What do you need to license your boat or jet ski in Abu Dhabi?
Abu Dhabi Maritime licenses jet skis and other water sports craft for the Department of Municipalities and Transport. You need an insurance policy valid for 13 months from an insurer licensed in the emirate, an inspection and a berth contract or trailer registration. A new jet ski licence is AED 200.
You cannot license a jet ski or other water sports craft in Abu Dhabi without an insurance policy valid for 13 months from an insurer licensed in the emirate.1
Who licenses your boat or jet ski in Abu Dhabi?
Abu Dhabi Maritime licenses water sports craft, including jet skis, through its portal, its customer centre on 800 10 20 30 and TAMM.12 It took over jet ski licensing from Abu Dhabi Police in December 2021.3
For other pleasure boats the published sources differ. The Department of Municipalities and Transport’s code says the Department issues the licence.4 Visit Abu Dhabi says every motorised craft must be registered and at least one person on board must hold a licence issued through the Unified Marine Permit Center.5
If your boat is not a water sports craft, call Abu Dhabi Maritime on 800 10 20 30 and ask which office registers it.
What documents and insurance do you need?
| Document | Detail |
|---|---|
| Emirates ID and passport, residence visa for non-nationals | Owner aged 18 or over. |
| Proof of ownership | Builder certificate or attested invoice for a new craft; cancellation certificate and attested sale agreement for a used one; customs clearance for an import. |
| Technical inspection pass certificate | Issued by Abu Dhabi Maritime. The report is valid 30 days. |
| Insurance policy | Valid for 13 months, or at least 12 months from the licence date, from an insurer licensed in the emirate. |
| Trailer registration or annual berth contract | From a marine club or marina in the emirate. |
The Department’s code lists an insurance policy for jet skis and for recreational craft of every length, from under 4 metres to over 24 metres. Boats, unlike jet skis, also need a National Guard Command transponder certificate. Boats of 8 metres and over need a stability booklet and a VHF radio.4
The 2017 jet ski decision asks individuals for third-party cover and businesses for comprehensive cover, valid for 13 months.6
Ask your insurer for a policy that runs 13 months from the date you expect the licence, so it meets the rule.
What does it cost, and how long does it last?
A new water sports craft licence is AED 200, the inspection AED 100, plus AED 300 if the inspection is away from the stations.1 The licence is valid for one year. You can renew it one month before it expires. If you renew more than 30 days late, the late penalty is counted from the expiry date.1
Abu Dhabi Maritime reported 1,948 water sports craft licences issued or renewed in 2025.2
Set a reminder a month before expiry, and check your dates with the licence renewal calculator.
What rules apply when you ride a jet ski?
| Rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| Hours | Between sunrise and sunset only. |
| Age | No one under 14. From 14, only with a trainer or operator over 18. |
| Engine | Up to 1,800 cc and 360 horsepower. |
| Distances | 300 metres from the water’s edge, swimming and diving areas, marine protected areas and ferry routes. In open waters, stay within one nautical mile of the main coastline. |
Jet skis are banned along the northern coast of Saadiyat Island, under a notice of 4 July 2026.7 Marinas and launch sites must check that a jet ski’s registration is valid, that the sticker is on both sides and that the details match before they launch it.89
Keep your registration sticker clean and your papers on you when you launch.
What happens after an accident or a breach?
You must report any maritime accident as soon as possible and within 24 hours at most. The Department can detain a vessel involved in an accident.10
| Violation | AED |
|---|---|
| Not wearing a life jacket | 500 |
| No safety precautions when the vessel breaks down | 1,000 |
| Breaking the navigation rules | 2,000 |
| Causing a maritime accident | 5,000 |
| Berthing in the emirate without permission | 10,000 |
| Damaging, abandoning or neglecting a vessel without reason | 10,000 |
| Sailing under the influence of alcohol or drugs | 10,000 |
Read how to claim on your boat insurance for what your insurer needs after an accident.
The small print
- The bylaw. Administrative Decision No. 69 of 2025 is dated 2 June 2025. Accident reporting is Article 14 and detention Article 21. Its schedule lists 33 fines; Table 3 shows items 9, 12, 13, 15, 18, 20 and 23. It carries no insurance rule for private craft.10
- Driving licence. Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy says its pleasure boat course meets the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure’s standard and that the small boat driving licence is issued by the Ministry, from age 16 for boats up to 12 metres.11 Visit Abu Dhabi says a jet ski rider must be 18, or 14 to 17 under a licensed adult’s supervision, and that renters through a licensed operator do not need their own licence.5
- The 2017 decision. Decision No. 171 of 2017 is in Arabic. Its fine table appears to set fines for riding an uninsured jet ski, but the published scan is hard to read, so the amounts are not given here.6
Sources
11
1Abu Dhabi Maritime, Our Services. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Our Services
2Abu Dhabi Maritime, Annual Report 2025, Uploaded May 2026.. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Annual Report 2025
3Abu Dhabi Maritime, Abu Dhabi Maritime unveils jet ski licensing services, News release, December 2021.. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Abu Dhabi Maritime unveils jet ski licensing services
4Department of Municipalities and Transport, Abu Dhabi, Requirements for Safe Operations of Marine Crafts (DMT-MAR-COP-21-04, Rev 01), Uploaded June 2026.. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Requirements for Safe Operations of Marine Crafts (DMT-MAR-COP-21-04, Rev 01)
5Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi (Visit Abu Dhabi), Maritime Safety and Regulations. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Maritime Safety and Regulations
6Department of Municipalities and Transport, Abu Dhabi, Chairman's Decision No. 171 of 2017 on jet skis (Arabic), Dated 1 June 2017.. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Chairman's Decision No. 171 of 2017 on jet skis (Arabic)
7Abu Dhabi Maritime, Local Marine Notice ADM/WMCC/LMN/2026/20, unauthorised and unsafe operation of jet skis and other watercraft, Dated 4 July 2026.. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Local Marine Notice ADM/WMCC/LMN/2026/20, unauthorised and unsafe operation of jet skis and other watercraft
8Abu Dhabi Maritime, Local Marine Notice on the requirements for launching and operating jet skis at private marinas and marine facilities, Uploaded June 2026.. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Local Marine Notice on the requirements for launching and operating jet skis at private marinas and marine facilities
9Abu Dhabi Maritime, Personal Watercraft (PWC) handbook, Uploaded December 2025.. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Personal Watercraft (PWC) handbook
10Department of Municipalities and Transport, Abu Dhabi, Administrative Decision No. 69 of 2025, Regulatory Bylaw for Maritime Safety in Abu Dhabi Waterways, Dated 2 June 2025.. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Administrative Decision No. 69 of 2025, Regulatory Bylaw for Maritime Safety in Abu Dhabi Waterways
11Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy, Pleasure Boat Under 12 Metres. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Pleasure Boat Under 12 Metres
- Owner
- Yachtinsurance.ae research team
- Last review
- Next review due
- 11 May 2027
- Status
- Published