Qatar's drone law (Law No. 10 of 2026) explained for flyers and visitors
Law No. 10 of 2026 requires every drone in Qatar to be registered and every operator to be licensed, with penalties of up to 7 years in prison and/or QAR 300,000. The detailed rules for hobby flyers are not out yet, so for now you can fly only in the Metrash zones at set hours.
- Law No. 10 of 2026 puts all drone flying, including hobby use, under the QCAA.
- Every drone must be registered and operators need licences, but individual registration has not opened yet.
- Serious offences carry up to 7 years in prison and/or a QAR 300,000 fine; others up to QAR 200,000.
- Until then, fly only in Metrash zones, sunrise to 9 am and 2 pm to sunset (MOI, 29 September 2026).
- Paid drone work needs a business licence, sector approval and insurance.
Qatar now has a dedicated drone law, and it covers hobby flyers as well as businesses. This article is for residents who own a drone, creators who want to film for money, and visitors thinking of bringing one. It explains what Law No. 10 of 2026 actually says, how big the penalties are, and what is still waiting for the QCAA's detailed regulations.
What happened
Qatar issued Law No. 10 of 2026 on the regulation of unmanned aircraft (drones). It was published in the 12th issue of the Official Gazette for 2026, and the news broke on 19 and 20 July 2026. The law puts drone activity under the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) and covers commercial, research and recreational flying, so it applies to hobby flyers as well as businesses.
On 30 July 2026 the QCAA explained the main points on Qatar TV. It said the law is published on its website, and that the detailed executive regulations (the rules that fill in the practical details) will be announced on its official channels once issued. As of late October 2026, those regulations had not been published.
Separately, on 29 September 2026 the Ministry of Interior (MOI) announced that drones may be flown only in designated zones shown in the Metrash app (the MOI's services app) and only at set hours. So two layers of rules now apply at the same time. For the practical steps, see our guide on flying a drone in Qatar.
What the law says, in plain words
| Topic | What Law No. 10 of 2026 says | Status (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | Every drone must be registered before it is flown or even test-flown, and must show its registration number or marking | How individuals register: not yet announced |
| Licences for people | Individuals need a licence to operate or pilot a drone, assist with operation, or work on drone systems | Categories and fees: left to the regulations |
| Licences for businesses | Making, selling, importing, exporting, renting, operating or training on drones needs a QCAA licence | Licences last 3 years; renew at least 3 months before expiry |
| Who can hold a business licence | A registered company, a sole proprietorship, or a licensed aviation training club | In force |
| Insurance | Third-party civil liability insurance is required for licensed activity | In force |
| Where and how high | The QCAA sets approved areas, routes and altitude limits | Detailed limits: not yet published |
| Operator duties | Report loss of control or leaving the approved area, maintain the drone, keep records | In force |
| Exemptions | Left to the executive regulations | None announced |
The QCAA described three categories of users: individuals, companies, and government bodies. Individuals need licences and operating permits before flying. Companies need approval from the QCAA and from the government body that oversees their sector, plus insurance. Government entities must coordinate with the QCAA.
A licence decision is due within 30 days, and no reply counts as a refusal. You can appeal a refusal to the authority's President within 30 days.
The penalties
This is the part most people ask about. The figures below were confirmed in Qatar Tribune's report on the law (19 July 2026) and Marhaba's article-by-article summary.
| Offence | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|
| The most serious violations (Articles 5, 9 first paragraph, and 18 clauses 1 to 6) | Up to 7 years in prison and/or a fine of up to QAR 300,000 |
| Certain other violations (Articles 12, 13, 17, and 18 clauses 7 to 9) | A fine of up to QAR 200,000 |
| Equipment | The court can order the drone and the tools used to be confiscated |
These are maximums, not fixed fines. Harsher penalties in other laws still apply. Managers of a company can face the same penalties if a violation came from their failure to do their job, and the company is jointly liable for fines and compensation.
For licence holders, the QCAA can also take administrative action after giving notice: a warning, suspending a licence or permit for up to 3 months, or closing a company or club for up to 15 days. Offences can be settled with the authority by paying a set amount and fixing the problem, which stops the criminal case. The settlement amounts have not been published.
The drone's owner is jointly liable with the pilot for any damage to other people or property.
Check before you act: the published reports do not map each article number to a plain-language offence. Until the full text and regulations are easy to read, assume flying without the required registration, licence or permission could fall under the serious category.
Who it affects
Hobby flyers
The law covers recreational flying, and no exemption for small or "toy" drones has been announced. Today you can fly only in the Metrash zones, from sunrise to 9 am and from 2 pm to sunset. Once registration opens, you will need to register before your next flight. Keep your receipt and serial number ready.
Content creators and paid work
Filming weddings, property, events or adverts for money is professional use. That needs a business licence, sector approval and insurance, and the pilot needs an individual licence. If you are starting a business, read how to start a business in Qatar first, and do not take paid drone jobs as a private person until the licences are available to you.
The drone law news coverage does not set out separate filming rules, but Qatar's existing privacy and cybercrime rules still apply to anything a drone camera records. Our laws and etiquette guide explains filming and posting people without consent.
Visitors and people bringing a drone in
The law makes importing drones an activity that needs a licence, and the QCAA will set import and export rules in its regulations. How this applies to one personal drone in your luggage or an online order has not been spelled out. Read our customs allowance guide for the general rules, and check with the QCAA and customs before you travel with a drone. Nothing announced exempts visitors from the zones and hours.
What did not change
- The law did not open up flying anywhere you like. The MOI zones and hours still apply.
- No 250 g exemption has been announced. Rules from other countries do not apply in Qatar.
- No registration fee or licence fee for individuals has been published.
- Privacy and photography rules are the same as before.
What to do now
- Check the zones in the Metrash app before every flight, and fly only in the permitted hours.
- Keep your drone's receipt, make, model and serial number together, ready for registration.
- Follow the QCAA website and official accounts for the executive regulations.
- If you have a legal problem with a drone case, see finding a lawyer in Qatar.
What is still unclear
- When the executive regulations will be published.
- How individuals register, which licence a hobby flyer needs, and any fees.
- Whether any drones (by weight or use) will be exempt.
- How the import rules apply to a single personal drone.
- The settlement amounts for offences.
We will update this article when the QCAA publishes the regulations.
Questions people ask
Is flying a drone illegal in Qatar now?
No. Since the MOI announcement of 29 September 2026 you can fly in the designated zones shown in Metrash, from sunrise to 9 am and from 2 pm to sunset. Flying outside those zones or hours can lead to legal action.
Do I have to register my hobby drone?
The law says every drone must be registered before it is flown, and it covers recreational use. The QCAA has not yet announced how individuals register, so watch its website and register as soon as the process opens.
What is the fine for flying a drone illegally in Qatar?
The most serious violations carry up to 7 years in prison and/or a fine of up to QAR 300,000, and certain others a fine of up to QAR 200,000. These are maximums set by a court, and the drone can be confiscated.
Is a small drone under 250 g exempt?
No exemption has been announced. The law leaves exemptions to the executive regulations, which had not been published as of October 2026.
Can I bring my drone on holiday to Qatar?
Importing drones is an activity that needs a licence under the law, and the import rules are still to come in the regulations. Check with the QCAA and customs before you travel, and remember the zones and hours apply to everyone.
Sources
- Qatar Tribune: drone law penalties of up to QR300,000 (19 July 2026) ↗
- Marhaba: drone law licensing rules and penalties (20 July 2026) ↗
- The Peninsula: QCAA explains key provisions of the drone law (30 July 2026) ↗
- Qatar Living: QCAA introduces Law No. 10 of 2026 (July 2026) ↗
- Qatar Living: MOI allows drone use in designated areas (30 September 2026) ↗
This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. Rules and fees change, so always check with the official source before you act.