Legislation Details
- Full Title: Federal Decree by Law Regulating The Civil Use of Drones and Activities Affiliated with it
- Law Type: Federal Decree-Law
- Law Number: [26] of 2022
- Issued Date: 26 Sep 2022
- Effective Date: 28 Dec 2022
- Official Gazette: No. 736
- Sector: Energy, Transport and Infrastructure
- Status: Active
- Number of Articles: 63
- Chapters/Parts: 0
- Amendments: 0
Summary
This Federal Decree-Law regulates the civil use of drones and affiliated activities in the United Arab Emirates. It aims to ensure the safe use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), maintain the security and safety of the UAE's airspace, and manage and monitor UAV operations in a standardized manner. The law establishes the competences of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and local authorities in overseeing UAV registration, permitting, certification, and enforcement. It covers a range of UAV activities, from commercial to recreational, and imposes obligations on operators, pilots, and owners. The law also specifies penalties for non-compliance. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating The Civil Use of Drones and Activities Affiliated with it, 2022, Art. 1-2)
What is the scope and purpose of this law?
The Decree-Law applies to all types of UAVs and related activities in the UAE, including the free zones, with some exceptions. It does not apply to UAVs used by security authorities or government entities, which can be excluded by Cabinet resolution based on the GCAA's recommendation. (Art. 3) The law aims to: 1) ensure the safe use of UAVs and maintain the security and safety of the UAE's airspace; 2) regulate and control air navigation services for UAVs; 3) manage, regulate and monitor UAV operations and related activities in a safe and effective manner; and 4) minimize the risks arising from UAV operation. (Art. 2)
What are the key definitions under this law?
The Decree-Law provides the following key definitions:
- The State: The United Arab Emirates
- The Emirate: Any emirate of the state
- The GCAA: The General Civil Aviation Authority
- The Competent Authority: The local authority in charge of civil aviation affairs in the Emirate
- Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV): Any machine, vehicle or similar object that can fly without a pilot on board, is controlled remotely or autonomously, and is used for civil purposes
- The Airspace: The UAE's horizontal and vertical airspace
- The Airport: A specified area designated for the landing, take-off, stay and maintenance of UAVs
- The Register: The official register of UAVs, permits, certificates, and operations
- The Permit: The approval issued by the GCAA or competent authority to use or operate a UAV
- The Certificate: An official document proving fulfillment of applicable conditions for UAVs
(Federal Decree by Law Regulating The Civil Use of Drones and Activities Affiliated with it, 2022, Art. 1)
What are the main obligations and requirements?
The Decree-Law imposes several key obligations: 1. The owner must register the UAV with the GCAA or competent authority. (Art. 7) 2. UAVs can only be operated in approved, restricted, or permitted areas as per the UAV information map. (Art. 8) 3. Operators must comply with prohibitions on certain acts or activities, such as interfering with aircraft operations. (Art. 9) 4. Operators must fulfill obligations related to safety, maintenance, and incident reporting. (Art. 10) 5. Operators must obtain a safety certificate from the GCAA or competent authority. (Art. 11) 6. Permit or certificate holders must comply with requirements for withdrawal, revocation, or changes in ownership/status. (Arts. 13-14) (Federal Decree by Law Regulating The Civil Use of Drones and Activities Affiliated with it, 2022, Arts. 7-14)
What licensing, registration, or approval requirements exist?
The Decree-Law establishes several licensing and approval requirements: 1. UAVs must be registered with the GCAA or competent authority. (Art. 7) 2. Operators must obtain a permit or certificate from the GCAA or competent authority to conduct UAV operations. (Arts. 11-12) 3. The GCAA or competent authority issues certificates for UAV pilots, observers, crew members, and training/qualification bodies. (Art. 4) 4. The local authority issues licenses for UAV trading and related activities. (Art. 5) 5. Approvals are required for establishing UAV airports, infrastructure, and safety assessment bodies. (Art. 4) (Federal Decree by Law Regulating The Civil Use of Drones and Activities Affiliated with it, 2022, Arts. 4-5, 7, 11-12)
What rights and protections does this law provide?
The Decree-Law does not explicitly outline any specific rights or protections granted to individuals or businesses. The focus of the law is on regulating the safe and secure use of UAVs in the UAE through a framework of permits, certificates, and enforcement by the GCAA and competent authorities. The law does not mention any individual or commercial rights related to UAV operations. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating The Civil Use of Drones and Activities Affiliated with it, 2022)
Which authorities or bodies are responsible for enforcement?
The key authorities responsible for enforcement and oversight under this Decree-Law are: 1. The GCAA, which has broad competences including creating a UAV register, issuing permits and certificates, defining operational standards, and coordinating with local authorities. (Art. 4) 2. The competent local authority in each emirate, which issues certain permits and certificates and makes data available to the GCAA. (Art. 4) 3. Government entities like the customs authority, telecommunications regulator, and Ministry of Industry, which have specific responsibilities related to UAVs. (Art. 5) 4. Judicial enforcement officers who are empowered to enforce the law's provisions. (Art. 23) (Federal Decree by Law Regulating The Civil Use of Drones and Activities Affiliated with it, 2022, Arts. 4-5, 23)
What are the penalties for non-compliance?
The Decree-Law specifies the following penalties for non-compliance: 1. A fine of not less than AED 50,000 and not more than AED 500,000 for operating a UAV without a permit or certificate. (Art. 21) 2. A fine of not less than AED 20,000 and not more than AED 200,000 for violating the conditions of a permit or certificate. (Art. 21) 3. A fine of not less than AED 10,000 and not more than AED 100,000 for obstructing inspection or providing false information. (Art. 21) 4. Revocation of the permit or certificate for repeated violations. (Art. 21) 5. Imprisonment and/or a fine for acts that endanger aviation safety or national security. (Art. 15) 6. Confiscation of the UAV for certain violations. (Art. 21) (Federal Decree by Law Regulating The Civil Use of Drones and Activities Affiliated with it, 2022, Arts. 15, 21)
What fees, charges, or financial provisions are specified?
The Decree-Law does not specify any fees, charges, or financial thresholds related to UAV operations, permits, or certificates. It only states that the Cabinet may require an insurance policy to be submitted when granting any of the permits under the law. (Art. 5) The specific financial requirements are not outlined in the legislation text provided. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating The Civil Use of Drones and Activities Affiliated with it, 2022, Art. 5)
What exemptions or exceptions apply?
The Decree-Law provides the following exemptions: 1. UAVs used or operated by security authorities are exempt from the law's provisions. (Art. 3) 2. UAVs that are excluded by Cabinet resolution based on the GCAA's recommendation are also exempt. (Art. 3) 3. UAVs used by government entities that are excluded by Cabinet resolution based on the GCAA's recommendation are exempt. (Art. 3) Apart from these specific exemptions, the law does not mention any other exceptions to its scope of application. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating The Civil Use of Drones and Activities Affiliated with it, 2022, Art. 3)
How are disputes resolved under this law?
The Decree-Law does not specify any dispute resolution mechanisms or procedures. It is silent on how disputes arising from the application of this law would be handled or adjudicated. The legislation text provided does not contain any provisions related to dispute resolution. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating The Civil Use of Drones and Activities Affiliated with it, 2022)
What are the key deadlines and time limits?
The Decree-Law does not outline any specific deadlines or time limits. It does not mention any requirements for completing registrations, obtaining permits or certificates, or taking other actions within defined timeframes. The legislation text provided does not contain any provisions specifying key deadlines or time limits. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating The Civil Use of Drones and Activities Affiliated with it, 2022)
How does this law interact with other UAE legislation?
The Decree-Law references the following related UAE federal legislation: - Federal Law No. 1 of 1972 on the Competences of the Ministries and Power of the Ministers - Federal Law No. 20 of 1991 Promulgating the Civil Aviation Law - Federal Law No. 4 of 1996 on the General Civil Aviation Authority - Federal Law No. 3 of 2003 on the Regulation of the Telecommunications Sector - Federal Law No. 14 of 2016 on Violations and Administrative Penalties in the Federal Government - Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2020 on Standards and Metrology - Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021 Promulgating the Crimes and Penalties Law - Federal Decree-Law No. 37 of 2021 on the Establishment of the Commercial Register (Federal Decree by Law Regulating The Civil Use of Drones and Activities Affiliated with it, 2022, Preamble)
When did this law come into effect?
This Federal Decree-Law No. 26 of 2022 Regulating the Civil Use of Drones and Activities Affiliated with it was issued on 26 September 2022 and came into effect on 28 December 2022, as per the publication in Official Gazette No. 736. The legislation does not mention any transitional provisions or phased implementation. (Federal Decree by Law Regulating The Civil Use of Drones and Activities Affiliated with it, 2022, Issued Date, Effective Date)
Source Documents
This article analyses Federal Decree by Law Regulating The Civil Use of Drones and Activities Affiliated with it for legal research and educational purposes. For the purpose of interpretation and application, reference must be made to the original Arabic text. In case of conflict, the Arabic text prevails. This does not constitute legal advice.