Adventure tourism has exploded in the UAE’s northern emirates, with weekend hikers flocking to wadis and peaks once known only to locals. In a landmark safety move announced on 8 November 2025, the Fujairah Adventure Center said that **from the next hiking season** no individual or company may lead mountain trails without holding an officially recognised guide or assistant-guide certificate.
The new law – reported by Gulf News – creates a licensing framework aligned with International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) standards. Guides must complete accredited training, carry specialised insurance (developed with Fujairah Insurance Company) and register trips on a digital platform that tracks routes, weather alerts and emergency contacts.
![Fujairah mandates certified mountain guides to regulate booming adventure-tourism sector]()
Officials said eight local guides have already been certified in a pilot phase and are permitted to sell farm produce during tours to support rural communities. The rules distinguish between commercial operators and “local heritage guides,” encouraging knowledge transfer while ensuring minimum safety protocols.
For UAE corporates running outdoor teambuilding events, the regulation imposes due-diligence obligations: only licensed guides may be contracted, and proof of insurance must be filed with HR or risk-management teams. Travel-risk consultancies welcomed the move, noting a 40 % rise in rescue call-outs last winter after inexperienced organisers underestimated terrain hazards.
The Adventure Center plans to integrate its permit system with national tourist-visa data so that foreign adventure companies can apply online for temporary operating licences – a potential template for other emirates looking to balance tourism growth with visitor safety.
The new law – reported by Gulf News – creates a licensing framework aligned with International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) standards. Guides must complete accredited training, carry specialised insurance (developed with Fujairah Insurance Company) and register trips on a digital platform that tracks routes, weather alerts and emergency contacts.
Officials said eight local guides have already been certified in a pilot phase and are permitted to sell farm produce during tours to support rural communities. The rules distinguish between commercial operators and “local heritage guides,” encouraging knowledge transfer while ensuring minimum safety protocols.
For UAE corporates running outdoor teambuilding events, the regulation imposes due-diligence obligations: only licensed guides may be contracted, and proof of insurance must be filed with HR or risk-management teams. Travel-risk consultancies welcomed the move, noting a 40 % rise in rescue call-outs last winter after inexperienced organisers underestimated terrain hazards.
The Adventure Center plans to integrate its permit system with national tourist-visa data so that foreign adventure companies can apply online for temporary operating licences – a potential template for other emirates looking to balance tourism growth with visitor safety.
