Crackdown on illegal drone sales and operations

2026-02-17 - 15:46

Muscat – The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Tuesday issued a circular regulating the sale and registration of unmanned aircraft, or drones, as part of efforts to strengthen airspace safety and safeguard people and property. The move, in line with the National Aviation Strategy 2040, introduces tighter controls on drone transactions and ownership. Under the directive, all commercial outlets selling drones must hold a valid licence and comply with approved regulations. Licensed vendors are required to register each drone through the official AirPortal platform, while ownership must be formally transferred to the buyer’s account via the Serb application before the aircraft is handed over. The CAA urged buyers to purchase drones only from authorised sellers to ensure compliance with regulations. It warned that the sale, trade or operation of drones outside approved channels is a legal offence, adding that violators will be subject to legal action in accordance with the laws of Oman.