Drone Attack: United Arab Emirates Bans Recreational Drones

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has banned all flying consumers' drones after a suspected drone attack hit an oil facility and airport in Abu Dhabi last week.

The ban is also applied to light aircraft like gliders as announced over the weekend by the minister of interior. The minister claimed the reason for the ban was the "misuse spotted recently," incidents of drone pilots "trespassing into areas where these types of activities are prohibited," and a need to "ensure the safety of lives and property," of the State and its citizens.

A ban on recreational drone use is anticipated to help the UAE keep tighter supervision of its skies. APNews noted that the country already prohibited flights in residential areas and near airports. The country’s ministry of the interior said that exceptions may be made for “work contracts or commercial or advertising projects that rely on filming using drones,” if those involved have attained “the necessary exceptions and permits.”

According to a report from UAE, the recent attack on the oil facility and airport in Abu Dhabi allegedly involved both " ballistic missiles and explosive-laden drones,". The attacks were claimed by the Islamist, Iran-backed Houthi rebel group, which currently controls large portions of nearby Yemen and is fighting a coalition of forces supported by Arab countries including the UAE.

Last week strick was a very fatal attack as it instill fear and panic in UAE killing three and leaving six wounded.

Houthi rebels have previously used small drones in considerable attacks on Arab nations in recent years, including in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.