An unauthorized drone pestered the airspace of Dubai International Airport (DXB) on Friday morning, causing a 30-minute delay in its schedule.
Departing flights were halted between 10:13 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. (local time) until the issue was resolved, according to Business Insider.
Ali Zaigham, the airport's press relations manager, did not reveal the drone's origin to CNN, as the publication reported.
Dubai's media office tweeted out a warning about drone activity without permission, saying it "is subject to legal liability as per UAE laws."
One of the world's busiest airports, DXB welcomed its >billionth passenger in December last year, proving its international status.
According to CNN, it is the "third-busiest [airport] in the world measured by total volume of traffic, according to Airports Council International."
This wouldn't be the first time Dubai Airport halts activity due to drone
In 2015, drones interfered in Dubai Airport's activities, causing it to delay its flights for an hour. "Planes already in the air were diverted to Al Maktoum Airport, in Jebel Ali," The National reported at the time.
In 2016, another >similar incident led to the diversion of over 20 flights at the international airport, along with a one-hour delay in flights schedule.
Legality of owning and flying a drone in the UAE
It is legal to own and use a drone in the UAE, but users must follow certain rules.
The country's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) >allows "Unmanned Aircraft" - meaning drone - for commercial and non-commercial activities, with the age limit of the owner recently reduced to 16.
However, airports are clearly mentioned as "prohibited areas" for the machine to fly over. Drones are not permitted to enter the airspace of airports unless authorized by the Air Traffic Control (ATC).
"Operation which results in a public nuisance" and the penetration of "No flying Zone without appropriate GCAA Approval" are also mentioned in the GCAA regulations of flying a drone.