Drone use in UAE restricted to residents with valid permits, regulator says

Only citizens and residents of the UAE will be allowed to operate drones in the country for recreational purposes once they secure official permits, with visitors and tourists to be included in later stages.

This was outlined by the UAE's aviation authority on Thursday, as the country's Ministry of Interior partly eased restrictions on companies using drones on November 25 and individuals on January 7.

All users must register on the UAE Drone app or website to secure a permit, the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said. “It’s a unified platform or one-stop shop for approvals and permits for recreational drone users,” Ahmed Al Shehhi, Senior Manager, Airspace Section at GCAA, explained.

“The platform is only for UAE residents in the first phase and not for tourists or visitors.” The official added that the next phase could expand the category of users but did not confirm the timeline.

The permits will be valid for two years for drones weighing 5 kg or less, and can be renewed.

The authority, along with the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority and General Civil Aviation Authority, noted that the use of drones will be subject to specific safety conditions aimed at protecting the community and airspace.

About 300 people have applied for permits on the UAE Drone app/website in two days. “Since January 7, the platform has received 300 applications from individuals and 93 applications from companies,” Mr Al Shehhi added.

Before the 2022 ban, 23,000 drones were registered for individuals and 960 for companies.

Who can apply?

All UAE residents with a training certificate from a GCAA-accredited centre will be able to register and submit for flight permits on the UAE Drone app or website.

Mr Al Shehhi said the permit will be processed in around two hours of submitting the application.

Once the permits are in, users must ensure they do not fly the drones over “an altitude of 400 feet or 120 metres above ground level and must be within visual line of sight”.

The UAE Drone app includes features that will alert the UAE authority when users violate the maximum height limit or fly into restricted zones. “Operators need to check restricted areas in the app as its dynamically changes,” Mr Al Shehhi said.

The operational framework in Dubai will be determined by the emirate's Civil Aviation Authority.

Colonel Jamal Al Hosani, director of the air support department at the ministry, urged those planning to fly drones to familiarise themselves with the rules and regulations on the UAE Drone app.

Violators will face penalties, which officials confirmed will be outlined soon.

Why were drones banned?

The ban was introduced in January 2022, after a series of attempted attacks on Abu Dhabi by the Yemen-based Houthis. Restrictions on the use of aerial drones and light sports aircraft were then extended until further notice by the Ministry of Interior.

Companies with essential commercial projects were advised at the time to apply to the authority to ask for an exemption.