sharjah?

Sharjah driving schools offer a bunch of great options depending on what you need. Beginners can jump right into basic courses to learn steering, braking and road rules for about 60-70 AED per class.

But if you’ve already got the basics down, you can level up with advanced lessons that’ll help you handle heavy traffic and tricky situations for 70-100 AED. And you’ve got choices between manual transmission (cheaper at 60 AED but requires more skill) or automatic lessons (easier but slightly more expensive at 70 AED).

Type of Lesson	For Beginners	Hands-on Practice	Theory Focused	Good for Quick Learning	Cost
Beginner Course	✅	✅	✅	❌	AED 60-70/class
Advanced Lessons	❌	✅	❌	✅	AED 70-100/class
Manual Training	✅	✅	❌	❌	AED 60/class
Automatic Training	✅	✅	❌	✅	AED 70/class
VIP Packages	✅	✅	✅	✅	AED 150+/class
Heavy Vehicle Training	❌	✅	✅	❌	AED 100-150/class

How To Get a License in Sharjah Driving Institutes?

Just follow these steps one by one, and you’ll have your license before you know it!

Step 1: Check If You’re Eligible

You need to be old enough to get a license:

• 17 years old for motorcycles
• 18 years old for normal cars
• 20 years old for trucks and buses

Already have a license from another country like the USA or UK? You might be able to convert it directly and skip a lot of steps.

Step 2: Collect Your Documents

Before you do anything else, get these papers ready:

• Emirates ID (the original and a copy)
• Your passport with a valid UAE visa
• 4 recent photos (passport size with white background)
• NOC letter from your sponsor or employer
• If you wear glasses, don’t forget them!

Step 3: Take an Eye Test

You need to go to a place like Rivoli Eyezone or Al Jaber Optical that allows you to test your eyes. It only takes a minute or two and costs around AED 100 to 150. 

Then they check that you can see clearly enough to drive and let you know if you need glasses. Following the exam, you get a certificate that you will need to proceed to the next step.

Step 4: Open a Traffic File

Go to the traffic office or a driving school like the Sharjah Driving Institute with all of your paperwork and your eye test certificate. 

Don’t worry since a lot of schools will let you open your file right then. It costs about AED 200 to open the file and you’ll have to fill out some paperwork. This file will keep track of all the miles you drive between lessons and tests.

Step 5: Choose a Driving School

Now, pick a school where you’ll learn to drive:

• Popular options: Sharjah Driving Institute, Al Shamsi, Al Midfa
• Check if they offer classes at times that work for you
• Ask about payment plans, since many schools let you pay a bit at a time

Some schools even offer night classes until midnight, which is great if you work during the day!

Step 6: Take Theory Classes

Classes will teach you about driving laws, road signs, and safety rules and most of the time, these classes cost between 500 and 600 AED. 

After that, there is a test with 35 questions. To pass, you must get at least 60% of them right. Anytime you fail, you have to pay AED 50 to try again, and the first try is free.

Step 7: Start Practical Training

Now comes the fun part because you’ll actually start driving!

The number of classes you need depends on where you’re from:

• UAE nationals: usually 20 classes
• Expats: usually 40-50 classes
• Each class is about 40 minutes
• Classes cost AED 60-70 each

Also, your training happens in three main stages:

1. First, you learn the basics in a training yard: How to start the car, use the pedals, and move around slowly. 
2. Then you focus on parking skills: this is really important because it’s the first test you’ll take. 
3. Finally, you practice driving on real roads with other cars around.

Step 8: Pass the Tests

The parking test comes first. It takes about 3 to 4 hours and costs about 300 to 400 AED. After that is the test of skills. The tester checks to see if you know how to do simple things like moving lines and following the rules of the road. It costs 300 to 400 AED too.

The last and most important test is the drive test. You drive on real roads while a tester watches to see how well you deal with other cars, and it costs about 300 AED. Don’t worry too much if you fail a test. You can try again, but this time you’ll have to pay the fee and maybe even take some extra classes.

Step 9: Get Your License

After paying the $200 license fee and having your picture taken, you’ll get your legal Sharjah driver’s license! This license is valid for two years for foreigners and 10 years for UAE citizens. 

All together, the process takes about 2 to 3 months. And, it all costs around AED 4,000 to AED 7,000, but it depends on which Sharjah Driving Institute or school you pick and how many classes you need.

Don’t forget that it is illegal to drive in Sharjah without a license. The fines could be up to 5,000 AED, and you might even have to go to jail.

Top Sharjah Driving Institutes

While SDI was founded in 1992 and provides instruction in three languages, Al Midfa has been in business since 1990 and has an impressive 4.8/5 rating from 843 Google reviews.

Also, if you’re looking for choices that are good for women, Al Bedoor has female teachers who work only with female students, and Al Dhaid is the oldest school, having been open since 1979 and having over 40 years of experience. Plus, if price is the most important thing to you, Al Deyar is the cheapest choice in town and it only costs AED 25–35 per lesson!

School Name	Founded	Beginner Package Cost	Free Pickup	Female Instructors	Special Features
Al Midfa	1990	AED 4,738	✅	❌	Long hours (6 AM-9 PM)
Sharjah Driving Institute	1992	AED 3,000-3,500	❌	✅	Multiple languages, disability training
Al Bedoor	2002	~AED 2,992	✅	✅	Focus on female learners
Al Deyar	–	AED 25-35 per class	❌	✅	Budget-friendly, pay-per-class model
Al Shamsi	–	From AED 840	❌	❌	Up to 2 classes daily (faster completion)
Al Qasimia	–	~AED 3,657	❌	❌	Simple, straightforward approach
Al Dhaid	1979	–	❌	❌	Oldest driving school, highly experienced
Prime Motor	–	~AED 3,732	❌	❌	High-quality training, well-rated

Last Words

It’s easier to drive in Sharjah if you know the right steps and pick the right school for your needs and price. There are four key tests in the process: an eye test, a theory test, a parking test, and the final road test. Always remember that you should look at the different deals and prices that schools like Al Midfa, Al Shamsi, and the Sharjah Driving Institute offer before you sign up.

And once you get your license, it’s only good for two years for expats and ten years for UAE citizens. However, it’s not automatically international; if you want to drive in another country, you’ll need a separate pass.

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