DOHA: The Qatar government has agreed to recognise Malaysian driving licence, hence exempting the holders from having to sit and pass the driving test in that country.
Prior to this, Malaysians were required to sit and pass the driving test in Qatar to be able to drive in the left-hand driving country.
The news was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who was here last Saturday for a four-day working visit.
Malaysia Association of Qatar president Ahmad Hasnan Mohd Zaki welcomed Qatar's move. He said Malaysians would otherwise have to wait at least four months and fork out 2,500 Qatari Riyal (RM3,042) to sit for the driving test.
Malaysia started diplomatic relations with Qatar in 1974 and the bilateral ties were strengthened with the opening of the Malaysian embassy in August 2004 followed by the opening of Qatari embassy in Kuala Lumpur in September 2004.
Malaysian ambassador to Qatar Datuk Ahmad Jazri Mohd Johar said there were 5,000 Malaysians in Qatar with most of them working in Qatar Airways, the education sector and the oil industry.
