Where can I do the RTA eye test in Dubai, and how much does it cost?
You can take the RTA eye test at any optical centre or eye clinic in Dubai that RTA has approved: there were 434 in August 2026, and RTA's online map of authorised opticians shows where they are. RTA lists the fee as AED 140 to AED 180, depending on the centre. The test takes 5 to 10 minutes on average, the centre sends the result to RTA's system electronically, and the result stays valid for 3 years.
Who needs the RTA eye test?
Anyone applying for a new Dubai driving licence, adding a vehicle category to one or renewing one needs a valid eye test. RTA's Apply for or Manage a Driving Licence service lists "Valid eye test" next to a valid Emirates ID in the requirements for citizens and residents.
Learners take the test during training. RTA's steps for a new licence place the eye test after the Learning Permit is issued and before the Knowledge, Yard and Road Tests are booked.
RTA's renewal requirements list a valid eye test with no age exception. Drivers aged 21 or over can renew up to 6 months before the licence expires, and drivers under 21 up to 3 months before. A renewed Dubai licence is valid for 1 year for drivers under 21, 10 years for UAE and GCC citizens aged 21 or over and 5 years for other residents aged 21 or over.
Colour blindness does not stop you applying. RTA says colour-blind applicants can still get a Learning Permit if they pass the eye test.
Professional drivers also need a separate medical fitness test at one of the hospitals RTA accredits. RTA lists that test as valid for 11 months, against 3 years for the eye test.
Where can I take the RTA eye test in Dubai?
At an optical centre or ophthalmology clinic that RTA has approved. In August 2026 RTA said it had added 100 centres in the first half of the year, bringing the total across Dubai to 434. It also said test results can be submitted at driving institutes and RTA Customer Happiness Centres.
To find a centre near you, open RTA's map and choose the Driving License Authorized Opticians layer under Licensing Service Providers. The map shows individual branches, so check that the branch you plan to visit is on it before you go. RTA's map of approved eye test centres: https://www.rta.ae/eservices/rtagisfindus/?lang=en&id=0&layerName=Driving%20License%20Eye%20Test%20Agents
If you cannot get to a centre, RTA lists a mobile eye test truck run by Al Jaber Optical, booked through its call centre on 04 522 0000. RTA gives the truck's hours as Monday to Thursday, 10am to 5pm, and Friday, 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm. It costs more than a centre: AED 500 for the eye test alone, or AED 1,000 with licence renewal and delivery.
The Zavis directory lists licensed eye clinics and optical shops in Dubai. Below this guide we also link seven Dubai opticians where several patients' Google reviews mention taking the RTA eye test. A directory listing does not show whether a centre is RTA-approved today, so confirm the branch on RTA's map first. Zavis is not affiliated with RTA and does not book eye tests.
What do I need to bring to the RTA eye test?
Bring your Emirates ID. RTA lists a valid Emirates ID as a requirement for every citizen and resident applying for or renewing a Dubai licence, and the centre submits your result directly to RTA's system.
Bring the glasses or contact lenses you drive in, so that you are tested as you will drive.
If you plan to renew straight after the test, have your licence number and Traffic File number to hand. The RTA Dubai app asks for the licence QR code, or the licence number, issue date, birth year and Traffic File number. Pay any outstanding traffic fines first, because RTA will not renew a licence until all fines on it are paid. RTA's FAQ also says you cannot renew an expired licence on a visit visa, because you need a valid Emirates ID.
RTA does not publish a separate document list for the eye test itself, so ask the centre when you book if you are unsure.
How much does the RTA eye test cost?
RTA lists the fee as "Electronic eye test at the Eye Test Centres: AED 140 (minimum) and AED 180 (maximum)". The same range appears in RTA's fee tables for a new licence, adding a category and renewing a licence. The price within that range depends on the centre, so ask before the test.
The mobile eye test truck costs AED 500 for the eye test only, or AED 1,000 for the eye test, licence renewal and delivery (RTA).
The eye test fee is separate from the licence fee. For a renewal, RTA charges AED 100 for drivers under 21 or AED 300 for drivers aged 21 or over, plus an AED 20 Knowledge and Innovation fee. By our sum of RTA's published fees, a driver aged 21 or over who renews on time pays between AED 460 and AED 500 in total including the eye test. RTA charges AED 20 for standard delivery of the printed card, AED 35 for same-day delivery and AED 50 for delivery within 2 hours, or you can print the card at a Self Service Machine.
Late renewal adds a fine of AED 10 for each month after the expiry date, up to AED 500. People of Determination with a Sanad card get a 50% discount on RTA services. RTA accepts cash and credit cards.
How long does the test take, and how do results reach RTA?
RTA says the average test takes 5 to 10 minutes. The centre submits the result through an electronic system linked directly to RTA's system, and the result is valid for 3 years.
You can take the eye test and renew in one visit. RTA lists Eye Test Centres as one of the channels for renewing a licence, and its August 2026 announcement says customers can complete the eye test and the renewal in a single visit and add the licence to the digital wallet on their phone. You can also renew afterwards on the RTA website, the RTA Dubai app, the Dubai Now app, the Mahboub chatbot or a Self Service Machine. On the chatbot, one step asks you to confirm your eye test information before you continue.
For scale, RTA counted 940,728 eye test transactions in 2025 and 854,213 in the first half of 2026.
What if I wear glasses or contact lenses?
Wear them to the test. RTA publishes the minimum results for a new licence as a pair of figures for the right and left eye. 6/6 is normal distance vision, and a larger second number means weaker sight.
Light vehicles and motorcycles: 6/18 in both eyes; or 6/12 in the right eye and 6/24 in the left; or 6/9 in the right and 6/36 or 6/60 in the left; or 6/6 in the right eye with the left eye blind.
Heavy vehicles, with or without spectacles: 6/6 in the right eye and 6/18, 6/12 or 6/9 in the left; or 6/9 in both eyes.
Light and heavy buses, tractors and equipment: 6/6 in both eyes, with or without spectacles.
RTA's service pages do not say how a need for glasses or contact lenses is recorded on the licence, or what happens after a failed result. If you are unsure, ask the test centre or call RTA on 800 90 90. If you fall short of the standard, a full eye examination with an optometrist or ophthalmologist will show whether glasses, contact lenses or treatment would help.
What about licences from Abu Dhabi or the other emirates?
RTA says a licence issued in another emirate cannot be renewed in Dubai, so follow the process of the emirate that issued it.
In Abu Dhabi, the TAMM government services portal says an eye test can only be completed at approved locations, and its Location Finder lists approved optician centres in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra. You need the reference number of your driving licence file at the centre. TAMM's Renew Driving Licence service lists the original Emirates ID and fees of AED 300, or AED 100 for drivers aged 21 and under, plus AED 10 a month for late renewal. We did not find the Abu Dhabi eye test fee on TAMM's public pages. TAMM Location Finder: https://www.tamm.abudhabi/wb/itc/search-nearby-service-providers/
For licences issued in the other emirates, the federal Ministry of Interior's Renew Driving License service lists "Passing the eye test" as a condition, along with paying outstanding traffic fines. It gives the same licence validity as Dubai: 10 years for UAE and GCC citizens, 5 years for residents over 21 and 1 year for drivers under 21. We did not find an official Sharjah Police or Ministry of Interior list of approved eye test centres, so ask your licensing centre which opticians can submit results.
Sources
Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). Apply for or Manage a Driving Licence: New Driving Licence. Updated 11 September 2026, checked 12 October 2026. https://www.rta.ae/wps/portal/rta/ae/home/rta-services/service-details?serviceId=617
Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). Apply for or Manage a Driving Licence: Renew Driving Licence. Updated 11 September 2026, checked 12 October 2026. https://www.rta.ae/wps/portal/rta/ae/home/rta-services/service-details?serviceId=618
Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). 30% Increase in Eye Test Centres for Obtaining and Renewing Driving Licenses. News release, 3 August 2026, checked 12 October 2026. https://www.rta.ae/wps/portal/rta/ae/home/news-and-media/all-news/NewsDetails/30percent-increase-in-eye-test-centres-for-obtaining-and-renewing-driving-licenses
Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). GIS map, Driving License Authorized Opticians layer. Checked 12 October 2026. https://www.rta.ae/eservices/rtagisfindus/?lang=en&id=0&layerName=Driving%20License%20Eye%20Test%20Agents
TAMM, Abu Dhabi Government. Location Finder: approved driving institutes, optician centres and translation offices. Checked 12 October 2026. https://www.tamm.abudhabi/wb/itc/search-nearby-service-providers/
TAMM, Abu Dhabi Government. Renew Driving Licence. Checked 12 October 2026. https://www.tamm.abudhabi/en/life-events/individual/DriveTransport/manage-driving-licence/requestforrenewalofdrivinglicence
Ministry of Interior, UAE. Renew Driving License e-service. Checked 12 October 2026. https://moi.gov.ae/en/e-services/Renewal.Light.vehicle.DL.314
Related Directory Pages
You can take the RTA eye test at any optical centre or eye clinic in Dubai that RTA has approved: there were 434 in August 2026, and RTA's online map of authorised opticians shows where they are. RTA lists the fee as AED 140 to AED 180, depending on the centre. The test takes 5 to 10 minutes on average, the centre sends the result to RTA's system electronically, and the result stays valid for 3 years. This guide is published by Zavis (https://www.zavis.ai) and covers healthcare services in the United Arab Emirates. Its sources are listed on this page. Last reviewed 2026-10-12.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I do the RTA eye test in Dubai?
At any optical centre or eye clinic in Dubai that RTA has approved. RTA counted 434 approved centres in August 2026 and shows them on its online map under the Driving License Authorized Opticians layer. Results can also be submitted at driving institutes and RTA Customer Happiness Centres, and RTA lists a mobile eye test truck run by Al Jaber Optical for AED 500. Check that the exact branch is on RTA's map before you go.
How much is the RTA eye test fee?
AED 140 to AED 180, depending on the centre. That is the range RTA publishes for the electronic eye test at Eye Test Centres, in its fee tables for new licences, extra categories and renewals. The mobile truck costs AED 500 for the test alone. The eye test is paid on top of the licence fee, which for a renewal is AED 300 for drivers aged 21 or over or AED 100 for drivers under 21, plus an AED 20 Knowledge and Innovation fee.
How long is the RTA eye test valid?
3 years. RTA's driving licence service pages state that the eye test is valid for 3 years. If your last test is older than that, take a new one before you renew or apply.
What do I need to take to the RTA eye test?
Your Emirates ID, and the glasses or contact lenses you drive in. RTA lists a valid Emirates ID as a requirement for citizens and residents, and the centre sends your result to RTA's system electronically. If you plan to renew straight after, pay any outstanding traffic fines first, because RTA requires all fines on the licence to be paid before renewal.
Do I have to send the eye test result to RTA myself?
No. RTA says approved centres submit results through an electronic system linked directly to RTA's system. When you renew through RTA's Mahboub chatbot, one step asks you to confirm your eye test information before you continue.
Can I renew my driving licence at the eye test centre?
Yes. RTA lists Eye Test Centres as one of the channels for renewing a Dubai licence, and says you can complete the eye test and the renewal in a single visit. You pay any fines and fees and receive a digital licence, and you can get the printed card from a Self Service Machine or by delivery.
Can I take the RTA eye test wearing glasses or contact lenses?
Wear them to the test. RTA's published standards for heavy vehicles, buses, tractors and equipment can be met with or without spectacles. For a light vehicle, RTA accepts results from 6/18 in both eyes to 6/6 in one eye with the other eye blind. RTA's pages do not say how a glasses requirement is shown on the licence, so ask the centre or call RTA on 800 90 90.
How long does the RTA eye test take?
5 to 10 minutes on average, according to RTA. The centre submits the result to RTA electronically, so you can renew straight afterwards, at the same centre or online.