Plan
Drone rules: United Arab Emirates
Last checked: October 1, 2026
Unclear
We have no reliable official information for this country. Check with the aviation authority before you travel whether and how you may fly.
From February to June 2026 all drone flights were suspended. Since 30 June 2026 licensed and commercial operators may fly again; whether this also applies to hobby pilots and tourists has not been clearly published by the authorities.
Every drone regardless of weight, via the MyDroneHub app for recreational pilots; Dubai has its own procedure for tourists.
Not required for hobby pilots, but recommended.
For tourists
Around Burj Khalifa, Marina and Downtown Dubai is usually restricted airspace; unauthorised flights can be punished with imprisonment and heavy fines.
Further rules
- In the United Arab Emirates, every drone must be registered with the aviation authority GCAA, regardless of weight; recreational pilots do this via the MyDroneHub app. Third-party liability insurance is not mandatory for hobby users, but it is recommended.
- As a rule, you may only fly in zones approved by the GCAA (up to a take-off mass of 5 kilograms); heavier or gas-powered models are only permitted at licensed flying clubs. The maximum flight altitude is 120 metres above ground level, always with direct visual line of sight to the drone.
- No-fly zones apply, among other places, around airports, government and military buildings and residential areas; night flights require a special permit. In Dubai, there is also a separate short-term permit procedure for tourists, but its exact costs and processing times are inconsistent across the available sources and not officially confirmed – checking directly with the local authority before your trip makes more sense here than relying on a specific figure.
- The penalties for violations are severe: up to one year in prison and/or 50,000 AED for unauthorised flights, and up to three years in prison and/or 100,000 AED for flights over no-fly zones.
- Popular tourist areas in particular (e.g. around the Burj Khalifa, the Marina and Downtown Dubai) are often restricted zones – if you fly there without a permit, you risk exactly these penalties.
Sources
This overview is not legal advice and not an official statement — laws change, and we cannot guarantee that every entry is fully up to date. Before your flight, please also check the official source or the local civil aviation authority.