Picture used for illustrative purpose only.

Sallam Abu Shehab, Staff Reporter

The Cabinet Decision No.58 of 2024 on fees for services related to drones for civilian use and related activities, which came into effect at the end of July 2024, stipulates that the services provided by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) shall be charged the prescribed fees for each of the services listed in the table attached to the decision.

The aforementioned table comprises 17 types of service and fee, which are applicable upon issuance and annual renewal. The fees vary in amount from Dhs200 to Dhs10,000 per service.

The decision stipulates that the aforementioned fees shall be collected by the Authority through the means determined by the Ministry of Finance.

Moreover, the relevant authority in each emirate is obliged to liaise with the Authority and provide written notification of its intention to exercise the powers conferred upon it by the Decree-Law and to collect the associated fees in accordance with the prevailing decisions and procedures within the emirate.

Furthermore, the Cabinet shall have the authority to make any amendments to the fees attached to the decision, whether by addition, deletion or amendment.

The fee table is as follows: a drone registration certificate for recreational activities and hobbies costs Dhs200 upon issuance and Dhs200 renewal every two years; a drone registration certificate for the "organising events" category costs Dhs200 upon issuance and Dhs200 renewal every two years; the weight of the drone is also taken into account.

The fee is Dhs200 upon issuance and Dhs200 upon renewal every two years.

The fee for a drone pilot certificate is Dhs100 upon issuance and Dhs100 upon renewal every five years. The fee for a drone operator accreditation certificate for the categories "commercial, government, event organisation" is Dhs5,000 upon issuance and Dhs5,000 upon annual renewal.

The fee for an accredited institution certificate for training on drones is Dhs10,000 upon issuance and Dhs10,000 upon annual renewal. The fee for a permit to approve the manufacture, design or maintenance of drones is Dhs10,000 upon issuance and Dhs10,000 upon annual renewal.

The fees for approval to establish facilities for drone activities is Dhs5,000 upon issuance and Dhs5,000 upon annual renewal.

The fees for the approval to establish drone landing pads is Dhs5,000 for issuance, and Dhs5,000 for annual renewal. Issuing certificate for safety assessment costs Dhs5,000, payable upon issuance and again upon annual renewal.

The fee for issuance safety certificate is Dhs1,000, and the fee for annual renewal is also Dhs1,000.

The fees for approval to establish fuel and energy supply stations is Dhs5,000 upon issuance and Dhs5,000 upon annual renewal.