Your Comprehensive Guide: How to Create an Account and Register Your Drone in Saudi Arabia (GACA)
Planning to fly your Unmanned Aircraft (Drone) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia? Learn the official, simplified steps to create a personal account and obtain operational permits from the **General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA)** for both recreational and commercial use.
Introduction: The Path to Legally Owning and Operating a Drone
Owning and operating **drones** in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia now requires official permits from the **General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA)**, regardless of whether the purpose is commercial or recreational. While the process previously took up to six months, it has now been accelerated.
To obtain these permits, the first and most essential step is to **create an official account** on the GACA Unmanned Aircraft portal. Here is a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to get you started:
Essential Steps for Account Creation on the GACA Portal
You can easily complete these steps from your computer or even your mobile phone.
1. Access the Authority's Website
- Search your browser for **"General Authority of Civil Aviation"** (or GACA).
- Ensure you enter the official GACA website.
- From the homepage, look for the option **"Unmanned Aircraft"** and click on it.
2. Log in via National Single Sign-On (Nafath)
- The system will require you to log in via the **National Single Sign-On (Nafath)**, whether you are an individual or a company.
- You can log in using your ID/Iqama number and password, or by using the Nafath app linked to your mobile phone.
- This step ensures the linkage between your data in GACA and the Absher system.
3. Complete Basic Account Details
Once logged in, you will be directed to the account creation page, which includes four stages. Start by completing the basic account information:
- **Email Address:** You must enter and confirm your official email, as it will be the primary communication channel for all correspondence regarding your permit.
- **Mobile Number:** Enter your mobile number linked to the Absher system.
- **Address:** Specify the country of residence (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), then accurately enter your National Address details: Region, City, District, Street, Building Number, and Postal Code. You can easily search for your city's postal code if you do not have it.
4. Complete Personal Information
Click "Next" to move to the personal information stage. Some of your data will be automatically retrieved via the Absher system, but you will need to complete the following:
- **Employment and Educational Data:**
- Enter your educational qualifications.
- Enter your occupation and place of work.(Note: This does not conflict with applying for a recreational permit).
- **Additional Contact Information:**
- Enter a landline or company phone number.
- Add links to your social media accounts like Twitter and Facebook (Optional).
5. Declaration and Submission
- In the final step, you must **declare** that all the data you entered is accurate and truthful.
- Complete the **"I am not a robot"** test.
- Click **"Agree and Submit"** to complete the account creation process.
Congratulations, your account has been successfully created!
Applying for Operational Permits (Operator/Pilot)
After creating the account, you can immediately proceed to apply for the **Operator Permit (Pilot)** even before purchasing the drone:
- **Login:** Log in to your new GACA portal account.
- **Permits:** From the dashboard, navigate to the **"Permits"** section.
- **Permit Type:** Select **"Recreational Permit"**.
- **Review Guidelines:** Review and accept the instructions and regulations issued by the Authority.
- **Data Confirmation:** Your information will appear automatically. You can indicate whether you have a training certificate or not (it is not mandatory).
- **Submit Application:** Click "Next". In the documents stage, no new documents will be requested since your information is derived from Absher.
- **Final Declaration:** Make the declaration, agree to the official document issuance, and click **"Submit"**.
Your application will be successfully sent, and its status will appear in the Requests section as **"Under Review"**.
Note on Aircraft Registration
To register the aircraft itself, you must return to the **"Aircraft"** section. This step requires knowing the **serial number** of the drone (obtained from the seller) and its type (such as DJI), a step that will be explained in another episode.
* **Link to the Original Guide Video:** http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILc56GfDmXE