How Tos

Boating

Whether you’re considering purchasing your first vessel, or you’re a serious skipper, there are a few rules and regulations you need to  know about boating and other water-based activities before leaving dry land.

You will need the following:
 
  • Marine craft licence
  • Marine craft inspection report
  • Coastguard-approved transponder
  • Boat insurance
  • Marine craft driver’s licence
  • Permit to sail
 
All boats, including private vessels – also known as pleasure,  leisure or marine craft – and jet skis, must be registered with the Department of Transport (DoT). You will then be issued a marine craft licence (see Applying for a marine craft licence for full details of  the procedure). Even if a boat or jet ski is officially registered in another country, it must also be registered here in the UAE.
 
As part of this procedure you will need to pass a marine craft inspection, and apply to the Abu Dhabi Coastguard for a registration number (in the first instance only). This number varies according to emirate and, in Abu Dhabi, you will be issued with a ADP (Abu Dhabi Ports) number. Boats must then display the registration number prominently on their hull. 
 
Before you reach the water, you will need to obtain a permit to sail, which is authorised by the Abu Dhabi Coastguard; its patrol boats are often on the lookout to make sure boat owners have complied with all these regulations (see Applying for a permit to sail). You will also need to apply to the DoT for a marine craft driver’s licence, a relatively new rule to ensure that all boat owners and sailors have the theoretical and practical knowledge and expertise to drive light marine vessels and leisure crafts.

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