Sharjah is one of the UAE's strongest cultural and landscape emirates for filming — old-town streets, museums, art spaces, desert archaeology, mountain roads, mangroves and beaches, all with UAE production infrastructure around it. The key is planning the permit route before cameras roll: public spaces, museums, roads, beaches, private property and aerial work each need different approvals. International crews normally work through a UAE-based production partner who coordinates permits, location access, crew, equipment, insurance and logistics.

For most film crews bringing professional cameras, lenses, lighting, grip, audio, monitors, drones, wireless equipment, or other production kit into Dubai, the practical route is temporary admission through Customs, not an ATA Carnet.

Dubai Customs guidance confirms that some goods accompanying passengers can be processed under a Temporary Admission Customs Bill with a refundable deposit. In practice for professional filming equipment, crews should budget for 5% refundable customs deposit plus 5% refundable VAT deposit, meaning 10% of the declared equipment value, plus any applicable administration or after-hours fees.

Use this guide as a planning checklist, then confirm the current handling details with Dubai Customs, your customs broker, your UAE production partner, and the relevant film permitting authority before the equipment travels.

ATA Carnet Guide for Dubai Film Crews

Important update: based on official guidance received after our inquiry, the UAE currently accepts incoming ATA Carnets only for goods under category B1, meaning items intended for exhibitions and similar events.

Filming equipment is therefore not generally accepted for entry into the UAE on an ATA Carnet unless the equipment is intended for, or invited to participate in, a particular known event and the required prior permit has been obtained from the concerned authority.

For most film crews bringing cameras, lenses, lighting, grip, audio, monitors, drones, wireless equipment, or other production kit into Dubai, the practical customs route is temporary admission, not an ATA Carnet. See our temporary import guide for professional filming equipment in Dubai: How to import Professional Camera Equipment to Dubai Guide

For film crews, the carnet should be treated as a limited option, not the default customs route. Before shipping or travelling with production equipment, confirm the correct process with the relevant chamber, UAE Customs, your UAE production partner, and the relevant permitting authority.

The world of film production is fraught with complexities, and nowhere is this more apparent than in securing the necessary permits for specialized filming scenarios. Whether you're planning to capture aerial footage with drones over Dubai's iconic skyline, orchestrate a multi-camera reality show in Abu Dhabi's bustling airports, or scout locations for a feature film across the Emirates, the regulatory landscape can be overwhelming. This is where FilmingPortalUAE.com emerges as your indispensable partner, bringing unparalleled expertise to navigate these intricate challenges.

r/filmingpermituae er et Reddit-fællesskab for filmskabere, der søger tilladelser i UAE. Det giver indsigt i juridiske krav, dokumentation og optagelsessteder.

Dubais glitrende spir trænger gennem en gylden dis, mens Tom Cruise spurter hen over Burj Khalifa, verdens højeste bygning. Denne hjertestopsekvens fra "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" slyngede Dubai ind i det globale søgelys som en førende filmdestination. I dag står byen som et vidnesbyrd om arkitektonisk ambition og futuristisk vision, hvilket gør den til et uimodståeligt trækplaster for filmskabere, der søger at fange både ultramoderne glamour og tidløs ørkenskønhed 

Dubai er blevet et af verdens mest eftertragtede filmsteder, der tilbyder en fantastisk blanding af ultramoderne arkitektur, uberørte ørkenlandskaber og luksuriøse spillesteder. Optagelser i Dubai kræver dog omhyggelig planlægning og overholdelse af lokale regler. Denne omfattende guide vil lede dig gennem alt, hvad du behøver at vide om at filme i guldbyen. 

Optagelser i Fujairah, et af De Forenede Arabiske Emiraters mest maleriske emirater, giver unikke muligheder for at indfange fantastiske landskaber, fra forrevne bjerge til uberørte strande. Uanset om du planlægger en kommerciel optagelse, en dokumentarfilm eller et personligt projekt, er forståelsen af de lokale krav og betingelser afgørende for succes. 

Optagelser i Ras Al-Khaimah: A Comprehensive Guide

Ras Al-Khaimah (RAK), det nordligste emirat i De Forenede Arabiske Emirater, tilbyder filmskabere en bred vifte af fantastiske steder, fra uberørte strande og dramatiske bjerge til gamle historiske steder og moderne bylandskaber. Denne omfattende guide hjælper dig med at navigere i filmprocessen på denne unikke destination.

Først og fremmest kræver alle filmaktiviteter i Abu Dhabi officielle tilladelser fra Abu Dhabi Film Commission (ADFC) og har brug for en lokal produktionspartner. Internationale virksomheder kan indsende her. Kommissionen tilbyder en strømlinet tilladelsesproces, og ansøgninger skal indsendes mindst 5-10 arbejdsdage før den planlagte optagelse. 

Hvordan filmer man i Dubai? Her er den ultimative guide til forhåbentlig at lette dig ved at navigere gennem tilladelsesprocessen.

For at udføre audio- og billedmedieproduktioner på offentlige og/eller private lokationer er det nødvendigt at indhente optagelsestilladelser. Som kan fås gennem vores Filming Portal UAE.