The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is planning to enforce a new law that aims to restrict the import and export of drones in the country.

GCAA air navigation and aerodromes department director Mohammad Al Dossari said that they are working closely with the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology on the implementation of the new law.

Al Dossari was quoted by gulfnews.com as saying: “We are working with the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology on a law that will have a framework for the UAE on the sale and import of drones.

“Once the law is implemented, you will have restrictions on the sale and import of drones and only certain sizes of drones will be there in the market.

“It is very important that we provide a safe level of service equal to the business that we manage in the airline. This is a new player that we need to incorporate. The UAE is one of the earliest states that have a regulatory framework in this field.

“The challenge that we are facing is people are not aware of the requirements. Several incidents have happened in the UAE caused by individuals who are not familiar with our requirements and they fly the drones.”

"Several incidents have happened in the UAE caused by individuals who are not familiar with our requirements and they fly the drones.”

It is reported that drones are currently retailed across few stores in Dubai and the UAE.

Last year, the Abu Dhabi government has stopped the sale of drones due to risks to the aviation sector.

Nearly 400 drones are currently registered with GCAA, which are used for the agriculture, oil and gas sector and commercial purposes.

The authorities are also seeking new methods to reduce the processing time for the license applications and coordinating with other government establishments such as the UAE Department of Transport, Ministry of Defence, and other air traffic control units in the country.