June 05, 2026 10:00 pm

ATA Carnet Guide for Dubai


ATA Carnet imported only for exhibition goods

1. Check whether the ATA Carnet applies

Before planning to use an ATA Carnet for the UAE, confirm that your goods qualify. Based on official guidance received after our inquiry, the UAE currently accepts incoming ATA Carnets only for B1 goods: items intended to be used for exhibitions and similar events.



This means ordinary filming equipment is not accepted on an ATA Carnet just because it is professional production kit. It may only be considered if the equipment is intended for, or invited to participate in, a particular known event and you have obtained the required prior permit from the concerned entity.



For most film crews, temporary admission is the correct customs route to check first. We created a separate guide for the Dubai temporary import procedure here: /filming-permit-guides/temporary-import-filming-equipment-dubai



If your shoot is not connected to a qualifying exhibition or similar event, speak to your UAE production partner, customs broker, the relevant chamber, and UAE Customs before travel to confirm the correct temporary import route.

people walking inside building during daytime

ATA Carnets are accepted only at specific Dubai and Abu Dhabi entry and exit points.

2. Accepted UAE entry and exit points

The accepted ATA Carnet points of entry and exit listed in the official guidance we received are Dubai International Airport, Al Maktoum International Airport, Jebel Ali Port, and Dubai Cargo Village.



In Abu Dhabi, accepted points are Port Zayed and Abu Dhabi International Airport.



Do not assume that another UAE airport, seaport, courier route, or land border can process the carnet. Plan the arrival and departure route around the accepted Dubai or Abu Dhabi customs points, and confirm details before the equipment travels.

black digital video camera

Fees generally apply only if Customs is approached after working hours, according to the official guidance we received.

3. Duties, fees and working hours

The official guidance we received says there are no duties or fees applicable on the incoming ATA Carnet in normal circumstances.



If the customer approaches Customs after working hours, Dubai Customs may charge around AED 100. This after-hours note applies to Dubai Airport and Dubai Cargo Village. For Jebel Ali Port, working hours are 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.



Because fees and hours can change, confirm the practical handling time with Dubai Customs, the port or airport, and your local production partner before the shipment or crew arrives.

a person is writing on a paper with a pen

Do not exceed the final re-export date stated by Dubai Customs on the white counterfoil.

Do not exceed the final date of re-exportation stated by Dubai Customs. The official guidance we received says this date is mentioned in the white counterfoil, in the importation field.



The goods may be re-exported through a customs port other than the one used for first import, but only through Abu Dhabi or Dubai customs ports.



Keep copies of the carnet, the white counterfoil, customs references, airway bills, port receipts, and any re-export evidence until the carnet is fully discharged by the issuing chamber.

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How to Film in Sharjah: Permits, Locations and Production Support

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.

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Bringing Professional Filming Equipment to Dubai: Temporary Import Guide

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.

How to apply for UAE filming permits
ATA Carnet Guide for Dubai

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.

How to apply for UAE filming permits
Navigating the Complex World of Film Production Permits: Your Gateway to Seamless Filming in the UAE

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.

How to apply for UAE filming permits
Redditコミュニティをチェック

r/filmingpermituae は、UAE で許可を求める映画製作者のための Reddit コミュニティです。法的要件、書類、撮影場所に関する情報を提供します。

How to apply for UAE filming permits
ドバイ、映画のオアシス

トム・クルーズが世界一高いビル、ブルジュ・ハリファの正面を疾走する時、ドバイのきらめく尖塔が金色のもやを突き抜ける。『ミッション:インポッシブル/ゴースト・プロトコル』のこの胸が躍るシーンにより、ドバイは最高の撮影地として世界的に注目されるようになった。今日、この都市は建築の野心と未来志向の証であり、超近代的な魅力と時代を超えた砂漠の美しさの両方を捉えようとする映画製作者にとって魅力的な場所となっている。 

How to apply for UAE filming permits
ドバイでの撮影方法

ドバイは、超近代的な建築、手つかずの砂漠の風景、豪華な会場が見事に融合した、世界で最も人気のある撮影場所の 1 つとなっています。ただし、ドバイでの撮影には、慎重な計画と現地の規制の遵守が必要です。この包括的なガイドでは、黄金の街での撮影について知っておく必要のあるすべてのことを説明します。 

How to apply for UAE filming permits
フジャイラでの撮影:総合ガイド

アラブ首長国連邦で最も美しい首長国のひとつであるフジャイラでの撮影は、険しい山々から自然のままのビーチまで、素晴らしい風景を撮影するユニークな機会を提供します。商業撮影、ドキュメンタリー、または個人的なプロジェクトのいずれを計画している場合でも、現地の要件と状況を理解することが成功の鍵となります。 

How to apply for UAE filming permits
ラス・アル・ハイマでの撮影:総合ガイド

ラス・アル・ハイマでの撮影:総合ガイド

アラブ首長国連邦の最北端の首長国ラス・アル・ハイマ(RAK)は、自然のままのビーチやドラマチックな山々から古代史跡や近代的な都市景観まで、映画製作者にさまざまな魅力的なロケ地を提供しています。この包括的なガイドは、このユニークな目的地での撮影プロセスを進めるのに役立ちます。

How to apply for UAE filming permits
アブダビでの撮影方法

まず第一に、アブダビでのすべての撮影活動には、アブダビ映画委員会 (ADFC) からの正式な許可が必要であり、現地の制作パートナーが必要です。国際企業はこちらから申請できます。委員会は合理化された許可手続きを提供しており、申請は予定されている撮影日の少なくとも 5 ~ 10 営業日前に提出する必要があります。 

How to apply for UAE filming permits
ドバイでの撮影:許可手続きの進め方

ドバイで撮影するにはどうすればいいでしょうか? 許可手続きを簡単に行えるようにするための究極のガイドをご紹介します。

How to apply for UAE filming permits
ドバイでの撮影ガイド

政府や民間の場所でオーディオおよびビジュアルメディア制作を行うには、撮影許可を取得する必要があります。これは、当社の 撮影ポータルUAE。

2023 著作権はFilming Portal UAEが所有し、RK MOTION PICTURES LLCに属します。無断転載を禁じます。