Emirates Post backs ATCUAE drive to crack down on forged international driving permits

From Monday (10th July), legitimate International Driving Permits, which are issued exclusively in the Emirates by the ATCUAE, will be available from each of the 82 Emirates Post outlets across the country.

Simultaneously, Emirates Post will launch a major awareness campaign featuring Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the ATCUAE and the 14-times Middle East rally champion, who is determined to end the illegal trade in forged international driving documents.

Abdulla Al Daboos, Director General of Emirates Post, said at an official press conference today: "We're very happy to be supporting the ATCUAE in its efforts to restrict the sale of forged international driving permits in the local market.

"This is an important public service exercise, as people need to know that buying from the wrong source can get them into trouble, and it marks anther important step in the evolution of Emirates Post into a one-stop centre for community services.

"Our staff have now been trained to handle enquiries for International Driving Permits, and we will work closely with the ATCUAE to make the service user-friendly and speedy."

Sulayem, whose face will be carried on posters displayed at post offices and on roadside advertisements across the UAE, said: "I'm grateful to Emirates Post for joining with us to get this campaign off the ground.

"This is not simply a commercial exercise. People buying a forged International Driving Permit and using it when they drive overseas can find themselves in serious trouble. If they have an accident, the fact that they are not carrying a legitimate permit may mean that their insurance is invalid, and that can be very costly.

"Emirates Post is helping us to drive home this message. Anyone who does not buy their permit from Emirates Post, or the ATCUAE directly, could create problems for themselves."

Sulayem took over as President of the new-look ATCUAE in April when it came under the patronage of H.H.Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The ATCUAE, which has offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Al Ain, is best known as the officially nominated representative in the Emirates of both the FIA, motor sport's world governing body, and its motor cycling counterpart, the FIM. On their behalf it supervises all organised motor sport events in the UAE for cars and bikes.

But under Sheikh Mohammed's overall guidance, and Sulayem's day-to-day management, it is also becoming increasingly active outside the sporting arena. It is the only FIA authorised organisation in the UAE to issue International Driving Permits, as well as Carnet de Passage en Douane (Trip Tickets) and International Certificates which simplify customs formalities for motoring tourists and travellers.

International Driving Permits were established by the United Nations in 1949 to overcome difficulties faced by motorists travelling in foreign countries in view of widely varying drivers licence requirements.

While many countries now allow visitors to use their domestic driving licences when travelling abroad, this can lead to language problems, and an International Driving Permit has a number of advantages.

It is proof that the holder has a valid driving licence in their own country. It is also printed in ten languages - the five United Nations official languages, English, French, Spanish, Russian and Chinese, as well as German, Arabic, Italian, the Scandinavian languages and Portuguese. This helps overcome language barriers between drivers and police, while the document can also be a useful form of identification in the event of a lost passport.