Dubai announces unified rules for leisure anchoring and mooring buoys

The Dubai Maritime Authority (DMA) on 13 October 2026 announced guidelines for pleasure craft that drop anchor or tie up to recreational mooring buoys in the emirate's waters. The rules sit in Circular No. 35 of 2026. The authority made the document public before it comes into force.

The DMA belongs to PCFC, the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation. The circular is aimed at boat owners and operators, their agents, marinas and marine service companies. Its purpose is to update the existing guidelines and give everyone one common framework for anchoring and buoy use.

Skippers and operators are expected to:

• follow the set anchoring procedure;
• keep to navigation safety and collision avoidance rules;
• act with good seamanship and avoid harming the marine environment;
• report incidents and emergencies without delay.

The DMA says it is monitoring compliance and will apply the circular in coordination with government and private partners.

Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, the DMA's chief executive, said the initiative "strengthens navigational safety" and keeps anchoring areas and buoys orderly.

The authority calls compliance a shared responsibility of everyone who goes out to sea, so the rules concern charter operators, captains and their guests alike. If you plan a trip on a yacht, it makes sense to choose an operator that follows DMA requirements. Charter options are in the DoBy yacht catalogue.

Emirates 24|7 reported the launch, and HiDubai Focus listed the requirements.