From concept to spectacle
We start with an idea and turn it into a script where every formation and lighting cue serves the story. The result is a performance in which technology works for emotion
Outdoor drone shows
Turnkey drone shows across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar,
Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, on projects of any scale
Architecture of light in the sky
Dronico delivers turnkey outdoor drone shows across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, with a fleet of up to 9,000 drones and shows lasting up to 25 minutes. Our drones fly in winds up to 12 m/s and in temperatures from -10 to +50 °C, which is what makes a show possible on a Gulf waterfront in summer as readily as on a city square in winter. Hundreds of drones form a living canvas in the sky, showing images, animation and branding visible from far away: a way to speak to thousands of people at once, in a language of art and technology. In the UAE, 1,000 of our drones opened the Festival of Health in Abu Dhabi, we closed Oriflame’s international conference in the Abu Dhabi sky, and at Dubai Frame we launched the Voyager card for Emirates NBD and Mastercard. As a guide, an outdoor show costs about $100–200 (AED 370–730) per drone, excluding 5 per cent VAT. The final figure is often determined by the venue and the number of shows.
Fits any venue
Our shows work on city squares, at brand launches, cultural festivals and private VIP events. We scale the format to the brief and to the size of the audience
Turnkey production
We handle every stage, from virtual modelling to the launch on site. Organisers do not deal with the technical side: they get a finished show
Fast turnaround
Our process is tight enough to deliver on short notice without cutting quality. Preparation and launch take little time and almost no effort from the organiser
The moment people remember
A drone show is more than a visual spectacle: it is the climax of the event. It creates the moment people film, post and talk about later
How We Work
01
Preparation
Planning
We define the goals of the show and identify the target audience
Analysis
We pick the launch site, taking into account local restrictions, weather, permitted altitudes and safety rules
Agreement
We obtain venue permissions, agree and sign the contract and set the schedule for every stage of development and delivery
Concept
We develop the show’s theme and performance script, preliminarily select music and visual effects and create a storyboard that visually narrates the performance sequence
02
Production
Design and Programming
We create the animation the drones will fly and program their flight paths, keeping the show both safe and coherent
Obtaining Permits
We clear the airspace with the national civil aviation authority, the military and other relevant agencies
On-Site Preparations
We secure the take-off and landing zones to the safety requirements for spectators and for the environment, then run technical rehearsals to check communication, battery levels, lighting effects, positioning accuracy and the weather
03
The Show
Pre-Flight Check
We perform final checks on weather conditions, GPS signal quality, drone status, control systems and communication continuity between the lead drone pilot, technical staff and event organisers
Show Execution
We fly the show at the scheduled time, then pack down the drones and the control systems
Our shows have told countless stories
Before you plan a show
What an outdoor drone show is
Why a show is an engineering product, not a light effect
How many drones a show really needs
What 200, 500 and 1,000 drones look like in the sky
Permits in the UAE
Who issues them, how long it takes and where to start
Permits across the GCC
Requirements country by country, from Qatar to Oman
Safety above an audience
How flight over people is planned and kept safe
How to brief us
What to prepare so the first quote is close to the final one
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What permits are needed for a drone show in the UAE?
An outdoor drone show in the UAE is treated as an aviation operation held as part of an event, so the approvals run as a chain. The order is: choose the emirate and the exact site, obtain the NOC from the site, then start the ground approvals and the aviation part with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), closing the local procedures of the emirate in parallel. A single project may involve several NOCs from several parties, and each is valid only within its own role.
In the UAE and Saudi Arabia we file the applications ourselves and deal with the authorities directly. Preparing and obtaining the permits is our job, not the client’s.
How far in advance should a drone show be booked in the Gulf?
As a guide, from the moment the full package is filed: Saudi Arabia, where the application goes to the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), four to six weeks for a standard operation and eight to 10 weeks for a state event or a sensitive zone; Qatar three to four weeks; Kuwait and Oman four to six weeks; in Bahrain the application goes to the Civil Aviation Affairs at least seven working days in advance, while the NOCs themselves take a further two to three weeks. Timescales lengthen near airports, government sites and military zones.
What weather conditions are suitable for flying in the Gulf?
Our drones operate in winds up to 12 m/s, in light rain and in temperatures from –10 °C to +50 °C, which covers the summer heat of the Gulf. The final decision to launch is taken on the day of the show, after the weather on site has been assessed.
How many drones does a show need?
The number of drones sets what the animation can do, not just how big it looks. Fewer drones give sparer, graphic images that read beautifully at private and civic events. Portrait compositions begin to look convincing from 1,000 drones, because the likeness needs proportions rather than a silhouette. Text is the demanding part: allow 15 to 20 drones per letter, and often more.
What space is needed for the launch area?
The launch and technical areas are fenced off physically, with only the working crew inside the perimeter and security outside it. Around the drones laid out on the ground we keep a buffer of some 50 metres, so that nothing strays in and the return zone stays controlled. There are no people where the drones take off, transit, perform or land.
How much does an outdoor drone show cost?
As a guide: about $100–200 (AED 370–730) per drone. The final figure is often determined by the venue and the number of shows. The rate per drone goes down as the show gets larger. It also depends on the number of drones, the complexity of the performance, the number of take-offs and even the time and day of the week.
For an exact figure, please talk to our sales team. We will ask about the venue, the dates, the audience and what the event has to achieve. That is what the final number depends on.
All prices are indicative and every project is quoted individually. Prices exclude 5 per cent VAT in the UAE.
Are there additional expenses?
The final cost of a drone show may be affected by transportation of drones, customs clearance, crew technical and hospitality riders, flight permits, rental of launch sites, pyrotechnics or other supplementary equipment used with the drones.
Is the show insured, and who obtains the flight permits?
Public liability is insured for one million UAE dirhams, and the cover is worldwide. In the countries where we have representative offices, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and India, we obtain the flight permits ourselves and carry the approval process with the aviation authority. Elsewhere the permit is obtained by a local partner company under its own jurisdiction, and we prepare the package for approval: coordinates, altitudes, the time window and the safety plan. Our pilots are licensed and the equipment is backed up.