Dubai steps up plans for drone flight routes, landing sites

Authorities in Dubai are taking further steps to create a streamlined plan for the development of flight paths, docking stations and infrastructure for unmanned aerial vehicles.

The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dubai Municipality, which will aid the planning of drone flight routes and landing sites.

Both parties will leverage each others’ expertise in creating geospatial data for the emirate as well as their collective knowledge in the unmanned aerial vehicle sector.

The MoU will support the Dubai Horizons project, which aims to provide the ideal environment for the deployment and growth of new drone technologies and infrastructure that are aligned with the emirate’s comprehensive urban plan.

The project, which will run for three years from the initiative's launch date, will be implemented in Dubai Silicon Oasis as a trial run.

As per the MoU, Dubai Municipality will provide the DCAA a direct link to an online portal that contains databases, digital data of a geospatial nature, and 3D charts in Dubai Silicon Oasis.

The DCAA will offer the municipality with geospatial digital data and information related to unmanned aerial vehicle flight routes, airport locations and the vertiport for unmanned aerial vehicles.

Additionally, the DCAA will facilitate the procedures for carrying out the first phase of the Dubai Horizons project by hosting workshops and providing the municipality with the approved regulations, technical specifications and documents. 

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, said Dubai is committed to constantly strengthening its infrastructure in vital sectors to raise its status as one of the world’s top urban economies in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.

In the presence of @HHAhmedBinSaeed, @DcaaDubai & @DMunicipality sign MoU to boost cooperation on Dubai Horizons project to achieve the goals of the #Dubai Horizons project focused on planning drone flight routes and landing sites. https://t.co/deb4dcRcbj pic.twitter.com/osdNBlRYuO

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) May 17, 2023