Agencies Responsible for regulating drones in the Sultanate of Oman
Drone Regulator in Oman: Oman Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
Link to Oman Drone Laws: Oman CAR-102 Civil Aviation Regulation Remote Piloted Aircraft (Drones) Effective: 30th December 2021
UAS Laws – General rules for flying drones in Oman
The Oman agency responsible for drone safety, CAA, has provided several internet-accessible details on flying drones for fun or work. The highlights are enumerated below. For more details, go to the link above.
Are drones allowed in Oman?
Here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in Oman:
Here is a summary table provided by the CAA of prerequisites for using an unmanned aircraft in Oman:

An RPA is operated in standard RPA operating conditions providing adherence to the following:
- Except for a MicroRPA (less than 250 gm), all RPAs must be registered with the CAA before their use within the Sultanate of Oman (see paragraph (h)); and
- The RPA is operated within the visual line of sight (VLOS) of the person using the RPA; and
- the RPA is operated at or below 400 ft AGL by day; and
- the RPA is not operated within 30 m of a person who is not directly associated with the operation of the RPA; and
- the RPA is not used:
- in a prohibited area; or
- in a restricted area; or
- in a dangerous area; or
- over a populous area; or
- within three nautical miles (5.5km) of the movement area of a controlled aerodrome; and
- clear of all landing and takeoff paths to all runways of all aerodromes.
- the RPA is not operated over a place where a fire, police, or other public safety or emergency operation is being conducted without the approval of a person in charge of the operation; and
- the person operating the RPA operates only one RPA.
- Drones shall be registered by the first owner of that drone, who will then advise the CAA when one of the following occurs:
- The drone is sold, or ownership is transferred to another person; or
- The drone is destroyed through a crash where no injuries were incurred by third parties or buildings; or
- The drone is no longer being flown due to unserviceability.
Note: Registration of drones can be carried out through the CAA website www.caa.gov.om, where the owner must register the drone upon the first arrival in Oman or after the ownership of that drone to another person.
Excluded RPA can be operated without a certain license and permissions.
- A micro RPA is an excluded RPA.
- A very small RPA is an excluded RPA if it is being operated:
- by or on behalf of the owner of the RPA; and
- by a person who holds a remote pilot license that authorizes the person to use the RPA; and
- A small RPA is an excluded RPA if it is being operated:
- over land owned or occupied by the owner of the RPA; and
- in standard RPA operating conditions; and
- for the purposes of one or more of the following:
- aerial spotting;
- aerial photography;
- agricultural operations;
- aerial communications retransmission;
- the carriage of cargo;
- any other activity similar to an activity mentioned in the subparagraphs above. No remuneration is received by the operator or owner of the RPA, the owner or occupier of the land, or any person on whose behalf the activity is being conducted.
- A small RPA, or a medium RPA, is an excluded RPA if it is operated for sport or recreation.
- A small RPA, or a medium RPA, is an excluded RPA if it is being used in standard RPA operating conditions by:
- A person for the sole purpose of meeting the experience requirement mentioned in CAR- 102.255(2)(c) for the grant of a remote pilot license; or
- The holder of a remote pilot license for the sole purpose of getting practical experience and gaining competency in the operation of an RPA, including a kind of RPA that is not specified in the holder’s remote pilot license.
- A medium RPA is an excluded RPA if it is being operated:
- by or on behalf of the owner of the RPA; and
- by a person who holds a remote pilot license that authorizes the person to operate the RPA; and
- over land owned or occupied by the owner of the RPA; and
- in standard RPA operating conditions; and
- for the purposes of one or more of the following:
- aerial spotting.
- aerial photography.
- agricultural operations.
- aerial communications retransmission.
- the carriage of cargo.
- any other activity like an activity mentioned in the subparagraphs above. No remuneration is received by the operator or owner of the RPA, the owner or occupier of the land, or any person on whose behalf the activity is being conducted.
- An RPA is an excluded RPA if it is being operated:
- by a person solely for the person receiving training from an RPA operator who holds a certificate under this regulation that authorizes the operator to conduct operations using the RPA; and
- per the operator’s documented training procedures.
Note for foreign operators
If you’re traveling to Oman and want to bring your drone, PACA lists these special considerations for foreigners who wish to fly drones:
- Oman currently permits only commercial drone flights.
- Permits are required for all commercial flights. Before entering the country, a permit must be obtained.
- If Drone operations involve the use of foreign remote-piloted civil aircraft, the operator shall be required to obtain an RPA Operator Permit before conducting any commercial air operations.
1. Service name and description
- Issuance of approval to operate Drone in Oman Airspace
- Service is requested by Government, companies, and individuals (in the future)
- Drone operator shall be 18 years old and above (Passport /ID copy).
2. Service stages brief description
- Fill in AWR application form 033
- Submit all documents required
- Making sure that the request complies with CAA requirements.
- Aware of Civil Aviation Low/Civil Aviation Regulation (CAR107) and executive regulation
- Paying the imposed fees before granting the approval.
3. Service provider
Department of Flight Safety – Airworthiness Section
4. Service-related information
- The average required time to provide the service depends on receiving the complete application and receiving no objection letters from ROP,NSA,RAFO and Ministry of information in case of filming production.
5. Service-required documents
- Sponsor/contractor covering letter
- Applicant covering letter
- Certificate of Insurance (in future)
- Operation Manual/Drone Specifications
- Operational Site coordinates/flight level required
- Prove Remote pilot; License/Training (in the future)
Permit Requirements for Flying a Drone in Oman
Before flying, a permit is required.
The permit must be obtained at least 15 days before the anticipated flight date and must be received before entering the country (even if you do not intend to fly that day).
Permits may be obtained by submitting the following information to Oman’s National Survey Authority (NSA):
- The drone pilot’s name and the names of any other individuals involved in the planned photography/videography shoot.
- The primary contact’s information.
- The shoot’s objective.
- Specifics of the flight (i.e., location, coordinates, takeoff and landing locations, and time span for the planned flight).
- A description of the drone(s) that will be used, as well as photographs.
Drone authorization
The minimum age requirement for obtaining a drone license is 18 years.
Drones should also be insured against “civil liability” for the duration of the license’s validity period.
Licenses will be valid for one year and will be renewable.
Documents required to apply for a drone license include the following:
- A description of the drone’s technical specifications
- A statement of the drone’s mission
- Determine the time and location of the drone’s flight, with the area determined using coordinates, a digital map, or an illustration.
- Identify the individuals who wish to operate the drone
Notes for recreational drone pilots flying for fun in Oman
See the general rules above.
Notes for operating Commercial Drone Services in Oman
See the general rules above.
Useful published information on flying drones in Oman
Here is a sample of what you might expect if you follow the drone laws and fly in Oman…
NOTE: 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.
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NOW ITS YOUR TURN
Hi,
Can you please provide a link from CAA / Government website for the source of all this information?
Regards,
Khizer
Khizer, the link to the regulator website is at the top of the page.
I am a resident of Oman ( Indian) Could anyone tell me if I will be able to fly a DJI Mini 3 pro ( less than 250gms ) in Oman with out a license ?Any expatriate here who flies such a drone ( below 250gms) Please reply.
Hello,
any updates about DJI mini 2 for hobby use in Oman?
Hi My name is david oldfield and i applied for a drone permit license on september 27th and i have not gotten a reply back. kindly check and reply to my application and if there is anything further i need to do.
David
We are not related to the Oman Civil Aviation Authority. Please contact them directly.
Hello , I just wonder how can I contact them if there is no any contact number on their page ? Do you know how can I reach them not being in the Oman itself ?
Maja, if you follow the link above to the CAA site, there is a contact us page with various email and phone options.
Good day. I have a Dji Mini2 which is less than 250 grams and was wondering if l can bring it to Oman. I ráð through your guideline but l am a littlebit confused. In Notes For Foreign Operators it states that if the drone is less than 250 grams it does not need to be registered and can be flown according to FAA rules and guidelines. Then in Additional Note for Foreign Operators it states the opposite!
I work on a fishing vessel off the coast of Oman an would like to know if l can bring my less than 250 gram Mini 2 drone to Oman.
Thanks and best regards,
Gunnsteinn
The law is a little confusing we admit.
As a foreign operator, you will be required to get permission to bring your drone to Oman. Keep in mind that Oman has limited permissions to commercial operations.
Regarding the 250grams, here is what the law says:
Micro RPA (Drone)
A drone is considered a toy when its mass is not more than 250g (micro) and has no ability to carry special sensors that may be able to collect accurate data and its specifications are very limited. A micro drone is exempted from applying for drone permits but shall adhere to drone operation regulations stipulated in this regulation and in the Civil Aviation Law.
The DJI Mini 2 may not be considered a toy because it does include some very sophisticated capabilities.
Hello Merlin!
I have the same question as Yanick, since I also wish to bring my DJI Mini 2 (apparently a very popular drone to bring to Oman).
Any updates or advice would be highly appreciated!
Thanks you in advance.
We have been given some clarification about the law and removed the parts that were conflicting.
The approval process for foreign individuals is not yet published, or agreed to.
For now, the drone regulations covers commercial foreign operators only.
If you are a foreign drone operator wanting to fly as a hobbyist in Oman, the current application forms do not cover you.
You may or may not receive a reply from the authorities.
Please come back here and let us know if you are a foreign hobbyist that has received authorization and the approach you took so we can inform others.
Hello,
I was wondering if by now you have further clarification on the issue mentionned in your post from 30 September 2021.
I am travelling to Oman this Saturday and have the same issue (possibility of using my DJI Mini 2 in Oman for aerial pictures). I have written to CAA (gov) but did not receive any answer so far.
Any inputs or experience would be appreciated, many thanks.
Best regards,
Yanick