The weird discriminating thing is: you will only need to do this if you are a resident. The moment that pink residence visa goes into your passport, you can not drive around anymore with an international driving licence, even in a rental car. Visitors however, who do not have the experience of driving on UAE roads, who don't even know where hey're going, can easily rent a car and it's fine for them to drive around in it... Weird.
Does anyone know if you can get a Sharjah or Abu Dhabi driving licence? Is this a UAE rule, or just a Dubai rule? Just looking for a loophole to help out future friends who might come and join us.. (in our misery...).
MR8