The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has announced that only citizens and residents will be allowed to operate drones for recreational purposes, provided they secure valid permits. Visitors and tourists will be included in later phases, though no timeline has been confirmed.
Drone operators must register through the UAE Drone app or website to obtain the necessary permits. The process is part of a unified platform aimed at simplifying approvals. According to Ahmed Al Shehhi, Senior Manager of the Airspace Section at GCAA, the platform currently caters only to UAE residents in its first phase.
Permits, which are valid for two years for drones weighing less than 5kg, can be issued within two hours of application. Applicants must hold a training certificate from a GCAA-accredited center. Since the registration platform’s launch on January 7, over 300 applications from individuals and 93 from companies have been submitted.
Users must follow strict safety guidelines, including keeping drones within a visual line of sight and limiting their flight altitude to 400 feet (120 meters) above ground level. The UAE Drone app features a dynamic map that highlights restricted zones and alerts users if they violate the maximum height or enter prohibited areas.
The updated regulations follow the partial lifting of a 2022 ban on drones, introduced after attempted attacks on Abu Dhabi by the Yemen-based Houthis. While restrictions have been eased, the GCAA emphasized that drone use will remain subject to specific safety and operational rules to protect both the community and the airspace.
Colonel Jamal Al Hosani, Director of the Air Support Department at the Ministry of Interior, urged aspiring drone operators to familiarize themselves with the rules outlined in the UAE Drone app to avoid penalties. The penalties for violations will be announced at a later date.
Before the 2022 ban, over 23,000 drones were registered for individuals and 960 for companies in the UAE. The government’s decision to reopen registration aims to balance safety with the growing popularity of drone usage for recreational and commercial purposes.
The operational framework in Dubai will be managed by the emirate’s Civil Aviation Authority, ensuring compliance with local regulations. The gradual easing of restrictions signals a step forward for the aviation and recreational drone sector in the UAE.