Saudi Arabia Bans Drones and All Remote-Controlled Flying Devices

Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority has banned the use of drones and other remote-controlled flying devices, it was reported on Sunday.

Such devices are often flown into the kingdom for sale and use as children's toys, but are later modified with precision equipment, making them a threat to national security, Arab News reported.

The General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) this weekend issued a warning against all remote-controlled airplanes flown in Saudi skies to prevent their use in espionage.

The devices also present a hazard to airline safety and have become a source of international concern, GACA's vice-president for air transport safety and security, Abdulhaleem Al Badr, was quoted as saying.

Earlier this year the UAE introduced restrictions on the use of drones as part of revised aviation laws to increase airspace security.

Members of the public wishing to fly privately owned drones must first seek permission from the civil aviation authority and are prohibited from flying in spaces where the devices could harm other aircraft, airports or aviation services facilities.