Service Inquiry and FAQs
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FAQ
Yes. Any professional audio or visual production on government or private locations in the UAE requires an official filming permit. This applies to films, TV, commercials, documentaries, corporate videos, and monetised or professionally-equipped social/online content. Filming without a permit can lead to fines and equipment issues.
No. International productions must appoint a UAE-licensed production company to apply on their behalf — the authorities do not issue permits directly to foreign companies. Filming Portal UAE acts as your licensed local partner and handles the application end to end.
the location and the complexity of the shoot. UAE business days run Sunday to Thursday, and these are typical figures — always confirm current timing for your specific shoot. As a rule, apply as early as you can (5–10 working days ahead is a safe minimum):
- Dubai (Dubai Film & TV Commission, DFTC): about 2–5 working days for a standard complete application, and up to 10 for sensitive locations. If your project needs script approval, that can take up to 25 working days.
- Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi Film Commission): about 3–5 working days for standard shoots; complex or high-profile shoots (landmarks, drones) can take 10–25 working days, and script approval adds roughly 5–15 working days.
- Sharjah (Sharjah Government Media Bureau): about 3–5 working days; the authority advises applying 7–10 working days in advance.
- Ras Al Khaimah: about 3–5 working days.
- Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain and Ajman: handled through local authorities with simpler processes plan for about 5–7 working days and confirm case by case.
A UAE permit budget has three parts: the authority's permit/application fee, any location fees, and add-ons (drones, security, road closures, insurance). Typical official fees:
- Dubai (Dubai Film & TV Commission, DFTC): a non-refundable application/processing fee of AED 520 per application, for Goverment Streets and Area Permit AED 2520, location fees for private locations of AED 0–25,000 per day depending on the site, security, post-shoot cleanup and services. Government locations are quoted case by case. If script approval is required (via the UAE Media Council), that is AED 500 per application. Photography permits follow the same structure.
- Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi Film Commission / Creative Media Authority): a script-approval fee of AED 500 per application plus a filming permit fee of AED 500 per filming day. Photography follows the same structure. Location fees may apply for government sites, road closures or public-safety measures.
- Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain and Ajman: fees are set locally and depend on the location and scope — typically a permit fee plus any location or service charges. We confirm the exact figure for your shoot.
On top of authority fees, budget for drone approvals, security/police details, road closures and traffic control, and insurance where relevant, plus your production partner's service fee. We give you a clear, itemised quote before you commit.
Fees above are typical figures current as of July 2026 and are set by the relevant authorities — always confirm the latest fees for your specific shoot.
Usually: a synopsis or full script, a shooting schedule, crew and equipment lists, passport and visa copies for the crew, valid insurance, and any location-specific NOCs (no-objection certificates). For scripted work, the full script is normally submitted for approval, and changes after approval may need re-approval. A Presentation of the project with links to prior episodes or similar examples is highly recommended.
Yes. Aerial and drone work requires additional approval — in Dubai from the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), along with drone and operator registration (GCAA). Drone approvals take extra time and are not guaranteed near airports, government sites or restricted airspace. We coordinate these as part of your permit.
If the shoot is professional, monetised, or uses professional equipment (tripods, lighting, rigs, gimbals) or a crew, you generally need a permit — the same rules apply to photo permits. Casual personal phone photography is treated differently, but anything commercial should be permitted.
Restricted areas include (without limitation) government departments and ministries, military sites, royal palaces, and infrastructure such as refineries and ports. Private locations always require the owner's NOC. When in doubt, treat a location as permit-required and check before you shoot.
For most crews the practical route is temporary admission through Dubai Customs, not an ATA Carnet (the UAE currently accepts carnets only for a narrow exhibition category). Budget roughly 10% of the declared equipment value as a refundable deposit at arrival (5% customs + 5% VAT), returned when the kit is correctly re-exported. See our Temporary Import guide for the full checklist.
It depends on the emirate — for example the Dubai Film and TV Commission (DFTC) in Dubai and the Abu Dhabi Film Commission (ADFC) in Abu Dhabi, with other emirates handled through their relevant authorities and location owners. We route your application to the correct authority for each location.
The real legal exposure
The regulatory fine is only the smallest part — filming without the right permits and consents can trigger several separate laws:
- Regulatory filming fine: filming without a permit can bring an emirate filming fine (reported up to around AED 25,000), plus confiscated footage or equipment and a shut-down shoot.
- Privacy / cybercrime: under the UAE cybercrime law (Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021, amended by Federal Law No. 5 of 2024), photographing or filming people without consent carries imprisonment of at least six months and a fine of AED 150,000 to AED 500,000. The UAE does not recognise a general "public place" exception, and filming strangers — especially women, children or families — is treated seriously; publishing the footage adds further liability.
- Government, military and restricted sites: filming these is a national-security matter with separate, severe prosecution — restricted-area or airport violations can bring fines around AED 100,000 and imprisonment of six months to three years, and capturing classified or defence-related locations can carry fines up to AED 3,000,000 and imprisonment up to life.
- Drones: flying a drone without GCAA/DCAA authorisation can bring up to one year's imprisonment and/or fines up to AED 50,000 (unregistered drones AED 5,000–20,000 plus confiscation), and blacklisting from future drone permits. A drone permit is separate from a filming permit — you need both.
- Deportation: for expatriates, a conviction under these laws can also lead to deportation.
This is exactly why professional productions work through a licensed local partner: the right permits, consents and NOCs keep your shoot legal and protect your crew, footage and budget.
General information, current as of July 2026 — not legal advice. Confirm current law with the relevant authority or a qualified UAE lawyer.
Yes. Alongside permits we arrange location scouting, verified crew, camera and lighting equipment rental, fixers, casting and full production support — so international productions can run everything through one UAE partner. Can be requested in our service page.
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