Driving Licence Translation – Saudi and Foreign Licences
Whether you are a new resident in Jeddah who wants to drive, or a citizen getting ready for a summer trip with a rental car in Europe or Asia, driving licence translation is a small step that can stall everything if it is incomplete. At Almadani Translation’s Jeddah branch we translate Saudi licences into English or any other language, and foreign licences into Arabic, delivered within one hour, stamped, signed and checked by a second translator.
Orders open 24/7
Two directions, two sets of reasons
Foreign licence into Arabic
- A new Jeddah resident going through the process of exchanging a home-country licence or obtaining a Saudi one
- A visitor or business traveller who needs to show a licence to a local authority or rental company
- An employee whose company in Jeddah or King Abdullah Economic City asks for an Arabic copy of the licence for a workplace driving file
Saudi licence into another language
- A citizen or resident travelling and renting a car abroad, where the rental company or local authority asks for a translation
- A scholarship student who needs the licence translated to obtain one in the country of study
- Someone relocating for work who wants to show their driving record
Requirements differ from one authority to another
There is no single rule. Some countries accept a certified translation together with the original licence, some require an International Driving Permit, and some accept only translations from a provider they name. Within the Kingdom, requirements also change depending on the country that issued the licence. So check the traffic department or Absher requirements, or the website of the authority in your destination country, before you order. We provide an accurate certified translation; acceptance is the receiving authority’s decision.
What a licence translation must show
| Item | How we handle it |
|---|---|
| Name | Spelled as in your passport, not a variant |
| Licence number | Copied digit by digit and read twice by the reviewer |
| Vehicle classes | Private, public, motorcycle and so on, with the exact equivalent in each system |
| Issue and expiry dates | As in the original, Hijri or Gregorian |
| Restrictions | Such as corrective lenses or automatic transmission, where shown |
| Issuing authority | By its official name |
| Photo, stamp and emblem | Noted where they appear |
Vehicle classes need care
Licence class systems vary by country: a class meaning a minibus in one country can mean a light truck in another. So we do not reduce a class to a code alone; we carry over its description as it appears in the original, so the officer does not assume you hold a right you do not have, or the reverse.
Digital licences
If your licence is only in Absher or Tawakkalna, you can send a clear, complete screenshot and we will translate it. Some rental companies and foreign authorities insist on the physical card, though, so check first.
How to order
- Photograph both sides of the licence and add your passport data page for spelling.
- Send them to WhatsApp +966 56 944 2222 with the language and the country or authority.
- We send you a quote and you confirm.
- You receive the translation electronically within an hour; the printed copy is delivered or collected from the branch.
Flying out of King Abdulaziz International Airport in a few hours? Tell us your flight time in your first message.
Branch: Office 8, 3rd Floor, 8153 Prince Sultan Rd, 5152 Al Basatin, Jeddah · Sunday to Thursday 10:00 to 16:00 · WhatsApp around the clock
Why Almadani Translation in Jeddah
- One hour for driving licences, as for iqamas, IDs and passports
- License No. 64, since 1982, more than 20,000 clients
- A branch in Al Basatin for printed copies, or delivery to you
- A second translator checks the name, number and classes
- Listed on the translator lists of the British Embassy and the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh (acceptance is decided by the receiving authority)
- Every language, including African and Asian languages
FAQ
Is your translation enough to drive a rental car abroad?
That depends on the country’s law and the rental company. Some require an International Driving Permit in addition to a translation, so check before you travel.
My licence is in a rare language. Can you translate it?
Yes. We translate from any language and confirm the delivery time with the quote if the language needs longer than an hour.
Do you translate traffic violation records or driving record letters?
Yes, if you have the document. We confirm its delivery time with the quote.
Can you translate my licence and my spouse’s together?
Yes. Send both and you will receive the two translations at the same time.
Related services
Your licence translated and stamped within an hour. Order on WhatsApp