My UAE licence lapsed in 1998 soon after I left Dubai for India. When I returned to the UAE in 2009 I assumed that my old UAE licence could be renewed and that I need not appear again for the notoriously difficult road tests in the UAE.
Much to my horror I was told that since my licence had lapsed more than 10 years ago I would need to appear for a fresh road test. The road test was scheduled to take place at the RTA office located on the campus of the Emirates Driving Institute.
Not wanting to take any chances, I enrolled for 8 classes at the EDI – reckoning that my chances of clearing the road test at EDI would be higher if I took some driving lessons at the EDI.
Despite this, I flunked – or was flunked. The examiner indicated that I need to take another 8 classes at the EDI before I could appear for a re-test.
Fortunately in the re-test carried out a week later I cleared the re-test – and now am a proud holder of a UAE driving licence.
I cannot describe the relief that I felt on clearing the road test. At one point after flunking the 1st test (and I consider myself a pretty experienced driver having driven in different parts of the world), I had lost all semblance of self-confidence.
When a person believes that he is very good at something, and then somebody tells him that he is not good at it, then it does result in a crisis situation. This is true in life - whether in one's career or in simpler aspects such as driving.
All I can say is that I am a lot more humble now after this experience. Humble is good.
Much to my horror I was told that since my licence had lapsed more than 10 years ago I would need to appear for a fresh road test. The road test was scheduled to take place at the RTA office located on the campus of the Emirates Driving Institute.
Not wanting to take any chances, I enrolled for 8 classes at the EDI – reckoning that my chances of clearing the road test at EDI would be higher if I took some driving lessons at the EDI.
Despite this, I flunked – or was flunked. The examiner indicated that I need to take another 8 classes at the EDI before I could appear for a re-test.
Fortunately in the re-test carried out a week later I cleared the re-test – and now am a proud holder of a UAE driving licence.
I cannot describe the relief that I felt on clearing the road test. At one point after flunking the 1st test (and I consider myself a pretty experienced driver having driven in different parts of the world), I had lost all semblance of self-confidence.
When a person believes that he is very good at something, and then somebody tells him that he is not good at it, then it does result in a crisis situation. This is true in life - whether in one's career or in simpler aspects such as driving.
All I can say is that I am a lot more humble now after this experience. Humble is good.
