His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister, in his capacity as Ruler of Dubai, issued Law No. (4) for the year 2020, regarding the regulation of drones in the Emirate of Dubai, with the aim of preserving the security and safety of air navigation in the emirate, and achieving The public interest of the community, regulating the operations of drone operations in the emirate, and ensuring the optimal use of them, in accordance with the best global standards and practices applied in this regard, and organizing the practice of activities related to the use of drone, and creating an environment conducive to investment in this sector.
The law also aims to reduce the risks arising from the operation of drones, determine the tasks and responsibilities of the relevant authorities in this regard, and contribute to making Dubai a center for the manufacture of drones, smart transport, and innovation in the field of air transport, and enable public and private agencies to use drones A pilot in providing the desired services.
The provisions of this law apply to all types of drones, and include the plane directed by the naked eye, the plane directed remotely, and the self-guided plane and its uses, with different control systems throughout the Emirate of Dubai, including private development areas, and free zones, including a center Dubai International Financial, and to all individuals and public and private entities that use drones in the emirate, while the provisions of this law are exempt from drones that are used for military purposes, provided that coordination is done in this regard with the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, to ensure safety Operations, and not to jeopardize civil aviation.
Terms of reference
According to the law, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority oversees the application of its provisions, and organizes the operations and related activities, in accordance with federal legislation, treaties and agreements, to which the state is a party or is a party to, and in this way, and in coordination with the relevant authorities, may undertake a number of Tasks and powers, including: defining the operations and related activities, supervising and controlling them, supervising the operations of unmanned aircraft in the airspace designated for these aircraft, and setting and adopting the conditions and procedures necessary for issuing permits to conduct operations and engage in related activities, including operational experiences.
Dubai Air Navigation Services
The law stipulated that «Dubai Aeronautics Services Corporation shall organize the safe and effective movement of unmanned aircraft within the emirate’s airspace in the horizontal and vertical extensions, in a manner that ensures the safety of air navigation, and is in accordance with federal legislation, treaties and agreements, to which the state is a party or is a member To it, the Foundation will have a number of tasks and powers, including: defining the airspace for unmanned aircraft in the Emirate of Dubai, for the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority to supervise and manage it, and to organize, control and manage the operations and movement of unmanned aircraft in that field ».
Dubai Engineering Aviation Projects
The law defines the terms of reference of the Dubai Foundation for Engineering Aviation Projects, which include: setting specifications, standards and conditions to be met in airports for unmanned aerial vehicles, submitting them to the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority for approval, and setting and approving engineering designs for airports for unmanned aircraft for government use, stations, facilities, and infrastructure Necessary for it and supervision of its establishment and implementation.
Dubai Police
Law No. (4) for the year 2020 stipulates that “Dubai Police, in coordination with the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, shall assume a number of tasks and powers in this regard, including: setting and applying security measures and measures to address and prevent acts of unlawful interference related to the use of unmanned aircraft And to investigate the crimes resulting from their use, and to put and apply preventive measures and measures in the event of losing control of the drone, or its departure from approved areas or air routes, or its non-compliance with the instructions of the authority and the concerned authorities ».
Activities and uses
According to the law, any person is prohibited from driving a drone, using it, performing operations, practicing any of the related activities, creating an infrastructure, or establishing a private drone airport in Dubai, before obtaining a permit to do so from the Dubai Authority For civil aviation, the decisions issued in implementation of this law determine the conditions and requirements for obtaining the permit, and when issuing the permit, an assessment of the risks arising from the operation of unmanned aircraft, the type of use through which, and the place of use, and any other considerations that the Authority deems necessary, to ensure the safety of air navigation are taken into account. And operations security.
Infrastructure
The law specifies the requirements for the establishment of the infrastructure to carry out operations for the operation of unmanned aircraft, which may not be established except after obtaining a permit from the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, and this permit is issued in coordination with the Dubai Foundation for Engineering Aviation Projects, and the relevant authorities, according to the terms and requirements approved by the authority and these The actors.
The law prohibits any person from establishing or operating airports for unmanned aerial vehicles, or making any amendment to it before obtaining a permit to do so from the authority, and this permit is issued in coordination with the Dubai Engineering Projects and the concerned authorities.
Penalties and violations
Without prejudice to any more severe penalty stipulated in any other legislation, the imprisonment and the fine, or one of these two penalties, shall be imposed on anyone who: endangers the safety and security of the airspace in any way, or designs, manufactures, assembles, modifies or maintains the drone and its systems and develops systems Simulation and training without obtaining a permit to do so from the authority, or importing, inserting or selling unmanned aircraft or their parts or systems in the emirate without obtaining a permit to do so from the authority, as well as all who carried out the operations or operational experiences of the drone in a manner Contrary to the provisions of this law and the decisions issued pursuant thereto.
It is determined by a decision issued by the President of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai: the actions that constitute a violation of the provisions of this law and the decisions issued according to it, the financial fine and administrative penalties that must be taken against the perpetrators of the violations, and the conditions and limits for doubling the financial fine in the event of a repeat of the violation itself.
The person responsible for the damage resulting from the operations and related activities is responsible for compensation for the damages and removing the causes of the violation committed by him, within the time limit specified by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, and in the event he is not committed to remove the causes of the violation or delaying its removal, the Authority and at the expense of the person responsible for the damage, shall The causes of the damage, whether by its own devices, or through the use of any other party, in addition to charging the person responsible for the damage with 20% of the value of the cost of removing the damages as administrative expenses.
Unlawful interference
The law enumerates acts of unlawful interference, which endanger the safety of civil aviation and air transportation, are: unlawful seizure of drones, control or unlawful penetration of their operating systems, their use in preparatory work, or for any act that violates existing legislation, installation Any weapon, device, or dangerous material or unlawfully prohibited on a drone, and it is prohibited for any person to perform any of the aforementioned acts, under penalty of legal liability.
Privacy and data protection
Law No. (4) of 2020 regarding the regulation of drones in the Emirate of Dubai, states that “Every person who uses a drone must take all necessary measures to preserve the sanctity of housing, and not to violate the privacy of persons, as well as on their private, commercial, and other secrets,” Maintaining the confidentiality of data enjoying legal protection, and it is prohibited for any person to register, photograph or use remote sensing techniques to violate the privacy of the private or family life of individuals, as well as photographing installations, buildings, the forbidden area or restricted area, in cases other than those authorized by law, or from Without obtaining a permit to do so from the relevant authorities, and it is prohibited for any person to install any devices or equipment to collect information and data illegally ».
Whoever endangers the safety and security of the airspace shall be punished with imprisonment and a fine, or one of the two penalties.
It is prohibited to import, enter or sell drones before obtaining a permit.