Who licenses and insures your boat or jet ski in the northern emirates?
Ras Al Khaimah licenses jet skis through its Transport Authority and asks for a policy valid for the whole licence, from a UAE-licensed insurer. Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain have marine rules, but their insurance terms are not published. Federal registration is with the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.
Ras Al Khaimah is the northern emirate with a published insurance rule: a jet ski cannot be licensed without a policy valid for the whole licence, from an insurer licensed in the UAE.1
Which authority licenses your craft?
It depends on the emirate, and in some emirates on the craft.
| Emirate | Rule or authority | Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Ras Al Khaimah | Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority licenses jet skis under Executive Council Resolution No. 8 of 2024. Law No. 13 of 2023 covers licensing and operating marine vessels; its executive regulation was issued on 20 May 2026. | Jet skis: a policy valid for the whole licence, from an insurer licensed in the UAE. |
| Sharjah | Executive Council resolution of 27 February 2024 regulating and licensing marine sports. Resolution No. 7 of 2024 gives the emirate’s marine sports club power to issue number plates for jet skis and boats, in coordination with other authorities. | The resolution includes insurance among its subjects. The terms are not published. |
| Ajman | Law No. 1 of 2019 regulating port and maritime activities. | Not published. |
| Umm Al Quwain | A maritime affairs committee formed by Decision No. 4 of 2022. | Not published. |
| Fujairah | No published emirate rule. | Not published. |
Ras Al Khaimah’s sources are the resolution itself,1 the law listing2 and the Transport Authority’s release on the regulation.3 Sharjah’s is the Executive Council’s release.4 Ajman’s and Umm Al Quwain’s are reports by the Emirates News Agency.56
Before you buy cover, ask the authority in your emirate for its document list in writing.
What does Ras Al Khaimah ask for a jet ski?
A licence from the Transport Authority, an inspection and a policy valid for the whole licence period. A jet ski licensed in another emirate needs a Transport Authority permit and a policy valid for the whole permit.1
| Fee | AED |
|---|---|
| Licence or renewal, jet ski owned by an individual | 100 |
| Technical inspection for individuals | 50 |
| Replacement number plate | 70 |
| Inspector visit within the emirate | 250 |
Rental offices must insure each jet ski for the whole licence, keep a register of their policies, rent only between sunrise and sunset, and not let anyone under 16 ride without a guardian or qualified instructor, on an engine of no more than 1,200 cc.1
Ras Al Khaimah and Dubai signed a memorandum on 2 July 2026 to work together on maritime traffic and services.7
Riding a jet ski without a licence or permit is fined AED 500 and the jet ski is impounded for a week the first time, rising to AED 2,000 and a month for a third offence within a year.1 Keep your licence and policy in date together.
What if your craft is registered with the federal ministry?
The federal Maritime Law says a watercraft used for a maritime activity must be registered with the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure or with an emirate’s authority, and must hold a navigation licence.8 The Ministry’s fee resolution sets the licence fee for a pleasure ship owned by a foreigner at AED 6.5 per gross ton, with renewal at AED 3 per ton and a minimum of AED 500.9 A pleasure ship licence not renewed within 60 days of expiry is fined AED 50 a month, up to AED 200.9
Ask the Ministry which documents, including insurance, it needs for your craft.
The small print
- Ras Al Khaimah. The insurance rule for owners is Article 5(5) of the regulation attached to Executive Council Resolution No. 8 of 2024; the visiting jet ski permit and the rental office rules are in the same text. Its Schedule 3 lists fines for riders and Schedule 2 for rental offices. A rental office that does not register or renew a jet ski within a month of expiry is fined AED 300 and the jet ski impounded for a week, rising to AED 900 and a month for a third offence within a year.1
- Federal fees. Article 2(3) and Article 3(3)(e) of Cabinet Resolution No. 12 of 2021. Items 289 to 295 of its schedule set fees such as AED 200 to attest a transfer of ownership of a pleasure ship.9
- Federal registration. Articles 16(1) and 22(2) of Federal Decree-Law No. 43 of 2023.8
Sources
9
1Executive Council, Ras Al Khaimah, Executive Council Resolution No. 8 of 2024 Regulating the Use of Jet Skis in Ras Al Khaimah, Dated 24 June 2024. Arabic and English.. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Executive Council Resolution No. 8 of 2024 Regulating the Use of Jet Skis in Ras Al Khaimah
2LexisNexis Middle East, Ras Al Khaimah Law No. 13/2023 on Licensing and Operating Maritime Means in the Emirate. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Ras Al Khaimah Law No. 13/2023 on Licensing and Operating Maritime Means in the Emirate
3Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority, Mohammed bin Saud issues the Executive Regulation of the Law on Licensing and Operating Marine Vessels in Ras Al Khaimah, News release dated 20 May 2026.. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Mohammed bin Saud issues the Executive Regulation of the Law on Licensing and Operating Marine Vessels in Ras Al Khaimah
4Sharjah Executive Council, Sharjah Executive Council issues a resolution regulating and licensing marine sports activities (Arabic), News release dated 27 February 2024.. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Sharjah Executive Council issues a resolution regulating and licensing marine sports activities (Arabic)
5Emirates News Agency (WAM), Ajman issues law regulating port and maritime activities, News report dated 14 January 2019.. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Ajman issues law regulating port and maritime activities
6Emirates News Agency (WAM), Ruler of Umm Al Quwain issues a decision forming a committee to regulate maritime affairs and living aquatic resources (Arabic), News report dated 12 October 2022.. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Ruler of Umm Al Quwain issues a decision forming a committee to regulate maritime affairs and living aquatic resources (Arabic)
7Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority, Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority and Dubai Maritime Authority sign memorandum of cooperation, News release dated 2 July 2026.. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority and Dubai Maritime Authority sign memorandum of cooperation
8UAE Legislation, Federal Decree-Law No. (43) of 2023 Concerning the Maritime Law, Issued 28 September 2023, in force 29 March 2024. English translation, the Arabic text prevails.. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Federal Decree-Law No. (43) of 2023 Concerning the Maritime Law
9UAE Legislation, Cabinet Resolution No. (12) of 2021 Concerning the Service Fees and Administrative Fines of the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, Issued 24 January 2021, as amended.. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Cabinet Resolution No. (12) of 2021 Concerning the Service Fees and Administrative Fines of the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure
- Owner
- Yachtinsurance.ae research team
- Last review
- Next review due
- 11 May 2027
- Status
- Published