Daijiworld Media Network- Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, Jul 2: The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has officially shut down all direct drone-related services and directed all users — including recreational pilots, commercial operators, and government agencies — to the unified digital portal drones.gov.ae, marking a significant shift in the nation’s airspace governance.
This decision, implemented in collaboration with the UAE Cybersecurity Council, aims to centralize drone services and reinforce safety, cybersecurity, and compliance protocols across the country.
In a public advisory, the GCAA confirmed, “Drone services are no longer available through GCAA. You can apply for drone services via drones.gov.ae.” The newly launched platform offers streamlined services including:
• Drone pilot registration
• Real-time airspace updates
• Instant mission approvals in restricted zones
• Detailed flight report submissions
• Live situational awareness for safer drone operations
The platform integrates operations across recreational, commercial, and official use cases, aligning with the UAE’s ambition to build a secure, tech-savvy airspace infrastructure.
This move follows the UAE Cybersecurity Council’s announcement in May 2025 of the country’s first national drone guidelines, intended to regulate the use of drones across sectors such as agriculture, logistics, and environmental surveillance. These guidelines emphasize:
• Securing sensitive airspace and infrastructure
• Safeguarding data collected by drones
• Proactively mitigating cybersecurity threats
Drone activity in the UAE was banned in 2022 following multiple violations. Although partially lifted on January 7, 2025, the updated framework maintains tight controls, mandating that all operators adhere to both federal and emirate-level laws.
The new portal offers detailed manuals covering permitted flying zones, time restrictions, do's and don'ts, and step-by-step guidance on registration and mission approvals. It also lists three GCAA-approved training providers:
• Emirates Falcon Aeroclub, Al Ain
• Melaaha Drones, Fujairah
• Versa Aerospace, Abu Dhabi
With this digitized overhaul, the UAE aims to promote innovation while maintaining firm control over its airspace, setting a precedent for drone governance in the region.