Ministry of Interior has signed at its headquarters on Tuesday a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Public Works, Roads and Communication in the Republic of Portugal on mutual recognition of driving licenses issued by both countries.
Signing the MoU has been a result of mutual belief to support and promote bilateral relations between the two parties, to facilitate movement of citizens of both courtiers during their residence or visit to either country.
The agreement was signed on behalf of the Ministry of Interior by Lt. General. Saif Abdullah Al Shaafar, undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior and by Lorentino Diaz, state Minister and a member of Government of Portugal, on behalf of the Ministry of Public Works, Roads and Communication in the Republic of Portugal.
The MoU stipulates that both countries recognize the valid driving licenses for all types of vehicles approved by competent authorities in both countries,, and that persons applying for license exchange shall be exempted from piratical and theoretical tests which licensing authorities in both countries carry out.
The MoU also stipulates that driving licenses issued by competent authorities shall be in conformity with the rules of internal law in both countries, and for exchange of driving licenses a number of conditions have to be fulfilled, including that the applicant must be bearing a valid permit, the driving licenses to be exchanged must also be valid, the age of the applicant should be in accordance with the applicable laws in the country from which the driving license to be exchanged, and that the driving license to be exchanged should be according to the forms approved by both countries.
The applicant must get his driving license translated at one of the approved legal translation offices in either countries and must pass the prescribed medical test.
In addition to any other conditions stipulated by the law of the country from which the driving license exchange is requested, exchanged driving license should be sent to the issuing authority in both countries.
Thanks to the directives of Lt. Gen. HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minster and Minster of Interior, Al Shaafar affirmed keenness of the Ministry of Interior on boosting cooperation with friendly countries, pointing out that this MoU is the first one to be concluded with an EU country.
Signing ceremony was attended by Brig. Ghaith Al Zaabi, Director- General of Traffic Coordination at the Ministry of Interior, Lt. Col. Dr. Jamal Fares, director of International Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Interior, and Miguel Suarez, head of Treaties Department at the Foreign Ministry in Portugal and Saqer Nasser Al Raisi, UAE ambassador to Portugal.