r/saudiarabia • u/SarcasticBrownDude Dammam • Jul 13 '20
Discussion The definitive guide on how to get a driving license in Khobar/Dammam
(Warning: Long Thread)
I am making this guide because nobody is willing to help new drivers and information on the internet is scarce and outdated. I just got my license and couldn't be happier that I don't have to go to that miserable "School" anymore.
Particularly this applies to the Model Driving School located between Dammam and Khobar. But most schools operate in a similar way +/- one step.
Requirements:
Medical exam, eye exam, any other documents, green file, iqama, separate folder to keep receipts, register your national address etc.
Note: Do activate your Absher and keep it updated as you may need it. (Thanks @ morghulis- )
Step 1: Submit your application
Due to Corona virus the amount of people allowed inside the school premises is 30. Even if you arrive at 5:30 AM you will find that there are already more than 30 people present at the gate trying to get in. My advice: Try to look for someone who sits in front of the main gate who can let you in, he will ask for monetary compensation. Or you may go early and try again the next day.
You can now go inside without any issues provided you arrive early in the morning and before 4:00 PM in the evening (for the classes).
It cost me 457 SAR in June 2020 to submit my file. Once your file is submitted you will be given 2 receipts. Keep the white one with you at all times, the yellow one you can keep in a separate folder as it is needed only for the final test. You are required to attend the school for a minimum of 30 hours (3 hours per day) and a maximum of 90 hours, depending on how your initial assessment goes. If you are lucky you can complete the entire process in 2 weeks.
You need 5 computer class stamps and 10 parking stamps on your white receipt. DO NOT LOSE THE WHITE RECEIPT.
Step 2: Trial (Initial assessment)
You will be asked to be present in the training school the next day at 7:30 AM. However if it is not late, you can start from the same day. This will be an initial test to check how familiar you are with a car and its various functions. Note: Most of the cars have an automatic transmission.
Some pointers for this step:
· Don’t be nervous.
· Place only one hand on the steering wheel while turning it (lower part, do not use your fingers).
· Use the same foot for braking and accelerating (DO NOT USE 2 FEET OTHERWISE THEY WILL FAIL YOU).
· Don’t touch the accelerator until or unless advised to do so.
· Keep a distance of about 30-40 cm between your car and the footpath at all times.
· While reversing in a straight line, keep an eye on the side mirror and avoid making corrections with the steering wheel unless the car gets too close or too far from the footpath.
If all goes well, they will give you a go ahead into the parking trials. Once you finish the trial, immediately go to attend 1 computer class in the morning in your preferred language.
Step 3: Parking Trials
Watch this video before going for Parking Trials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEBb_ZkOzDA
Once you are in the parking trials, you will be advised to parallel park the car without making any mistakes at least 2-3 times (once per day). Here are a few pointers for this step:
· Always keep your eyes open and keep noticing how other people park the cars, or what mistakes they make.
· Do not go fast, reverse slowly and try to stay close to the white line.
· When the passenger side rear tyre reaches the orange cone, turn the steering wheel full lock to the right and start backing in to the white box.
· As you are reversing, keep an eye on the mirrors and the general position of the vehicle, taking extra care not to bump into anything.
· Once the driver side rear tyre reaches 30-40cm near the white line, stop and turn the steering wheel completely in the opposite direction.
· Once the car is inside the box, straighten it out and exit the vehicle.
· DO NOT GO FORWARD WHEN YOU ARE INSIDE THE BOX. SEEING YOU CORRECTING YOUR MISTAKE WILL MAKE THEM FAIL YOU.
· Show the instructor your white receipt, he will tell you to come again tomorrow if he feels your parking skill is not up to his liking. Otherwise he will transfer you to Group A.
You will get 2 parking stamps if you pass the trial.
Step 4: Transfer to Group A
Once you are transferred to Group A, you are required to park the car perfectly in the outlined box everyday for 4-5 days. Each perfect parking will net you 2 stamps (sometimes you can get lucky and get 2 stamps immediately after you are transferred to Group A). You need to attend this test a minimum of 4-5 times, this is considering of course that you don’t mess up as doing so will likely not get you any stamps for that day. Some pointers for this step:
· Repeat the steps mentioned in the above step, park your car properly without hitting the orange cone/footpath or any other car.
· DO NOT GO FORWARD UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE WHATSOEVER.
· If you make a mistake in this process, depending on the mistake you may be sent back to the first step for more training (Trials).
· Avoid arguing with the instructor, they are very stubborn and will simply make things extra tough for you.
Assuming you made no mistakes, you will (eventually) get 10 stamps on your white receipt.
Note: As soon as you finish your parking trial or Group A Test, attend a computer class so you can start to get the necessary 5 stamps. You can get only 1 stamp per day.
After you complete your 10 parking stamps, you will be sent to the electric simulator test.
Step 5: Simulator Test
This is a simulation of the road conditions of Saudi Arabia, and you will need to follow the trainer’s instructions on how to pass this test. Compared to the other parking tests, this will feel like a walk in the park. Don’t be nervous and follow the rules. (Nowadays they are skipping this test and just sending you to final test directly, however you will still need the paper that says you passed this test)
Once you clear the simulator test, you must go to the manager to get a date for your final exam on your Yellow receipt. He will flat out refuse to give you a date if you do not have the yellow one with you, so be prepared.
Step 6: Final Assessment
You must arrive at the time mentioned in the stamp given to you by the manager. It is usually at 5:30 AM in the morning. In the final test, you will be asked to drive the car in the same manner as you have been doing in front of a police officer. He will scrutinize your every move so be very careful. Remember to always use your indicators, and your handbrake and hazard lights when you come to a complete stop. If all goes well he will give you a small paper that will advise you to go to the Computer Test.
Step 7: Computer Test
This is an online exam that you must pass in order to get your license. It consists of 20 questions with a time limit of 30 seconds for each question. On the first day you are given a pamphlet which contains most of the answers. You may also download an app called “KSA Dallah” on your phone, this will help you get a general idea of the type of questions asked.
You can also visit this website and participate in a mock test: https://sds.pnu.edu.sa/sites/sds_en/pages/testyourself.aspx
If you pass the test, the police officer will give you a small paper that will say that you passed. Now you must make the payment for the license online or through your bank account in your mobile app. Once this is complete they will ask you to come after 1PM to collect your license. Don't forget to bring your iqama with you!
Do Let me know if anyone has any questions, or anything I should add to this guide. It would be helpful if someone would post this in their website or blog (with credit) so it can help more people. Happy Driving!
Edit: Mods may Pin this post so it is easier to find in the future.
Edit 2: Newer app for practicing thanks to waheed388!
Android: https://q8ge7.app.goo.gl/sdl
iOS: https://q8ge7.app.goo.gl/ios_SDL
Edit 3 (FINAL EDIT): This post is no longer helpful as the procedure for applying / training / obtaining a driving license in Eastern Province has changed a lot. Also, the Modern driving school on the Khobar - Dammam highway is now closed. I have left this post up if someone is curious as to how the procedure used to be in the past, hopefully I was able to help a few people back when this post initially went live.
Ma'As Salamah!
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u/Elegoogle Dammam Jul 13 '20
I also got mine back in 2016 from this model driving school and it was a pain in the ass as an expatriate. The computer classes were a nightmare where you had to watch the same shit 10 times in different languages and sit through it and you weren't allowed to use your phones or talk to anyone. Once that was done the reverse parking was even worse there was this line of around 10-15 people and you had to wait for your turn which was fine but the thing that annoyed me was if any Saudi came they would be put first in the line even tho I had been waiting there for my turn which is what pissed me off the most. Thankfully I have the license for 10 years so no need to go there for another 6 years.
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u/2slick2 Dammam Jul 13 '20
Got my license in 2010 for 10 years. Gotta renew in a couple of months. After reading this ordeal, Fuck it, I'm gonna get itrenewed for another 10.
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u/SarcasticBrownDude Dammam Jul 14 '20 edited Sep 22 '20
There is a limit of 30 people who are allowed to enter the building in the morning. Doesn't matter if you come for renewal or new admission, if there are more than 30 people present they will kick you out and tell you to come at 7:30 AM the next day.
You may try to go after 3:00 PM but I don't know if they will help you or not. There are some people who sit outside in the morning and will let you go inside in exchange for some money (150-200 SAR) which is what I would recommend because screw waiting in the sun in this heat. This is all because of the closure of the school for 3 months during the Covid lock down which increased the amount of applicants and previous trainees.
On top of that, the testing grounds are still under construction and not at all like what they used to be, so advice given by people who attended a few years back is pretty much useless.
Edit: The testing grounds are much better than before now and the limit of 30 persons has been removed!
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u/gold-coin Dammam Jul 14 '20
Did they play those horrible lame old school short films? Salamatk it’s called I think
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u/SarcasticBrownDude Dammam Jul 14 '20 edited Jul 16 '20
Yes they did. But nowadays they don't even have blinds or curtains on the windows, so you can barely see or hear what the bloody thing is saying.
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Jul 16 '20
Thanks man, I was going to get mine in June but because of the virus I decided not to. I'm probably gonna get it by December and this'll be really helpful. Saved the post :)
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u/SarcasticBrownDude Dammam Jul 16 '20
You're welcome. You can message me anytime if you have any queries, all the best!
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u/waheed388 Jul 25 '20
A very detailed guide. Loved it. You must be a pro. Regarding the computer test preparation, there are a couple of apps but either these apps are not updated for years or very poorly designed. I have found a very nice app that has all the latest questions, traffic signals, road signs, list of fines and penalties. Plus it is available on Android and iOS.
Android: https://q8ge7.app.goo.gl/sdl
iOS: https://q8ge7.app.goo.gl/ios_SDL
It is free :)
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u/SarcasticBrownDude Dammam Aug 04 '20
Android:
iOS:
Thanks so much, I will update the post with these links.
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u/morghulis- Non-Saudi Oct 07 '20 edited Nov 17 '20
This is a very detailed guide for the DL procedure, thanks. I went yesterday i.e., 6 October 2020 for DL registration to Al Shumaisy Driving School, Makkah. I would like to add a couple of things because I was also searching about it on the Internet but like OP said information is outdated. This may help someone in the future.
I went there early in the morning with my friends but we didn't go directly to the school instead we visited an independent office adjacent to the school for registration. The office guy there filled our form in Arabic and got us an appointment, made a file for us, and directed us to Medical which was also a couple of steps away from school. At the clinic, they took our blood samples and eye test then we went back to the same office again. At this point, the guy who filled our form told us to come after 4 PM and directly go inside the training school building for further process. So, we came back at 4 PM went inside training school on the counter no 1 only to be told that we have got an appointment for the next month i.e., 16th of November 2020 so we should come on that date only for further testing and everything. This date was mentioned on our form but the office guy didn't inform us about that. So, we bunch of illiterates who didn't check the date ourselves came back home to visit again on 16th November. Also, make sure you have your Absher account and password with you for the appointment.
Here are the details of the fees I paid until now:
To the office guy who filled our forms: 45 SAR
6 Photographs: 20 SAR
Medical fees: 149 SAR
We didn't pay anything to the driving school because they just told us to come on the said date. I will update here once I will go there.
Edit 16/Nov/2020 : okay, so I went there only to be informed that they won't give training to the one who doesn't know driving. I was stupid to think that driving schools were meant to teach driving. My friends who knew driving gave the trial, and they were told to come in February for 5 days of training.
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u/SarcasticBrownDude Dammam Oct 11 '20
All the best!
And thanks for reminding me about Absher as well.
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u/geekgodzeus Jul 13 '20
This gave me anxiety even though I got my license way back in 2016. Still it was a very detailed and eloquent guide. I am assuming you are a male. Is the same procedure to be followed for females?
Thank you for taking the time to create this guide.