🇦🇪 Drone rules in United Arab Emirates
Register both yourself and your drone with the federal GCAA on the UAE Drones app (which needs a UAE Pass, so residents only), hold a GCAA-accredited training certificate, fit Remote ID, and stay below 400 ft away from airports and crowds. Drone rules in the UAE have changed repeatedly and remain volatile — recreational flying is effectively unavailable to casual visitors, so always check the current GCAA Safety Decision before any flight.
Before you fly: drone rules change and vary by location. This page is a general summary, not legal advice. Confirm the current rules with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) (official site). You are responsible for flying legally and safely.
Do I need to register my drone?
Yes — both the operator and the drone must be registered federally with the GCAA before flying, regardless of weight, through the UAE Drones unified platform/app. Registration uses the UAE Pass digital ID, which in practice means residents only. Certificates issued before January 2025 were invalidated and had to be renewed.
Do I need a licence or test?
Yes. Individuals must obtain a training certificate from a GCAA-accredited training centre, plus a product status statement for the drone model. Commercial operators need an Unmanned Aircraft Operator Authorisation and per-flight permissions; any camera use needs separate security approval.
Is Remote ID required?
Yes. Drones must carry a broadcast Remote ID system and the app must be running during flight. Drones without built-in Remote ID must fit an approved tracking device.
What is the maximum altitude?
400 ft (120 m) above ground level, in daylight and within visual line of sight only.
Where can't I fly?
Within 5 km of any airport, heliport or airfield and in controlled airspace (Dubai and Abu Dhabi are major hubs), over crowds, populated areas or property, and at government or sensitive sites — you must stay inside the designated zones shown in the app. In 2026 the GCAA imposed a UAE-wide suspension of drone operations (Safety Decision 2026-03); permitted commercial operations were authorised to resume from mid-2026 subject to GCAA and DCAA clearance, but recreational flying stayed effectively closed to hobbyists and casual tourists cannot register or fly. Because the status keeps changing, check the current GCAA Safety Decision before flying. Flying without authorisation can bring fines up to AED 50,000 and jail; flying in prohibited areas up to AED 100,000 and longer imprisonment (far higher penalties apply to making or trading drones).
Authority: General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA)