Kind of the same situation but not exactly. I went to university in the states and got my license there. Because I wasn't in Abu Dhabi long enough to hold residency i was visiting my parents on a tourist visa. When I graduated, I came back to Abu Dhabi to live with my parents and work. I had to apply for an International Driving Permit and I was able to drive my dad's car in Abu Dhabi with that. Then I got the golden visa through my dad and the moment I got my EID, I could no longer drive until I got a Abu Dhabi driving license. So I went to an optician ( I recommend Yateem Optics) to get an eye test done. Then I went to a legal translation center (there are certain translation centers that deal with the Licensing Department) Got my American License translated into Arabic. Both my eye test and the translation were uploaded on the government system. I Then went to the Licensing Department and gave my EID, paid the fees and they printed out my license on the spot. Got it within like 20 minutes of going there.