Sharjah is one of the UAE’s strongest cultural and landscape emirates for filming. It can give a production old-town streets, museums, traditional markets, modern waterfronts, desert archaeology, mountain roads, beaches and mangroves without losing the UAE production infrastructure around it. The important part is planning the permit route before cameras roll. Public spaces, museums, art locations, roads, beaches, mangroves, private properties and any aerial work can all require different approvals. International crews should normally work through a UAE-based production partner who can coordinate the permit information, location access, crew, equipment, insurance and local logistics.Sharjah is one of the UAE’s strongest cultural and landscape emirates for filming. It can give a production old-town streets, museums, traditional markets, modern waterfronts, desert archaeology, mountain roads, beaches and mangroves without losing the UAE production infrastructure around it. The important part is planning the permit route before cameras roll. Public spaces, museums, art locations, roads, eaches, mangroves, private properties and any aerial work can all require different approvals. International crews should normally work through a UAE-based production partner who can coordinate the permit information, location access, crew, equipment, insurance and local logistics.ctical 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.

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 es una comunidad de Reddit para cineastas que buscan permisos en los Emiratos Árabes Unidos. Ofrece información sobre requisitos legales, documentación y lugares de rodaje.

Las relucientes agujas de Dubái atraviesan una neblina dorada mientras Tom Cruise corre por la fachada del Burj Khalifa, el edificio más alto del mundo. Esta sobrecogedora secuencia de "Misión: Imposible - Protocolo Fantasma" catapultó a Dubái a la fama mundial como destino cinematográfico de primer nivel. Hoy, la ciudad es un testimonio de la ambición arquitectónica y la visión futurista, lo que la convierte en un atractivo irresistible para los cineastas que buscan capturar tanto el glamour ultramoderno como la belleza atemporal del desierto. 

Dubái se ha convertido en uno de los lugares de rodaje más buscados del mundo, ya que ofrece una combinación sorprendente de arquitectura ultramoderna, paisajes desérticos prístinos y espacios lujosos. Sin embargo, filmar en Dubái requiere una planificación cuidadosa y el cumplimiento de las normas locales. Esta guía completa le explicará todo lo que necesita saber sobre filmar en la Ciudad Dorada. 

Filmar en Fujairah, uno de los emiratos más pintorescos de los Emiratos Árabes Unidos, ofrece oportunidades únicas para capturar paisajes impresionantes, desde montañas escarpadas hasta playas prístinas. Ya sea que esté planeando un rodaje comercial, un documental o un proyecto personal, comprender los requisitos y las condiciones locales es esencial para el éxito. 

Filmar en Ras Al-Khaimah: una guía completa

Ras Al-Khaimah (RAK), el emirato más septentrional de los Emiratos Árabes Unidos, ofrece a los cineastas una amplia variedad de lugares impresionantes, desde playas vírgenes y montañas espectaculares hasta sitios históricos antiguos y paisajes urbanos modernos. Esta guía completa le ayudará a navegar por el proceso de filmación en este destino único.

En primer lugar, todas las actividades de filmación en Abu Dhabi requieren permisos oficiales de la Comisión de Cine de Abu Dhabi (ADFC) y necesitan un socio de producción local. Las empresas internacionales pueden presentar sus solicitudes aquí. La comisión ofrece un proceso de obtención de permisos simplificado y las solicitudes deben presentarse al menos entre 5 y 10 días hábiles antes del rodaje planificado. 

¿Cómo filmar en Dubái? Aquí encontrará la guía definitiva que, con suerte, le facilitará el proceso de obtención de permisos.

Para realizar producciones de medios audiovisuales en locaciones gubernamentales y/o privadas, es necesario obtener permisos de filmación. El cual puede obtener a través de nuestro Portal de filmación de Emiratos Árabes Unidos.