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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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