The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has officially stopped providing direct drone services and announced that all applications and related processes must now be completed via the country’s new dedicated drone services platform: drones.gov.ae. The website is jointly operated by the UAE Cybersecurity Council and GCAA, and it consolidates key functionalities for drone pilots, government agencies, and commercial users.
New Platform for Drone Operations
In a public statement, the GCAA said: “Drone services are no longer available through GCAA. You can apply for drone services via drones.gov.ae.” Applicants are now required to:
- Register as drone pilots
- Receive real-time airspace updates
- Obtain immediate mission approvals in controlled zones
- Create detailed flight reports
- Plan safe and compliant drone operations with live situational awareness
The platform centralises all operations from recreational flying to commercial and government drone usage under one streamlined digital system.
New Guidelines and Cybersecurity Integration
In May 2025, the UAE Cybersecurity Council announced the country’s first national guidelines for drone operations, driven by growing drone use in:
- Agriculture
- Environmental monitoring
- Logistics and delivery
The guidelines focus on:
- Protecting airspace and infrastructure
- Ensuring data integrity
- Proactively addressing cybersecurity threats
This regulatory shift follows a national effort to standardise drone operations and avoid misuse. In 2022, the UAE banned drone usage after a series of violations. However, on January 7, 2025, the Ministry of Interior partially lifted the ban, allowing drone usage under strict safety regulations and federal and local compliance requirements.
Training, Compliance and Resources
The new platform drones.gov.ae also provides:
- Direct links for registration based on drone usage type: recreational, commercial, or governmental
- A comprehensive drone operation manual covering:
- Do’s and don’ts
- Permitted flying areas
- Time restrictions
- Registration and setup guides
- Mission planning and flight request procedures
In addition, it lists three approved training organisations:
- Emirates Falcon Aeroclub – Al Ain
- Melaaha Drones – Fujairah
- Versa Aerospace – Abu Dhabi
The platform aims to support safe and regulated drone activity while enhancing the UAE’s vision for tech-driven airspace management.
