Just three days after authorities announced that 35,000 mangrove seeds had been planted in Abu Dhabi’s Mirfa lagoon using drones, the Emirate has announced that the flying of private drones would be barred for one month from Saturday.
The move comes after a suspected Houthi drone attack on an oil refinery and on the Abu Dhabi airport on January 17 killed three and injured six. The UAE said both drones and cruise missiles were used in the attack.
“MOI (Ministry of Interior) is currently stopping all flying operations for owners, practitioners and enthusiasts of drones, including drones and light sports aircrafts," the government said. Exceptions may be granted, however, for businesses using drones for filming.
Along with drones, light sports aircraft have also been barred from use for recreational purpose.
Drone attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels (who the UAE is fighting alongside a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen) have targeted oil infrastructure in the past, sometimes with critical effect on the industry.
The move to bar all drones from the sky reflects the growing security concern around UAVs. Bloomberg reported that Houthi “suicide” drones could fly over 1,500km, allowing the rebels to target key UAE cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
In 2019, a Houthi attack on Saudi oil refineries cut the country’s oil production by half, affecting 5 per cent of global supply.
Following Monday’s attack, the Saudi-led coalition conducted an airstrike on a Houthi-run prison in Yemen, leaving 60 dead and over 200 wounded.
