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Drone Laws in Morocco

Summary of Drone Laws in Morocco

Hobbyist Drone Laws For Residents of Morocco

Drone Operations in Morocco are currently not regulated.

  • Hobbyist drone flights are uncertain in Morocco
  • Hobbyist Morocco drone pilot license is unknown
  • Hobbyist Drone registration is uncertain in Morocco for hobbyists
  • Drone Remote ID is not required in Morocco for hobbyists
  • Drone Insurance is uncertain for hobbyists’ drone operations in Morocco

Read below for more details on Hobbyist Drone Laws in Morocco and to find links to regulators and other credible sources!

Commercial Drone Laws For Residents of Morocco

Drone Operations in Morocco are currently not regulated.

  • Commercial drone flights are uncertain in Morocco
  • Commercial Morocco drone pilot license is unknown
  • Commercial Drone registration is uncertain in Morocco for commercial drone operators
  • Drone Remote ID is not required in Morocco for Commercial Drone Operators
  • Drone Insurance is uncertain for commercial drone operations in Morocco

Read below for more details on Commercial Drone Laws in Morocco and to find links to regulators and other credible sources!

Drone Regulations For Visitors To Morocco

Drone Operations in Morocco are currently not regulated.

  • Foreign visitor drone flights are not allowed in Morocco
  • Foreign visitor drone pilot license is not applicable
  • Drone registration is not applicable in Morocco for visitors/tourists
  • Drone Remote ID is not applicable in Morocco for tourists
  • Drone Insurance is not applicable for tourist drone operations in Morocco

Read below for more details on Drone Laws in Morocco for Visitors (Tourists) and to find links to regulators and other credible sources!

Drone Rules For Government Drone Operators in Morocco

Drone Operations in Morocco are currently not regulated.

  • Government drone flights are allowed in Morocco
  • Government drone pilot license is not required
  • Drone registration is required in Morocco for Government operations
  • Drone Remote ID is not required in Morocco for Government operations
  • Drone Insurance is not required for Government drone operations in Morocco

Read below for more details on Drone Laws in Morocco for Government Drone Operations and to find links to regulators and other credible sources!

Agencies Responsible for regulating drones in the Kingdom of Morocco

Drone Regulator in Morocco: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

UAS Laws – General rules for flying drones in Morocco

The Moroccan agency responsible for drone safety, DGCA, has not codified drone use regulations in Morocco. Go to the link above to check for recent updates.

Are drones allowed in Morocco?

According to DGCA, Drone operations are not regulated in Morocco. Use the ICAO’s recommendations. Read on for more details.

Here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in Morocco:

Absent explicit regulations, we suggest you contact the DGCA and follow the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recommendations (ICAO UAS Toolkit):

  1. You should always consult your local Civil Aviation Authority. Drone guidelines and regulations differ from country to country.
  2. Most states require you to get a permit before operating a drone:
    • If the drone weighs more than 25 kg (55 lbs).
    • If you are paid to use the drone or if you use it for research.
  3. Keep your drone within eyesight at all times.
  4. Read the user’s manual before operating your drone.
  5. Check your drone before each flight.
  6. Don’t fly within 50 meters (55 yards) of or over people, property, or vehicles.
  7. Don’t fly over 150 meters (490 feet) from the ground.
  8. Don’t fly near an airport. Stay at least 8km (5 miles) away.
  9. Always remember that you are now a remote pilot. You are responsible for flying safely and avoiding collisions.

Why follow ICAO recommendations when a country does not have drone regulations?

ICAO is a United Nations Specialized Agency. It is funded and directed by 193 national governments. ICAO supports their diplomacy and cooperation in air transport. The 193 nations are signatory states to the Chicago Convention (1944). 

ICAO’s main job is maintaining an administrative and expert bureaucracy (the ICAO Secretariat). The secretariat supports diplomatic interactions and researches new air transport policies. It develops standardization innovations as directed and endorsed by governments. It uses the ICAO Assembly or the ICAO Council, which the assembly elects.

ICAO is not a regulator. It provides standards to all its member states. This means that most nations worldwide are coordinating with ICAO. ICAO supports those countries with limited resources for developing drone regulations.

IACO provides ICAO Model UAS regulations and circulars that member states adopt.

Notes for recreational drone pilots flying for fun in Morocco

See the general rules above.

Notes for foreign operators interested in flying drones in Morocco

NOTE: Recent feedback from our readers suggests drones are being confiscated upon arrival in Morocco. We strongly recommend contacting the DGCA and getting authorization before arriving in Morocco.

Notes for operating Commercial Drone Services in Morocco

See the general rules above.

Useful published information on flying drones in Morocco

Here is a sample of what you might expect if you follow the drone laws and fly in Morocco…

Authoritative Sources of Information on Morocco Drone Laws

We will attempt to keep an updated list of online authoritative links to regulators and other official websites here:

NOTE: This page is about the Regulation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS), Small UAS, Remote Piloted Aerial Systems (RPAS), unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), and drone are interchangeable terms unless specified. Model Aircraft, toy, remote-controlled, and RC aircraft may be covered by the same regulations unless specified.

Find out why

We think you must use a Drone Preflight Checklist

And a Drone Post-flight checklist

Free Drone Flight Checklist PDF

This Drone Flight Checklist is better than others.

It’s free!

It includes both the preflight checklist and post-flight checklist

It’s an easy-to-use printable PDF that covers all your bases.

Go here to read why you need a Drone Preflight Checklist and get the free PDF
Go here to read why you need a Drone Post-flight Checklist and get the free PDF

Traveling with a Drone?

Click here to read our Comprehensive Guide For Traveling With A Drone.

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN

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6 responses to “Drone Laws in Morocco”

  1. larsson

    I went to morocco in december 2023. I had no idea about the ban of drones there. When I landed in Marrakech, there was special screening fron drones in luggage in the final customs check. There were signs everywhere “declare your drone”. I pretended I did not see them. When my bag was screened, security guy behind the screen asked straight away “do I have drone in my bag?”. I said yes and I was forwarded to customs office where my drone was taken for hold. Drone was packed carefully and piled up on with other “confiscated” drones. Only drone itself was taken away and I was given paper for that. On the paper the drone model and value was really random. They told me that on the leaving day, before flight I must come back to same place and take 101 Dirhams (~10eur) (service fee) with me. I had to carry remote control and all the batteries and chargers pointlessly with me for the whole trip. When leaving the country, I went back to arrivals to get my drone back. I gave them the paper, paid my fee and got my drone back. And security took me straight to departures – I could not go anywhere else with my drone. I could have avoided all that hassle with just one googling before trip.

    Reply
    1. Editorial Team

      Thanks for sharing your experience. We will probably need to increase the size of our warning above to make it more visible.
      Glad you got your drone back.

      Reply
  2. Stephen

    I can confirm that I learned about this the hard way. Its not a matter of it “may” be seized. It WILL be seized. You will be interrogated by several officers all at once as well as consecutively. All of your information will be taken and you will have to sign several documents whether you understand the language or not.

    I dont know why I assumed that taking a drone would be OK in certain countries as it is in mine. You live and you learn

    Reply
    1. Mike

      Hi Stephen, what kind of drone did you bring? Kind regards, Mike

      Reply
  3. Drew McCormick

    It is illegal to bring drones of any size into Morocco. They may be confiscated at customs when you enter.
    I was there in October and was told this by multiple people, including the manager of the Hasan II mosque and others who saw the signs at the airport.

    Reply
    1. Merlin at Drone Laws

      Thank you, Drew. We have added words of caution above

      Reply

Leave a Comment

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6 thoughts on “Drone Laws in Morocco”

  1. I went to morocco in december 2023. I had no idea about the ban of drones there. When I landed in Marrakech, there was special screening fron drones in luggage in the final customs check. There were signs everywhere “declare your drone”. I pretended I did not see them. When my bag was screened, security guy behind the screen asked straight away “do I have drone in my bag?”. I said yes and I was forwarded to customs office where my drone was taken for hold. Drone was packed carefully and piled up on with other “confiscated” drones. Only drone itself was taken away and I was given paper for that. On the paper the drone model and value was really random. They told me that on the leaving day, before flight I must come back to same place and take 101 Dirhams (~10eur) (service fee) with me. I had to carry remote control and all the batteries and chargers pointlessly with me for the whole trip. When leaving the country, I went back to arrivals to get my drone back. I gave them the paper, paid my fee and got my drone back. And security took me straight to departures – I could not go anywhere else with my drone. I could have avoided all that hassle with just one googling before trip.

    Reply

    • Thanks for sharing your experience. We will probably need to increase the size of our warning above to make it more visible.
      Glad you got your drone back.

      Reply

  2. I can confirm that I learned about this the hard way. Its not a matter of it “may” be seized. It WILL be seized. You will be interrogated by several officers all at once as well as consecutively. All of your information will be taken and you will have to sign several documents whether you understand the language or not.

    I dont know why I assumed that taking a drone would be OK in certain countries as it is in mine. You live and you learn

    Reply

  3. It is illegal to bring drones of any size into Morocco. They may be confiscated at customs when you enter.
    I was there in October and was told this by multiple people, including the manager of the Hasan II mosque and others who saw the signs at the airport.

    Reply

Leave a Comment