The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is easing export controls on certain Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs or drones) and related parts, components, accessories, attachments, technology, and software under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Specifically, this rule: eliminates wind gust tolerance as a parameter for determining UAV controls under the EAR; increases the threshold for national security controls on certain UAVs from an endurance of 30 minutes to an endurance of 3 hours; makes conforming changes to remove national security controls on software and technology associated with UAVs with an endurance less than 3 hours; maintains military end-use and end-user controls on those lower endurance drones and associated software and technology; clarifies Commerce Control List (CCL) controls for certain UAVs specially designed for military use; and removes national security controls on certain specially designed parts, components, accessories, and attachments for such UAVs as they do not provide any significant military or intelligence capabilities.

In this final rule, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to provide enhanced favorable treatment for the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Specifically, BIS is removing the UAE from Country Groups D:3 and D:4 and adding the UAE to Country Group A:5. More license exceptions will now be available, including Strategic Trade Authorization (STA) for the UAE Government and approved commercial entities in the UAE. STA will authorize the export, reexport, or transfer (in-country) of military items; certain commercial satellites and spacecraft; and dual-use items useful in, inter alia, oil and gas production, desalination, and civil nuclear power generation. The UAE Government and approved commercial entities will also have license-free access to advanced computing items, consistent with the May 2025 U.S.-UAE Artificial Intelligence Cooperation framework, without compromising U.S. digital infrastructure buildout.