All drivers in Bahrain will have new GCC licences by 2011, according to traffic officials.

More than 6,000 new licences have been issued and people can get one when they renew theirs, the officials said.

The new licences issued last month follow certain criteria approved by GCC traffic authorities for people in the six member states.

The licence includes the GCC emblem and that of the issuing country.

It also has the driver's name, address and CPR number, the licence's type, and the expiry date along with other relevant information, said General Directorate of Traffic licensing director Colonel Khaled Rabe'a.

"All GCC licences will have the same look and information requirements. This will ease acquiring data of any GCC driver who comes to any of the six member countries."

Bahrain residents can wait until their licences expire to renew it with a BD12 ($31.8) fee, he said.

The procedure is very accessible and simple, where people have to fill a form.

"The forms are available at the directorate and post offices across the country," said Colonel Rabe'a.

"All they need to do is fill the information and attach the old licence and passport-size picture along with BD12 for renewal."

He said Bahrain was one of the leading countries to follow the GCC requirements for these licences.

"We are proud to say we followed exactly the requirements implemented by the GCC."

Col Rabe'a hoped all licences would be replaced by new ones within three years.

GCC driving licence holders can renew their licences here on the condition that they are valid for at least six months.

"If a GCC national wants to renew his licence and it is valid for another six months or more, we can renew it and send his old licence to his country," said Rabe'a.-TradeArabia News Service