Yes, beekeeping is legal in the UAE under strict regulatory oversight, primarily governed by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE). While not outright banned, compliance with health, environmental, and biosecurity laws is mandatory, with recent 2026 amendments tightening import controls on non-native bee species to mitigate disease risks.
Key Regulations for Keeping Bees in United Arab Emirates
- Permit Requirement: A mandatory permit from MOCCAE is required for commercial or large-scale beekeeping, with applications scrutinized for biosecurity compliance. Small-scale hobbyist beekeeping may fall under exemptions but still requires registration.
- Species Restrictions: Only native Apis mellifera jemenitica (Yemeni honeybee) is permitted without special approval; importing foreign species (e.g., Apis mellifera ligustica) requires MOCCAE’s explicit authorization and quarantine protocols.
- Disease Surveillance: Mandatory reporting of hive diseases (e.g., Varroa destructor, foulbrood) to MOCCAE within 48 hours, with eradication measures enforceable under Federal Law No. 10 of 2021 on Animal Health.
Non-compliance risks fines up to AED 50,000 or hive destruction, as per MOCCAE’s 2024 enforcement guidelines. Urban beekeeping is permitted in designated zones only, with municipal approvals required in emirates like Dubai and Abu Dhabi.