UAE TDRA WiFi Spectrum & 6 GHz Regulations — Guide

Three bands operate under TDRA class authorisation without an individual licence: the 2.4 GHz ISM band (2400–2483.5 MHz) at up to 100 mW EIRP, the 5 GHz UNII bands (5150–5875 MHz) with varying EIRP limits and mandatory DFS on radar-shared channels, and the 6 GHz band (5925–6425 MHz) for in-building operation at 250 mW EIRP (WAM, December 2020; confirm the current TDRA rule before purchase). The 60 GHz band is also unlicensed for short-range use. Any point-to-point microwave link outside these allocations requires an individual TDRA spectrum licence.

No. TDRA's December 2020 release of the 5925–6425 MHz band (confirm the current TDRA rule before purchase) permits only in-building Low-Power Indoor (LPI) WiFi operation under class authorisation. Standard-power outdoor 6 GHz operation has not been authorised. Outdoor campus WiFi deployments must use 5 GHz bands, and any fixed outdoor backhaul link requiring higher gain or directional antennas in other spectrum typically needs an individual TDRA spectrum licence.

DFS is required on UNII-2 Extended channels (5470–5725 MHz) because these frequencies are shared with primary-user radar systems, including weather radar and military installations. When an access point detects a radar pulse pattern, DFS forces it to vacate the channel within 10 seconds; before it may transmit on a DFS channel at all, it must first complete a 60-second Channel Availability Check. This prevents interference with safety-critical radar services and is enforced through ETSI EN 301 893 compliance, which TDRA references in its UWB and SRD Regulations.

The 500 MHz released at 5925–6425 MHz provides roughly 24 to 25 non-overlapping 20 MHz channels, or 6 non-overlapping 80 MHz channels, or 3 non-overlapping 160 MHz channels for WiFi 6E (802.11ax) and WiFi 7 (802.11be) devices. This dramatically reduces co-channel contention in high-density environments such as conference venues, hospitality lobbies, and open-plan offices. However, because the allocation is LPI indoor-only, access points must be positioned to contain 6 GHz signals within the building envelope — a constraint that influences AP placement, power settings, and the overall network design.

A compliant enterprise should maintain per-access-point EIRP calculations that account for transmit power, cable and connector losses, and antenna gain to confirm the total radiated power remains within the TDRA limit for each band. Additionally, records should include TDRA type-approval certificate numbers for every deployed AP model, DFS event logs demonstrating correct radar-avoidance behaviour, the wireless site-survey report with heat-map validation, and the firmware region-code setting confirming UAE regulatory domain. For licensed microwave links, the individual TDRA spectrum licence and link-budget calculations must also be retained.

Call +971 55 651 7843 or submit your project details through our quotation page at emirtech.ae/request-quotation.html. Provide the venue location within Abu Dhabi Emirate, approximate floor area, expected client density, and any specific frequency-band requirements — particularly if you need 6 GHz LPI or licensed microwave backhaul. Our team will scope a wireless site survey, propose a regulatory-compliant AP layout with per-band EIRP documentation, and deliver a detailed, itemised written quotation.