UAE bans all drones and light sports aircraft immediately after deadly attack on Abu Dhabi Airport

In the wake of the deadly drone attack targeting Abu Dhabi International Airport on Jan. 17, the UAE’s Ministry of Interior (MoI) announced new directives banning all drone and light sports aircraft flights across the country, starting Saturday Jan. 22.

Unlawful Practices
The new directives were issued in coordination with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) after several cases of non-compliance and unlawful trespassing were reported.

The ministry urged the public to comply with the recent guidelines to ensure the safety of lives and property, and avoid unsafe practices, stressing that companies with work contracts, commercial or advertising projects, that rely on drone filming must communicate with the authorities to obtain the necessary exceptions and permits to carry out their projects and avoid unfavourable consequences.

Legal Consequences
The ministry warned that operators disregarding the new guidelines will be subject to legal consequences including imprisonment and fines.

Under the GCAA regulations article 69, a person can be imprisoned for a year and a fined up to AED50,000, or either penalty, for violating UAV operating rules including flying without authorisation from the competent Authority, piloting an aircraft without holding the required certificate, licences or authorisations, piloting an aircraft when drunk, causing damage to aeronautical communication facilities or navigation aids on the ground, and failing to enter the required information in the documents or records of the aircraft or for altering such information.

On the other hand, article 70 stipulates that operators can be imprisoned for three years and fined up to AED100,000, or either penalty, for flying without bearing the nationality and registration marks or displaying incorrect or ineligible marks, piloting drones over prohibited areas, not complying with an order to land while in flight, landing at or taking off from areas other than the designated places, and flying UAVs without authorisation or carrying onboard weapons, munitions of war or to commit an act of smuggling. commercialdroneprofessional.com