Beijing bans drone sales even as rest of world buys Chinese drones

China will ban the sale of drones in Beijing and require users to apply for permission for all flights in the capital under strict regulations entering force on May 1, 2026. Officials have cited public security for the new rules, which also forbid bringing unmanned aerial vehicles or their core components into Beijing. This creates an awkward headline for DJI, the world's largest drone maker based in China, that dominates the global consumer drone market.

Source: Ars Technica | 2026-04-30