Non-coding RNAs, or ncRNAs, are increasingly acknowledged as vital regulatory elements in plants. These RNAs coordinate the complex gene networks that govern plant responses to environmental stresses. At the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and epigenetic levels, microRNAs (miRNAs), small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate stress-responsive gene expression. Stress alters hormonal function, the balance of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and metabolic processes, eventually affecting tolerance or sensitivity levels. Therefore, ncRNAs have emerged as key regulators of plant adaptation to drought and other abiotic stresses. Collectively, these advances demonstrate that non-coding RNAs represent a significant portion of the plant transcriptomes. As well as several studies provide many mechanistic frameworks and potential targets for ncRNA-based breeding and biotechnological strategies to improve plant tolerance against a wide array of biotic and abiotic stresses. This article examines the processes of ncRNA biogenesis, their functions in plant response to drought stress, and their possible applications of these non-coding transcripts in crop enhancement.