Filming Permit in Dubai: Who Issues It and How to Apply

Any commercial shoot in Dubai (ads, corporate video, brand content, professional photos) needs a filming permit. A UAE-licensed production company applies on the Dubai Film and TV Commission portal, now under the Dubai Media Council. Fees show on the portal when you apply. Every location you film must also approve.

Updated 6 October 2026. Rules change: check with the authority before you shoot.

This guide is for businesses in the UAE that want to film in Dubai: Meta and TikTok ads, a company video, listing videos, launch content. If you need a crew on the ground, see our video production company in Dubai.

Who issues filming permits in Dubai?

You apply on the Dubai Film and TV Commission (DFTC) portal: filmdubai.gov.ae. In October 2026, the Dubai Culture website still sends companies to this portal for shoots at its sites.

Since Decree No. 67 of 10 December 2024, the DFTC sits under the Dubai Media Council. Dubai also announced a Dubai Media Permits Office to issue media permits, and a Dubai Films and Games Commission to replace the DFTC. Names may change, so check the portal on the day you apply.

The permit is issued to a production company licensed in the UAE. Local and foreign brands both work through a licensed production company.

Do you need a filming permit in Dubai?

Yes, for any commercial or media shoot. The 2014 text that set the rules (Executive Council Resolution No. 50) covered TV, cinema, ads, documentaries and photography, outdoors (roads, beaches, parks, car parks) and indoors (homes, malls, hospitals, offices, hotels). It was repealed in December 2024, when its duties moved to the Dubai Media Council.

Filming for personal use does not need a permit. Local press (Khaleej Times, 2024) also lists weddings, events and school videos for education as exempt. If your shoot is close to these cases, confirm with the authority.

A permit alone is not enough. Every location must approve: the mall, the hotel, the tower, the free zone or the public entity that runs the place. The Dubai Media Council regulates media activity across Dubai, including free zones such as DIFC.

Common cases: an e-commerce brand filming video ads for Meta and TikTok on a public beach needs a permit and the approval of the entity that manages the beach. An agent filming real estate videos in Dubai inside a tower needs a permit and the approval of building management.

For event videos, public sources do not settle the question. The press lists "events" as exempt, but does not say if this covers a video later used as brand content. Ask the authority with your brief before the shoot, and get the venue approval in all cases.

For a property video, posting it also needs a DLD permit: it is all in our guide to real estate video in Dubai.

How to get a filming permit in Dubai: steps, timing and fees

Most of the work happens before you apply. Here is the process, in order.

1. Lock the project: type of video, exact locations, dates, times, crew size. The script must show the dates and locations of each scene.
2. Work with a UAE-licensed production company. It submits the application.
3. Get written approval from every location: mall, hotel, building, free zone, public entity.
4. Get the script approved before you apply for the permit. You submit it on the portal too.
5. Apply on filmdubai.gov.ae and pay the fees.
6. On shoot day, keep the permit on set and stay within the approved locations, dates and times.

How much does a filming permit cost in Dubai?

Fees show on the filmdubai.gov.ae portal when you apply. The 2014 fee schedule (Resolution No. 50) was repealed by Decree No. 67 in December 2024. The amounts you see in online guides usually come from that old text, so do not treat them as current prices.

Private venues (malls, hotels, towers) also charge their own location fees. Ask for them in writing before you lock the date.

What happens if you film without a permit?

The 2014 fine schedule was repealed with the rest of the text in December 2024. The amounts you see online come from that old text. Check the current penalties with the Dubai Media Council.

Filming a person without consent can also fall under the federal cybercrime law, with prison time and heavy fines. The next section covers it.

Can you film people in public in Dubai?

Not without their consent. Article 44 of Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on Combatting Rumours and Cybercrimes punishes invading someone's privacy with a digital device. This includes taking photos of a person in any public or private place without consent, or keeping, transferring or sharing those images.

The penalty is at least 6 months in prison and/or a fine of AED 150,000 to AED 500,000. If the image is edited to defame or insult, it rises to at least 1 year in prison and/or AED 250,000 to AED 500,000.

What we do on every shoot:

• A signed release form for every person filmed up close: talent, customers, staff.
• Wide shots framed so passers-by cannot be recognised, or blurred in the edit.
• No children on camera without written consent from a parent.
• No shots of government buildings or sensitive sites without specific approval.

If you then post the video on social media, another rule applies: see our guide to the Advertiser Permit in Dubai.

How a local production team prepares a Dubai shoot

The permit is just a step. Shoots usually fail on planning. Here is what we check before we lock a date.

Location scouting and approvals

We find out who manages each spot: the mall, the tower, the hotel, the free zone or the street. In an area like Downtown, a shoot day can need several approvals: the street, the mall, a hotel lobby.

Summer heat and the Midday Break

From 15 June to 15 September every year, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) bans work under direct sun and in open-air areas from 12:30 pm to 3 pm. We plan outdoor scenes early in the morning or late in the afternoon, and indoor scenes in the middle of the day.

Fridays and weekends

Official Dubai Government hours are 7:30 am to 3:30 pm Monday to Thursday, and 7:30 am to 12 pm on Friday. The weekend is Saturday and Sunday. An approval missing on Thursday evening may wait until Monday, so file your requests early in the week.

Ramadan

During Ramadan, private sector working hours drop by 2 hours a day (MOHRE, announced 12 February 2026). Venue teams are on site for less time. We plan shorter shoot days and confirm time slots with each venue in advance.

Mistakes we see most often

• Filming brand content in a mall without approval, because "it's just for Instagram".
• Changing location on shoot day when the permit lists a specific place.
• Collecting release forms after the shoot, when talent has already left.

For ads or company videos, see how our Dubai video production team works.

FAQ

Do I need a permit to film Instagram or TikTok content for my business in Dubai?

Yes, if the video promotes your business. Company content, promotional or internal, is one of the shoot types that need a permit. You also need approval from the place where you film.

Do I need a photography permit in Dubai?

Yes, for professional photography. Dubai Culture, for example, issues its shoot letter for photography and film production, and companies apply through filmdubai.gov.ae. Personal photos do not need a permit, but privacy law still applies.

Can you film inside a mall in Dubai?

Yes, with a permit and approval from mall management. The mall can charge its own location fees, so ask for them in writing before you lock the date.

How long does it take to get a filming permit in Dubai?

The timing is not shown publicly, as the portal requires a login. Plan for script approval, each location approval, then the permit itself. Start several weeks before the shoot.

What is the fine for filming without a permit in Dubai?

The 2014 fine schedule was repealed in December 2024, so check the current penalties with the Dubai Media Council. Filming a person without consent can also fall under Article 44 of Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021: at least 6 months in prison and/or AED 150,000 to AED 500,000.

Rules change. Check with the authority before you shoot. This guide is for information only and is not legal advice. Updated 6 October 2026.

Sources

• Decree No. 67 of 2024 transferring the Dubai Film and Television Commission to the Dubai Media Council (Dubai Legal Portal)
• Dubai Media Office: new entities for media permits and films (18 December 2024)
• Executive Council Resolution No. 50 of 2014 concerning the Dubai Film and Television Commission (Dubai Legal Portal)
• Dubai Film and TV Commission portal
• Dubai Culture: Shoot at the Sites of Authority
• MOHRE: The Midday Break
• MOHRE: 2-hour reduction of private sector working hours during Ramadan (12 February 2026)
• Dubai Media Office: Dubai Government working week changes
• Khaleej Times: how to apply for a filming permit in Dubai (October 2024)
• Gulf News: penalties for privacy violations in the UAE (December 2023)
• u.ae: data laws, including Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021
• Hadef & Partners: cybercrimes and the digital world, a UAE perspective