Drone regulations in the United Arab Emirates

Last update on 20.08.2024 | 2 Kommentare

In this post, we’ll explain to you which laws in the United Arab Emirates apply to the use of drones.

The legal situation differs within the United Arab Emirates, which makes it difficult to keep an overview.

In general, you must register your drone with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), regardless of the purpose of the flight.

Drone Registration in Dubai

Dubai has its own registration process. Here, you must register your drone at www.dcaa.gov.ae. For the registration, you need a local mobile number to which a confirmation code will be sent via SMS. It is recommended to purchase a prepaid SIM card on site. First, you need to create a user account. After registering, you must log in and then register your drone under the icon “UAV/UAS/RPAS Registration.” Unfortunately, I am not sure if further registration with the GCAA is also required.

Overview: Drone rules in United Arab Emirates

Regulations for Private Drone Use in the UAE (Non-Commercial)

As a user, you and your drone must be registered with the GCAA before any flight.

All drones weighing up to 5 kg may only fly in the approved flight zone indicated in the mobile application “My drone hub” (i.e., the green zone).

The use of cameras is only allowed within the flight zones. Drone users must not violate the relevant laws of the UAE when using the camera.

Additionally, your drone must not be equipped with any drop or release mechanisms.

In the United Arab Emirates, drone flights are only permitted within the line of sight.

For drones weighing over 5 kg, flights are only allowed within the premises of a model aircraft club.

For FPV flights, the frequency regulations of 29.7-47.0 MHz with a max of 10 mW and 2400-2500 MHz with a max of 100 mW are allowed.

If an accident occurs with a drone or you lose control of your drone, you must report the incident/accident immediately to the GCAA via the hotline: +971506414667 and via email: [email protected].

We recommend that you only fly with valid drone insurance in the United Arab Emirates.

Regulations for Commercial Use in the UAE

If you intend to operate your drone in the UAE for professional purposes or special missions, you must follow these steps:

Step 1: Register the Organization and Obtain the Unmanned Aircraft Operator Authorization (UOA)

All organizations/operators intending to operate UAS in the UAE for professional purposes or special missions must submit the following documents:

• A security clearance issued by the GCAA (for further assistance regarding security clearance, contact the AVSEC team at Tel: +97124054492 or Email: [email protected])
• Fill out the “UA operator registration letter” (the letter should be printed on the company’s letterhead and sent to [email protected])
• Register with the GCAA E-Publications Service and send proof of registration to [email protected] (Fee: 1,200 AED)

The time to obtain the Unmanned Aircraft Operator Authorization (UOA) is 3 weeks, provided the GCAA approves the documents. However, this does not authorize you to fly your drone! You still need an operational approval.

Step 2: Apply for Operational Approval

Once you have received the UOA from the GCAA, you must apply for an operational approval for unmanned aircraft for each drone flight activity in the red zone.

Note: Regardless of the flight zone (red or green), you must apply for approval if your drone flight activity involves the use of recording devices (e.g., camera, video streaming, etc.). All flights with camera drones require approval. This application process usually takes 14 working days.

For further information on operational approval, contact the ANA team at Tel: +97124054257 or Email: [email protected].

Safety Distances and Flight Restrictions

You must maintain a distance of 5 kilometers from the outer perimeter of airports and helicopter landing sites at all times. You are not allowed to fly a drone closer than 50 meters to buildings, uninvolved persons, and vehicles. Drone operations are only permitted during daylight hours. Drones weighing more than 25 kilograms may only be operated by pilots who are at least 21 years old.

You can find an overview of the permitted flight zones in the airspace of the UAE in the mobile app “My Drone Hub.” Additionally, you can download the KMZ file here or view the flight zone map online.

The drone rules for the United Arab Emirates listed here have been researched to the best of our knowledge. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information. If you want to be sure, contact the relevant aviation authority. Alternatively, you can also inquire at the embassy in Germany for further information on the regulations. Please leave us a comment if you have any news or if you have had any experiences with your drone in the United Arab Emirates!