Speargun Price UAE 2026: How to Choose a Speargun and Where Spearfishing Is Allowed

Quick answer: a good first speargun in the UAE costs about AED 450 to AED 600, for example a 75 to 90 cm band gun like the Mares Sniper PS 90 or the Salvimar Wild Pro. Mid-range guns with a reel cost about AED 1,000 to AED 1,900, and premium teak guns from Riffe run AED 3,400 and up. Spearfishing here is a breath-hold sport: in Abu Dhabi the rules allow spearguns only while free diving, and you need a recreational fishing licence from the emirate where you fish.

Below we explain how to choose between band and pneumatic guns, which length suits UAE visibility, what a full setup really costs, and what we could verify about the rules in each emirate. All the guns we recommend are in stock in our spearguns collection. Spearguns ship within the UAE only.

In this guide

• How much does a speargun cost in the UAE?
• Band vs pneumatic speargun
• What length speargun for UAE waters?
• Other features that matter
• Is spearfishing legal in the UAE?
• The best spearguns in stock
• Comparison table
• What a full setup costs
• Care in salt water and heat
• FAQs

How much does a speargun cost in the UAE?

Expect to pay from about AED 260 for a pole spear, AED 450 to AED 600 for a solid entry-level band gun, AED 950 to AED 1,900 for a mid-range gun with a reel or a pneumatic gun, and AED 3,400 or more for a hand-built teak gun. Price mostly buys you a stiffer barrel, a better trigger, a reel, and more power.

Band vs pneumatic speargun: which should you buy?

Most people should start with a band gun. Band (rubber powered) guns are simpler, quieter, more accurate at range, easier to service, and you can see at a glance that they are loaded. Pneumatic guns use compressed air in the barrel: they pack a lot of power into a short gun and are easy to load in the water, but they need more care and are harder to service yourself.

Within band guns you will also see "open" and "closed" muzzles. A closed (enclosed) muzzle holds the shaft in place and is easier for beginners. An open muzzle is lighter and quieter and lets you add more bands, but the shaft can lift off if you are careless while loading.

What length speargun do you need for UAE waters?

Choose length by visibility and where the fish are, not by the biggest fish you hope to see. A longer gun shoots further but is slower to swing and harder to handle around rocks. A common rule of thumb is that a band gun is effective to roughly three times its barrel length.

If you can only own one gun for the UAE, a 75 to 95 cm band gun covers most shore and reef dives. Visibility on the Gulf side is often limited, while the east coast around Fujairah and Dibba is usually clearer, but it changes with wind, plankton and season, so plan for the conditions you actually meet. Our UAE dive destinations guide covers the main east coast and Dubai sites.

Which other speargun features matter?

• Barrel: aluminium is light and affordable; teak and other woods are heavier, more stable and quieter. A wider or elliptical barrel flexes less.
• Bands: one band is easiest to load. Two bands, or thicker 16 to 19 mm bands, add range and power for bigger fish but take more effort.
• Shaft: 6.5 mm Tahitian shafts are standard on mid-length guns. Thicker 7 to 8 mm shafts carry more energy on longer guns.
• Reel or line: a reel lets you play a bigger fish instead of fighting it on a fixed line. Many hunters start with a fixed line and a float line.
• Trigger and safety: look for a stainless trigger mechanism and a safety you can work with gloves on.

Is spearfishing legal in the UAE, and what are the rules?

Spearfishing is allowed in parts of the UAE, but only within each emirate's fishing rules, and those rules differ. Here is what we could verify from official or government-cited sources at the time of writing. Rules change, so confirm with the authority for the emirate where you plan to dive before every season.

• Abu Dhabi: under Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) Decision No. 4 of 2023, recreational fishing needs an EAD licence (annual or weekly, applied for through TAMM, age 18 and over). Spearguns are allowed while free diving only. You must display the international diving flag, and a boat used for speargun fishing must carry at least three people: a driver and two licensed speargun fishers. Catches must be reported to EAD, there is a daily limit of 24 fish per person and per boat, and species such as sharks, rays, sea turtles and parrotfish are protected.
• Dubai: Dubai Municipality issues recreational fishing licences to Dubai residents. The UAE government portal notes that the licence service is suspended from June to October each year. We could not confirm from an official source exactly how the Dubai licence treats spearfishing, so ask Dubai Municipality before you go.
• Ras Al Khaimah: fishing for recreation or commerce needs a licence from the Environment Protection and Development Authority (EPDA).
• Sharjah, Fujairah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain: we could not verify current spearfishing rules from an official source. Check with the emirate's environment or municipal authority before diving.
• Everywhere: the federal fisheries rules set no-fishing zones, minimum sizes and seasonal closures. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) publishes these, and its Hadaq map shows where fishing is permitted or banned.

What about spearfishing on scuba? We could not find a current federal text that we can quote on this, but Abu Dhabi's rules only allow spearguns while free diving, and that is the safe standard to follow everywhere in the UAE. Do not carry a loaded gun on a scuba dive, and never spearfish in marine protected areas, marinas, harbours or swimming beaches.

The best spearguns in stock in the UAE

These are in stock today and ranked for typical UAE spearfishing. Prices are a guide; the product cards on this page show live prices and stock for each length. All ship within the UAE only.

1. Mares Sniper PS 90: best first speargun

A 90 cm band gun with a 28 mm anodised aluminium barrel, a 6.5 mm Tahitian shaft and a pair of 16 mm S-Power bands. The compact two-band head, stainless releases and the same handle shape as Mares' pricier Viper Pro make it a reliable, good-value all-rounder for east coast shore and boat dives. It is set up to take a vertical Spiro reel, sold separately.

• Pros: proven, simple, 90 cm suits most UAE reef dives, reel-ready
• Cons: two 16 mm bands take some practice to load; reel not included
• Price: around AED 560

View the Mares Sniper PS 90

2. Salvimar Wild Pro: best compact gun for holes and low visibility

A short band gun with a 28 mm round aluminium barrel, 14 mm screw-in bands that load as a single pair, and a 6.5 mm notched Tahitian shaft. It comes in 40, 50, 60 and 75 cm. The 60 cm is a handy compact all-rounder; 40 and 50 cm suit holes and breakwaters.

• Pros: easy to load, easy to swing around rocks, low price, four lengths
• Cons: short range; not the gun for open water
• Price: around AED 446

View the Salvimar Wild Pro

3. Mares Viper Pro 100: best mid-range gun with a reel

A 100 cm aluminium band gun with an open muzzle, a 6.5 mm Tahitian shaft, a circular S-Power band with Dyneema wishbone and a Spiro vertical reel included. The trigger sensitivity is adjustable and the distance between trigger and handle can be set to your hand.

• Pros: reel included, stiff barrel, adjustable trigger
• Cons: open muzzle needs care when loading; 100 cm is long for holes
• Price: around AED 990

View the Mares Viper Pro 100

4. Salvimar Predathor Vuoto: best pneumatic speargun

An air-powered gun with a vacuum muzzle that cuts noise and friction as the shaft leaves the barrel, which helps with wary fish and in murky water. It has a 13 mm internal barrel, a power regulator to turn power down for short shots near rocks, and comes in 65 or 75 cm with the shaft included.

• Pros: big power from a short gun, quiet for a pneumatic, adjustable power
• Cons: needs servicing and a loader; harder to fix yourself than a band gun
• Price: around AED 956 to AED 1,139

View the Salvimar Predathor Vuoto

5. Salvimar Hero with reel: best for bigger fish and blue water

An elliptical aircraft-grade aluminium barrel rigged with double 16 mm bands, a shaft and a reel. The Heavy Metal 350 trigger has adjustable sensitivity, and the open multi-band muzzle comes with a bridge to convert it to closed. Choose 95 or 105 cm for all-round UAE use, or 115 cm for open water.

• Pros: reel included, stiff barrel, room to add bands, four lengths
• Cons: more gun than most beginners need
• Price: around AED 1,748 to AED 1,916

View the Salvimar Hero

6. Riffe Euro Series Enclosed Track: best premium wood gun

A low-profile stock of three laminated teak sections, an enclosed track that holds the shaft, two 5/8 inch Riffe Gorilla bands with a Spectra wishbone, a 9/32 inch (7.1 mm) Hawaiian flopper Euroshaft and a Riffe stainless trigger with silencer. Built-in inserts take a Riffe reel. Available in 100X, 110X and 120 lengths.

• Pros: very stable and quiet in the water, accurate, built to last
• Cons: expensive; heavier than aluminium on land
• Price: around AED 3,481 to AED 3,644

View the Riffe Euro Enclosed Track

7. Salvimar 14 mm Pole Spear: best low-cost way to start

Not a gun at all: a light anodised aluminium pole with an elastic loop and a 6 mm threaded tip. Choose a 160 cm two-piece pole (travels well) with a paralyzer or harpoon tip, or an 80 cm short pole for holes. It teaches you to get close to fish, which is the real skill in spearfishing.

• Pros: cheapest option, simple and quiet, nothing to service
• Cons: very short range; you have to get close
• Price: around AED 263 to AED 352

View the Salvimar 14 mm Pole Spear

Speargun comparison table

What does a spearfishing setup cost in AED?

The gun is often less than half the spend. Here is what the main items cost in our current range, from entry level to upgrade. Prices are a guide and change with stock.

On top of that you need a low-volume mask and snorkel, a wetsuit for the cooler months, a weight belt, gloves, a knife, and a float with a dive flag. Do not skip the float: it tells boats where you are, and Abu Dhabi requires the diving flag to be displayed when spearfishing. Spare bands such as the Riffe Gorilla power band and a reel like the Mares Spiro 87 vertical reel are the most common first upgrades, and long fins like the Salvimar React make a bigger difference to your diving than a more expensive gun. For the rest of your kit, see our diving equipment checklist.

How do you look after a speargun in UAE salt and heat?

• Rinse the whole gun, trigger and reel in fresh water after every dive.
• Store it unloaded, bands relaxed, out of the sun. Rubber bands perish fast in UAE heat and UV, so never leave the gun in a hot car.
• Check bands for nicks and cracks before every dive and replace them at the first sign of damage.
• For pneumatic guns, follow the maker's servicing schedule for seals and O-rings.
• Always transport the gun unloaded, in a bag, with the tip covered.

Our verdict

Start with a 75 to 90 cm band gun: the Mares Sniper PS 90 for reef and shore dives, or the Salvimar Wild Pro if you hunt mostly in holes and poor visibility. Move up to the Mares Viper Pro 100 or Salvimar Hero once you are diving regularly and want a reel. Pick the Predathor Vuoto only if you specifically want a short, powerful pneumatic. Get your licence, fly a flag, and stay on breath-hold.

Speargun FAQs

How much is a speargun in the UAE?

A pole spear costs about AED 260 to AED 360. An entry-level band speargun costs about AED 450 to AED 600. Mid-range band guns with a reel and pneumatic guns cost about AED 950 to AED 1,950, and premium teak guns from brands like Riffe cost AED 3,400 or more. Budget about the same again for fins, a float, mask and wetsuit.

Is spearfishing legal in the UAE?

Yes, in parts of the UAE and under each emirate's fishing rules. Abu Dhabi allows spearguns while free diving with an EAD recreational fishing licence, a dive flag and catch limits. Ras Al Khaimah requires an EPDA fishing licence and Dubai Municipality issues licences to residents. Protected areas, protected species and seasonal closures apply. Check with the local authority before you dive.

Can you spearfish with scuba in the UAE?

Treat it as not allowed. Abu Dhabi's recreational fishing rules permit spearguns only while free diving, and we could not find any UAE authority that allows spearfishing on scuba. Never carry a loaded speargun on a scuba dive.

Do I need a licence to spearfish in Dubai?

Dubai Municipality issues recreational fishing licences to Dubai residents, and the licence service is suspended from June to October each year. We could not confirm from an official source exactly how that licence covers speargun use, so contact Dubai Municipality before you dive. In Abu Dhabi you need an EAD licence through TAMM.

What length speargun is best for beginners?

A 75 to 90 cm band gun with one or two bands. It is long enough for typical UAE reef dives, short enough to swing around rocks, and easy to load. If most of your diving is in holes or murky water, go shorter, around 50 to 60 cm.

Band or pneumatic speargun: which is better for beginners?

A band gun. It is simpler, quieter, more accurate at range and easy to maintain, and you can see when it is loaded. Pneumatic guns are powerful for their size and easy to load in the water, but they need servicing and are harder to repair yourself.

Can you ship a speargun outside the UAE?

Not from us. Spearguns, shafts and tips ship within the UAE only. If you are travelling with a speargun, check your airline's sporting equipment rules and the import rules of the country you are flying to before you pack it.