United Arab Emirates
- Who issues it
- Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI); Dubai Maritime Authority (DMA) for Dubai permits.
- Minimum age
- 16 years
- Buoyage
- IALA region A
Do you need a licence?
Yes, small pleasure craft need a skipper's licence.
You don't need one for:
- a sports craft owned by a licensed rental company in Dubai waters
Federal categories cover boats up to 12 metres from 16 and up to 24 metres from 18. Dubai requires a permit in its waters.
شهادة أهلية لقيادة وسيلة نزهة بحرية لا يزيد طولها عن 12 متراً · Pleasure craft driving certificate of competency, up to 12 m
From 16
- What it lets you do
- This federal certificate lets you skipper a pleasure craft up to 12 metres. You need to complete an approved course.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
شهادة أهلية لقيادة وسيلة نزهة بحرية لا يزيد طولها عن 24 متراً · Pleasure craft driving certificate of competency, up to 24 m
From 18
- What it lets you do
- This federal certificate lets you skipper a pleasure craft up to 24 metres. You need to complete an approved course.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Skipper License Above 24 Meters — Pleasure, Max 200 GT
From 20- What it lets you do
- In Dubai, this lets you skipper a pleasure craft over 24 metres, up to the limit of your recognised qualification and no more than 200 GT.
- How you get it
- You take both a theory assessment and a practical assessment.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Skipper License Above 24 Meters — Pleasure, Above 200 GT, Max 500 GT
From 20- What it lets you do
- In Dubai, this lets you skipper a pleasure craft over 24 metres, above 200 GT and up to 500 GT, within the limit of your qualification.
- How you get it
- You take both a theory assessment and a practical assessment.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Temporary Vessel Navigation Permit
- What it lets you do
- This gives you permission in Dubai for up to three months. The vessel category decides which qualifications and assessments you need.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Professional deck titles
Master on Ships Less Than 200 GT in Near-Coastal Voyages (NCV)
- What it lets you do
- You can act as master on near-coastal ships under 200 GT with this qualification recognised by Dubai.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Master on Ships Less Than 500 GT in Near-Coastal Voyages (NCV)
- What it lets you do
- You can act as master on near-coastal ships under 500 GT with this qualification recognised by Dubai.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Radio certificates
General Operator’s Certificate for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS – GOC)
GOC- What it lets you do
- You need this certificate under Dubai's safe-manning rules when you are master of specified yachts.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
إقرار اعتراف بشهادة مشغل النظام العالمي للاستغاثة والسلامة البحرية
- What it lets you do
- You can use this MoEI endorsement to show recognition of a GMDSS operator certificate.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Ready to study for it?
The Academy is free with an account: lessons for every topic, timed mocks marked like the real exam, and your progress saved.
Official sources: Emirates News Agency (WAM) — تعديل شروط منح شهادات قيادة الوسائل البحرية الصغيرة (Federal Resolution 94 of 2017) · Dubai Maritime Authority / PCFC — Marine Crew Licensing Manual (2025) · Dubai Legislation Portal — Administrative Resolution No. (5) of 2024 Concerning the Requirements and Procedures for Vessel Crew Licensing · Government of Dubai — Official Gazette No. 686, Dubai Maritime Authority legislation and minimum safe-manning matrices · Abu Dhabi Maritime / Department of Municipalities and Transport — Requirements for Maritime Infrastructure, Appendix A4: Maritime Signage and Waterway Marking · Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure — GMDSS operator certificate recognition endorsement