Residents of the European Union, the United States, and Canada do not need an international driving permit. Similarly, UAE residents can drive without an international license by obtaining a local UAE driving license when they obtain a residence permit. In this case, a UAE internal driving license is required to operate vehicles.
For citizens of Russia and CIS countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan), both national and international driving permits are mandatory. Possession of an international driving permit is necessary to enter into a car rental agreement with a company. Driving without an international permit can result in a fine of 5,000 AED, imposed by UAE police.