Guns are legal in Dubai only for UAE citizens who hold a government-issued firearm license, and even then only under tight rules on where the weapon can be used and stored. Tourists cannot bring firearms into the country, and most expatriate residents cannot own one. Federal law prohibits possessing, carrying, importing, or trading any weapon or ammunition without a license, and the penalties for getting it wrong include prison time, heavy fines, and deportation for non-citizens.
Who Can Legally Own a Gun
Firearm ownership in the UAE is governed by Federal Decree Law No. 17 of 2019, which starts from a position of total prohibition and then permits a narrow group of people to apply for licenses.1Lexis Middle East. Federal Decree-Law No. 17/2019 – On Weapons, Ammunition, Explosives, Military Hardware and Hazardous Substances To qualify, you have to be a UAE citizen, at least 21 years old, and clear a criminal and security background check.2Ministry of Interior. Apply for a Weapon License in Possession Applicants also need a legitimate reason for owning the weapon, which in practice means professional duties, sport shooting, or hunting.
Expatriates and foreign residents generally cannot obtain a personal firearm license. Narrow exceptions exist for certain professional roles, such as licensed security personnel, but those arrangements run through the employer rather than the individual. Diplomats fall under separate protocols tied to their status.
Eligible citizens apply to the Ministry of Interior online, through the MOI smart app, or at a Happiness Service Center, and pay 50 AED for a possession-only license or 100 AED for a license that also permits carrying.2Ministry of Interior. Apply for a Weapon License in Possession Once licensed, they can only fire the weapon at designated shooting ranges or approved hunting areas, must store it securely at home, and cannot carry it in public places, government buildings, or military installations.
Items You May Not Realize Are Restricted
The UAE’s weapon law reaches well beyond traditional firearms, and this is where visitors most often get into trouble.
Airsoft, BB Guns, and Replicas
Airsoft guns, BB guns, and realistic replica firearms are restricted. International retailers list the UAE as a country where airsoft products are prohibited without a permit, and the realistic appearance alone is enough to trigger enforcement, whether or not the item fires a projectile. Packing one in your luggage or ordering one to a UAE address can result in confiscation and criminal charges.
Pepper Spray and Stun Devices
Self-defense items that are sold openly in many Western countries fall under the UAE’s restricted category. Pepper spray, mace, and electroshock devices like tasers are all off-limits. Airlines flying to the UAE prohibit these items in carry-on bags, checked luggage, and on the passenger’s person. If you legally carry any of these at home, leave them at home.
Ammunition
Ammunition is treated as seriously as the firearm itself. A single forgotten round in a bag can trigger prosecution, and there is no informal warning system at customs.
Bringing a Gun Into Dubai
Tourists and short-term visitors cannot legally bring firearms into the UAE under any circumstances. Importation is possible only through a permit issued in advance by the Weapons and Explosives Directorate under the Ministry of Interior, and the process is designed for individuals or companies with a licensed purpose, not for travelers.3Ministry of Interior. Request for a Permit to Import Civilian Weapons or Their Spare Parts The permit has to be in hand before arrival. It is not issued at the airport.
If you own guns at home and are traveling to Dubai, check every pocket, compartment, and bag before you pack. Range bags, hunting jackets, and camera cases are common places where stray ammunition turns up. UAE customs screens thoroughly, and the consequences of an oversight are severe and immediate.
Penalties for Weapons Violations
The UAE government describes the consequences under Federal Decree Law No. 17 of 2019 as criminal liability and severe penalties.4The Official Platform of the UAE Government. Maintaining Safety and Security Violations can carry substantial prison sentences and heavy fines, with severity scaling by the nature of the offense. Illegal possession of a personal firearm sits at one end of that range; illegal possession of military-grade material or explosives sits at the other.
Foreign nationals convicted of weapons offenses face deportation after serving their sentence. That applies regardless of residency status or how long they have lived and worked in the UAE. Possession of a single round of ammunition without authorization is a criminal matter, not an administrative one, and unauthorized modification of a licensed firearm is a separate offense on top of any underlying charge.
The Legal Way to Shoot in Dubai
Visitors who want to handle a firearm during their trip have one legal path: licensed shooting ranges. Facilities such as the Jebel Ali Shooting Club operate with government approval and supply firearms on-site for use within the range. You do not need a personal license to shoot there. The club holds the permits, and you use their equipment under supervision. Several ranges in Dubai offer indoor and outdoor setups for both beginners and experienced shooters, and this is the only legal way for a tourist to fire a gun in the country.
Unregistered Heritage Firearms
Some Emirati families own traditional or inherited firearms that were never formally registered. The Ministry of Interior periodically opens amnesty windows for these weapons; the most recent ran from January 13 through April 13, 2025, and offered citizens the option to license, deactivate, or surrender the weapon with fees waived and past unlicensed possession excused.5Emirates News Agency (WAM). UAE Announces Conclusion of Initiative to Register Citizens’ Unlicensed Weapons Outside an active registration window, holding an unlicensed heritage weapon carries the same criminal exposure as any other unlicensed firearm. Future amnesty periods are announced through the Ministry of Interior’s website and its toll-free line at 800233.