UAE driving classes in India soon
Dubai: UAE driving classes will soon be available in India under a new agreement, Gulf News can reveal.
Indians completing these classes will be issued a certificate. When they arrive in the UAE, this will qualify them to go for a “tailor-made” course before taking tests and secure a license by saving time and money, officials involved in the project said.
Driving institutes complying with regulations in the UAE will be established in various parts of India to facilitate the project.
For this, India’s National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) has collaborated with the Emirates Driving Institute (EDI), UAE, and the Youth Chamber of Commerce (YCC), UAE.
“We are aiming to reduce time and cost for aspiring drivers to acquire driver licences,” Dr. Manish Kumar, MD and CEO of NSDC, told Gulf News.
“Hence we are working to create a system, so as the mandatory trainings are delivered at Driver Training Institutes (DTI) established in India through technical collaboration with Emirates Driving Institute.”
He said the project will help skill drivers in India and create job opportunities for thousands of young Indians who wish to migrate to the UAE and the Middle East for employment.
“This collaboration will create an ecosystem of partnerships between relevant stakeholders and fast-track employment prospects.”
Amer Belhasa, chairman of Emirates Driving Institute and Vice-Chairman of Belhasa Group of Companies, said: “This collaboration with NSDC and YCC has given us a path to set up driving institutes in different parts of India.”
“Estimating a huge demand for drivers in the UAE during Expo 2020, and other initiatives across the region, EDI is aiming at providing job solutions to Indian youth in the Gulf.”
Kumar said a pilot programme will be launched by collaborating with existing institutes.
“These will be upgraded to meet the requirements of EDI and regulatory agencies. We aim to roll out the first set of batches by July.”
The initial plan is to establish 15 to 20 DTIs across migratory pockets in India, including UP, Kerala, Punjab, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh.
To facilitate left-hand driving, institutes in India will be equipped with left-hand drive cars.
“The tracks at DTIs in India will be equipped for left-hand driving practice. As part of the quick training programme at EDI campus in the UAE or other GCC countries, they will be acquainted with driving on the main roads also,” said Kumar.
Boosting confidence
Amel Attia, EDI’s business development manager, said EDI will offer special package for learners for the preparatory classes in India and the mandatory training here which will be tailor-made for them once they get their residency documents.
“They will have the option of joining any driving institute in the UAE. However, if they are joining any of the EDI centres, there will be preference and special discount for them.”
Familiarising themselves with the driving classes back home itself will boost the confidence of the learners, she pointed out.
“They will find it easier to go for the tests here and this will help reduce the number of people who fail the tests.”
EDI will send instructors to India for training the instructors over there and also for supervising the whole project.
Kumar said training shall also focus on developing basic soft skills, cultural sensitivities and making the candidates feel comfortable in speaking English.
“YCC is facilitating the engagement and will collaborate with employers for employment.”
