Gun Shops and Gun Laws in UAE (United Arab Emirates)
In recent years, UAE in general, and Dubai in particular became known as a luxury travel destination and a great place to do business in the Middle East. I was lucky to closely watch the advancement of the UAE in the last 20 years, and the question of UAE gun culture has always fascinated me. Now, UAE is one of the safest countries in the world, both in terms of crime and terrorism threats, but it was not always the case.
Back in the day, weapons were an essential part of life here, a rifle and a traditional dagger were some of the most prized possessions a man could have. Different clans in this region always clashed with each other, and conflict was a constant battleground of any man’s life in this region.
I wrote a lot about gun culture in countries where this way of life is still pretty close to everyday reality: Iraq, Iraqi Kurdistan, and Pakistan.
But UAE is different, there hasn’t been any fighting in the territory of this country since the 60s. Now you don’t see weapons here unless you have a chance to see a ceremony called Yowlah.
In this traditional dance, a rifle (these days it is often an AK) is used as a main prop for the dancers. They spin it, throw it up in the air, and catch it while dancing, which requires a lot of skill.
While weapons are not a visible part of life in UAE, once you get to know Emiratis, you see that many of them are quite enthusiastic about firearms collecting. Until recently, the UAE had a truly unique distribution system for sporting firearms.
Generally, as an Emirati citizen, you could buy a weapon, but only in one particular place that only opens once a year. The sales of sporting guns were officially allowed at the ADIHEX (Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition) exhibition that is held every year in Abu Dhabi.
Manufacturers from all around the world would come with a small stock of guns and sell them only during the exhibition. Typically, buyers would use that opportunity to buy several guns for their collection, since you could only purchase something once a year.
But last year the gun laws in UAE changed, and the first gun stores opened in the capital of UAE. For years, I heard about plans to open gun shops in the country and could not miss an opportunity to visit one, when it finally happened.
Two gun stores recently opened in Al Forsan International Sports Resort, which deserves an honorable mention. The resort offers horse riding, paintball, and other activities but the most well-known part of it is a shooting complex.
There are two big indoor ranges. In the first, you can shoot various pistols, and pistol-caliber carbines (PCCs). In the second one, you can fire rifles in intermediate calibers, like 5.56×45.
But there is also a giant indoor range with advanced electronic targets and distances up to 300 meters. All hits on targets are shown on the computer screen with additional detail. A similar setup is used on many rifle ranges in Switzerland.
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Several years ago my friend filmed my visit to the range. Since then, filming inside the shooting bays has been prohibited, but other than that, nothing really changed, and if you’re in UAE you can still visit this range.
The first shop I visited in Al Forsan was opened by IGG (International Golden Group), a well-known defense supplier in the UAE.
The second shop within the same facility is opened by MP3 International, which is known for hunting guns and accessories. It is much bigger and decorated as a classic hunting lodge.
There is a third shop in Al Forsan, opened by the company known as Tasleeh. It specializes in airsoft guns and air guns and has a pretty impressive selection of AEG and GBB rifles and pistols.
In UAE, airsoft guns can be purchased without a permit by Emirati citizens. In the emirate of Dubai, expats who have Emirates IDs are also allowed to purchase airsoft guns.
To buy a firearm, an Emirati citizen needs to apply online through a special Ministry of Interior mobile application. Usually, the permission is granted within 30 seconds. Once you have it, you can buy a pistol, PCC, or bolt action rifle. Allowed calibers are .22LR, 9mm, 45ACP, .223, .308, 30-06, 12 gauge.
At the moment, three “slots” for weapons are allowed per individual, which is why most people buy the best and most expensive guns they can afford. Upgrading parts or swapping barrels is currently not allowed.
Firearms can be kept at home and transported to the shooting range for practice. Shooting on public land and hunting are prohibited. However, weapons can be used for self-defense when kept at home.
After a recent change in law, UAE residents can potentially be allowed to buy a gun if they obtain a Non-Objection Letter from their country and permission from UAE MOI.
While many European countries are actively trying to limit access of civilians to guns, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar are moving in the opposite direction, changing their gun laws to allow citizens to purchase sporting weapons and train with them. It seems that these Gulf countries trust their citizens more than some Western countries.
The author would like to thank A., the true expert and the wonderful friend for all the information provided for this article and many great memories.