Can You Bring a Drone to the Maldives? (Drone Laws in Maldives 2024)

Oh, how wonderful! You’ve decided to explore the beautiful Maldives. What an excellent decision you’ve made! I also love to visit the Maldives. The Maldives welcomes a multitude of visitors annually, numbering in the hundreds of thousands.

Photographers and videographers do not need to add filters to their cameras because they are added by nature. So you are a drone pilot and want to make videos of the Maldives.

Can you bring a drone to the Maldives?

Yes, you can fly your drone in the Maldives. But there, you must get permission from the Maldives National Defence Force and the Maldives Civil Aviation Authority(MCAA).

To get approval to fly a drone, you will need to get certain permits and be required to follow drone rules.

Who controls drone rules in Maldives?

The agency called MCAA(Maldives Civil Aviation Authority) controls all the drone rules in the Maldives. This authority is responsible for managing all of the drone rules in all of the Maldives.

The authority is responsible for the safety of the people who visit the Maldives and are natives.

So before flying a drone in the Maldives, you will need to contact MCAA and get to know all of the rules and regulations of the drones and know how to get the permits.

There is another authority called MNDF(Maldives National Defence Force).

You will also need their permission to fly your drone in the Maldives. If you are considering going to the Maldives as a drone pilot, please send all of the requests to the authorities for your approval to bring and fly a drone there.

After sending the request, you must wait at least one month because processing it will take so long; you are the only one who sends the request.

There are so many others as well. Your request can get denied because the Maldives have very stringent rules.

Can you bring a drone to the Maldives?

If you haven’t seen the Maldives, let me tell you the most beautiful panoramas in the world the Maldives have. So you should not miss them and capture them with your drone.

The most important places and the most beautiful ones are the beaches and the resorts and the islands.

If you want to make memories of this trip or create the best commercial content, bring a drone to the Maldives. Getting the drone here in the Maldives is not as easy as it looks.

There are specific drone rules and steps that you will need to follow. Those steps are not so hard to convert, but the only thing that will break you is waiting for approval. So yes, you can bring your drone to the Maldives easily, but with patience.

What is required to fly a drone in the Maldives?

You must take three steps to fly your drone in the Maldives.

The first step is booking the hotel or the room in the Maldives and getting their permission.

If you have booked a hotel that allows flying drones there, you have no problem. You must book the resort online and ask their permission to check this out.

I don’t know which resort you have booked but ask them for help to know their drone flying rules; if they say you are not allowed, you can find the resort that will allow you.

The second step you will need to take is to get approval from the MNDF(Maldives National Defence Force), who are also responsible for making the drone flights safe.

Next, What to do?

So after getting the approval from MNDF, it is time to go to the official website of MCAA and request approval. This process can take so long, so I told you to start at least one month before you arrive in the Maldives.

It was the way to register a drone as a recreational drone pilot. Now let’s explore how to register your drone in the Maldives as a commercial drone pilot.

As you know, if you are a commercial drone pilot, you must show some proficiency and register your drone in another way.

So first of all, you will need to visit the Maldives National Centre for the Arts website. It is also an authority permitting you to fly your commercial drone.

So contact them, fill out the form they will give you, and wait for some days. You can visit the website by clicking here.

After getting their approval, you must ask the MNDF for approval. They will also give you a form to complete online and then wait for some days after approval same approval.

After getting the approval from MNDF and MNC, you must contact the MCAA and ask them for approval.

Ask them for the form you will need to fill up, and after sending the request, wait for some days, and you will get your final approval. You are registered and can bring and fly your drone in the Maldives.

READ MORE: Can you bring a drone to St. Lucia?

What are the rules for flying a drone after approval in Maldives?

Luckily the drone rules in the Maldives are not so stringent, and there is a reason behind that. I will not talk about the reason, but I will talk about the rules you will follow. The most important ones are below.

The first and most important rule is registering your drone in the Maldives. If your drone is not registered, then it will be illegal to fly a drone.

You need to contact the MNDF to get clearance to fly a drone in the Maldives. You will also need to contact the MCAA to get the permit to fly the drone.

As you know, flying a drone in bad weather can cause damage to your drone and the beauty of the Maldives, so make sure you do not fly it in bad weather and at night.

Another famous rule is not to fly a drone above 400 feet from the ground. There are so many visitors like you in the Maldives, and if you fly your drone over them, then I know they won’t like it.

So please ensure you do not fly your drone over people in the Maldives.

If there are buildings or places like the military or other governmental places, drones should not be flown near or over them.

Some airports in the Maldives do not allow you to fly a drone. It is also recommended that you keep your drone away from the airports.

The places in the Maldives for flying a drone are fewer because the whole country is an island, and the government doesn’t want to damage its beauty.

What are the drone rules for recreational and commercial drone pilots in the Maldives?

First, you want to fly a drone for recreational purposes. In that case, you must obtain approval from the hotel or island where you stay, the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

You cannot fly your drone over people, military installations, or airports; you must not fly it more than 400 feet above ground level. So, remember before you pack your drone for your Maldivian getaway.

On the other hand, if you’re planning to fly a drone for commercial purposes, you must follow the same process and obtain approval from the MNDF and CAA. Additionally, you need to obtain a permit from the Maldives Civil Aviation Authority (MCAA).

So, if you plan to capture some stunning aerial footage for your next big project, ensure you have all the necessary approvals and permits to avoid legal complications.

Whether you’re flying a drone for recreational or commercial purposes, you need to obtain approvals and permits from the relevant authorities in the Maldives.

Additionally, you need to follow certain restrictions, such as not flying your drone over people, military installations, or airports and not exceeding the altitude limit of 400 feet. So, be responsible and enjoy exploring the beautiful Maldives from the sky.

You should also not attach dangerous objects to your drone that can hurt somebody.

READ MORE: Can you bring a drone to Peru?

What is the airline drone policy in the Maldives?

As always, if you are traveling by airplane, then make sure you know the rules of your airline agency to avoid making mistakes while bringing the drone to the Maldives.

I am telling you this because you will have suffered a month in getting approvals to bring your drone to Maldives.

Now if you don’t know the rules of your travel agency and at the last hour of your flight you get to know that bringing a drone on the plane of that travel agency is not allowed, your whole hard work will be WASTED.

Knowing the travel agency rules should be the first step in your list.

So now, if you have all the approvals, you must select the travel agency that will allow you to bring your drone to that plane. You should also follow all of the drone rules that the agency requires.

Which Maldives resorts allow drones?

When you visit, there will be more resorts than homes in the Maldives, so make sure you find the best resort to visit and allows the drones. Every resort has its rules, so keep the balance between them and follow them properly.

Now, let’s talk about some resorts that allow drones. Jumeirah Vittaveli is a luxurious 5-star resort that permits drones outside their property, as long as they are flown safely and registered with the resort staff beforehand.

Other resorts that may allow drones, but with restrictions, include Adaaran Club Rannalhi, Six Senses Laamu, Ayada Maldives, Four Seasons Maldives, and Taj Exotica Maldives.

However, it’s always best to double-check with the resort beforehand to ensure their policies haven’t changed.

Remember, while drones can capture breathtaking footage, respecting other guests’ peace and privacy is essential.

Can you fly a DJI mini two drone in the Maldives?

Flying a DJI mini two drone in the Maldives is allowed. But you will need to follow that are made for all of the other drones. There are not some specific rules for small drones or bigger drones.

So there are the same steps that you will need to follow. First, you must get all the approvals I have said before, but I can repeat them.

You will need to get permission from the resort owner, then get approval from the MNDF, and finally get approval from the MCAA.

Once you have obtained the necessary approvals and permits, there are some limitations you need to keep in mind. It would help if you only flew during daylight hours and in good weather conditions.

Do not fly above 400 feet above ground level, and do not fly over people, military installations, and airports.

Additionally, remember that the satellites used for GPS positioning can have better or worse coverage at any given time, so ensure you have a fairly clear, unobstructed sky view.

Is buying a drone in the Maldives cheaper?

My dear friend, the Maldives may not be the best place to buy expensive items like drones. Buy them back home where they are likely cheaper, and you can get a warranty.

As the saying goes, “penny-wise, pound-foolish,” so don’t let the allure of buying a drone in a tropical paradise cloud your judgment.

However, if you want to buy a drone in the Maldives, you can check out Stabisys, the only authorized retailer of DJI products in the country.

You can also visit UAV Systems International, which claims to have one of the largest collections of drones for sale in the Maldives.

Just be aware that finding drones for sale in the Maldives can be tricky, so research before purchasing.

Important FAQs

Final Thoughts

In Maldives flying a drone is legal, and everybody is allowed to fly a drone, but the person should have special permits from MNDF, MCAA, the MNCA, and the resort’s owner.

There are also some of the most important rules you must follow.

If you have any further queries related to this one: Can you bring a drone to the Maldives? Then you can ask me in the comments; I await you below.

Would you like to fly a drone in the whole Maldives?