UAE TDRA Proposes Updates to Fixed Radio and Amateur Radio Regulations

The UAE's Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) has been reviewing two of its spectrum rulebooks: the Regulations on Fixed Radio Systems and the Regulations on Amateur Radio. The public consultation opened on 3 September 2026 and has now closed, so the next step is TDRA publishing the final versions.

Fixed radio: room for very high-frequency links

The fixed radio draft reflects recent ITU-R updates and TDRA's expectation that demand for fixed wireless links will keep growing. The headline change is support for point-to-point links in much higher bands:

• W-band, in ranges between roughly 92 and 114 GHz
• D-band, in ranges between roughly 130 and 175 GHz

These very high frequencies can carry huge amounts of data over short distances, which makes them attractive for things like mobile backhaul in dense city areas. The draft also tidies up several existing bands, removing some older fixed-access entries in the mid-band range, and references the UAE Spectrum Outlook 2026–2031.

On equipment, TDRA continues to encourage point-to-point gear that meets ETSI EN 302 217 and point-to-multipoint gear that meets the relevant ETSI standard. That's a recommendation rather than a hard requirement, but it's a good signal of what the regulator expects to see.

Amateur radio: tighter control over equipment

The amateur radio draft restructures the band and power tables and makes a few practical changes:

• All station equipment would need to be listed on the licence, with no additions or removals without TDRA's approval.
• Rooftop or outdoor antennas would need approval, requested through the Emirates Amateur Radio Society, before they go up.
• Amateur stations couldn't be transferred to someone else.

Who should pay attention

Operators and organisations that rely on fixed links (utilities, oil and gas, government) will want to see the final band plan. For microwave and millimetre-wave equipment makers, the new W-band and D-band entries open the door to new products in the UAE market, which will of course need TDRA type approval.

Need help getting radio equipment approved in the Emirates? Take a look at our UAE TDRA type approval guide.

Sources: TDRA consultation page, fixed radio consultation document, amateur radio consultation document.