Regulatory information guide · Saudi Arabia
People often use “drone licence” as a catch-all term, but current Saudi rules separate several requirements: unmanned-aircraft registration, remote-pilot certification, and operating permission or authorization depending on the operation category. This guide explains those layers and points to the official sources.
Official sources last checked: 27 September 2026
The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) is the regulatory authority. This page is informational and does not issue a licence, permit or approval.
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Do not treat the “licence” as one document. Separate these three requirements:
01
GACAR Part 48 governs registration and marking. Registration is required when MTOM is 250 g or more, or when the aircraft carries a sensor able to capture personal data, or survey/geospatial information.
GACAR Part 48 §48.3
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GACAR Part 107 governs remote-pilot certification. In the Open category, the remote pilot in command generally needs an Open Remote Pilot Certificate, subject to the specific exceptions in the regulation such as qualified direct supervision.
GACAR Part 107 §107.13 / Subpart C
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For Open operations, §107.17 requires a Permit to Operate. Specific-category operations have additional requirements that may include an Operational Authorization or UAS Operator Certificate depending on the operation.
GACAR Part 107 §107.17 / Subpart D
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The category is not determined by the words “commercial” or “recreational” alone. The operation and its regulatory limits determine the applicable pathway.
Open applies only when all §107.10(a) limits are satisfied. These include an aircraft under 25 kg, VLOS operation, and operation at or below 120 m (400 ft) AGL by day, together with the other limitations in the regulation.
Open operations still retain pilot-certificate, registration-where-applicable and Permit-to-Operate requirements.
An operation enters Specific when the aircraft is between 25 and 150 kg or the operation falls outside the standard Open limits. GACA guidance gives examples such as BVLOS and certain night, near-aerodrome or over-people operations depending on the approved scope.
Specific can require category-specific pilot certification, additional training/endorsements and operational authorization or operator certification.
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This is a conceptual sequence for understanding the requirements, not a substitute for checking GACA for each real mission:
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“GACA 107” is a common search phrase, but the official current regulation is titled GACAR Part 107 — Operation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems. The current version verified for this guide is Version 5.0. Where an older advisory document conflicts with the newer regulation, the newer regulation should control.
VERSION CONTROL
GACA’s change history shows that GACAR Part 107 Version 5.0 was issued after AC 107-02. Version 5.0 removed the practical-training-course requirement for Open-category operations. This guide therefore treats Part 107 v5 as controlling and uses AC 107-02 only where it remains compatible, such as general portal/application guidance.
SAMT-107
SAMT-107 is a training program for building knowledge and preparing for the regulatory/examination pathway. SAMT’s current certificate is an internal certificate of completion only. The program does not issue a GACA Remote Pilot Certificate, Permit to Operate, Operational Authorization, or GACA accreditation.
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No. Registration concerns the aircraft. Pilot certification, operating requirements, airspace and mission-specific conditions remain separate matters.
No. GACAR Part 107 separates remote-pilot requirements from the Open-category Permit to Operate and from Specific-category operational approvals/certificates.
No. SAMT-107 is training and knowledge preparation. Any SAMT certificate is an internal completion certificate, not a regulatory licence or permit.
GACA guidance directs Remote Pilot Certificate applications to the GACA UAS Registration Portal. Use the current GACA portal and verify the instructions that are in force when you apply.
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The regulations themselves instruct readers to consult the GACA website for the current version. Verify official sources again before any real operation.
Notice: regulatory requirements can change. Check GACA and the current regulations before making an operational decision or conducting a flight.
