Article 37 of the Saudi Traffic Law

المادة 37 من نظام المرور · الباب الرابع: رخص القيادة

The article exempts the holder of a foreign or international driving license, recognized by the competent department in the Kingdom and valid, from the driving test condition in paragraph (7) of Article 36.

Official text (Arabic)

This article has not been amended since the law was issued.

يعفى من شرط الاختبار الوارد في الفقرة (7) من المادة (السادسة والثلاثين) من هذا النظام، من يحمل رخصة قيادة أجنبية أو دولية معترف بها من الإدارة المختصة في المملكة وتكون سارية المفعول.

This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers

Article 37 explained in plain English

Article 36 sets the conditions for obtaining a driving license, among them, in paragraph (7), passing the driving test, whose type the Regulations set for each license along with the conditions for taking it. This article provides an exemption from this condition alone for a specific category.

The exemption requires the person to hold a driving license that is:

Foreign or international;
Recognized by the competent department in the Kingdom;
Valid.

If these conditions are met, its holder is exempt from the driving test. If the license is not recognized, or has expired, the exemption does not apply according to the text.

What matters is that the exemption is limited to the test condition. The article does not exempt from the other conditions in Article 36, among them: reaching the required age (18 for a private license and motorcycles, and 20 for a public license and public works vehicles), lawful residence for non-Saudis, freedom from diseases and disabilities that prevent driving, the non-conviction conditions mentioned there unless rehabilitation has been restored, payment of the prescribed fees, and payment of previous traffic fines if any.

The article does not specify which foreign or international licenses are recognized but makes recognition a matter for the competent department in the Kingdom. It is also linked to Article 38, which makes the competent department, in coordination with the other bodies concerned, responsible for organizing the automobile clubs that issue international licenses. Anyone who wants to know the status of a foreign license may refer to the competent department or consult a lawyer who specializes in traffic matters.

Practical example

A resident engineer moved to Jeddah for work with a valid driving license from his home country, which is recognized by the Traffic Department. Under this article he is exempt from the driving test when applying for a Saudi license, but he remains bound by the other conditions, such as lawful residence, payment of fees and medical fitness.

Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.

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