Do you need a permit to shoot in Dubai?

Yes, for most commercial shoots: filming and photography for commercial use in Dubai's public and government-managed locations generally need a Dubai Film and TV Commission (DFTC) permit, applied for through a licensed UAE production company, plus the location owner's permission. Drones need separate DCAA or GCAA approval. Weddings and personal use are reported exemptions. Rules change; this is not legal advice.

Do you need a permit to shoot in Dubai?

It depends on what you are shooting, where, and what the images are for. Personal photos need no permit. Commercial shoots in public places, at landmarks or at government-managed locations generally do, and every location owner can set its own rules on top.

Type of shoot	DFTC permit?	Location permission?	Notes
Personal photos and video	Reported as not required	Respect venue rules	Includes holiday and family photos
Wedding coverage	Reported as not required	Yes, from the venue	Venues often have supplier rules
Commercial shoot in a public place or landmark	Generally yes	Yes	Applied for via a licensed production company
Commercial shoot on government-managed land	Generally yes	Yes	Location fees apply
Commercial shoot at a private venue (mall, hotel, restaurant)	Check with DFTC and the venue	Yes, from the venue	Private location fees vary
Shoot inside a photography studio	Location is the studio's own premises	Studio booking	Ask your studio
Any shoot using a drone	Aviation approval needed	Yes	DCAA in Dubai; GCAA federally

"Reported" means we found it in reliable reporting on DFTC rules rather than on a DFTC page we could read directly; see the sources below.

Who issues filming and photography permits in Dubai?

The Dubai Film and TV Commission (DFTC) issues filming permits in Dubai. Dubai's Executive Council Resolution No. 16 of 2012, which established the commission, describes it as the sole entity authorised to license all filming operations in the emirate for media production, and its definition of media production includes photography. The same resolution says the approval of the entity that manages the location must also be obtained.

Key points from Khaleej Times' October 2024 explainer on the process:

• Who applies: anyone wanting to film in Dubai must hire a licensed UAE-based production house, although individuals and international companies can submit scripts for approval.
• Scripts first: the script must be approved before the permit application, with shooting dates and locations listed, and approval can take up to 25 business days.
• Changes: requests can be cancelled after submission but generally not adjusted, so plan locations and dates carefully.
• Content: productions must respect UAE culture and values.

The DFTC's official portal is at filmdubai.gov.ae, where licensed production companies apply. Because we could not read the current requirements directly from the portal, confirm the details with DFTC or a licensed production company before you plan a shoot.

When is a DFTC permit not needed?

Khaleej Times' 2024 explainer lists four situations where a filming permit is not needed: weddings, events, educational footage for schools and colleges, and personal use.

If you are planning corporate coverage, our guide to event photography cost in Dubai shows what packages include and how to brief for a quote.

Two cautions:

1. Exemption from a DFTC permit is not permission to shoot anywhere. Malls, hotels, developments, parks and heritage sites can still refuse or charge for professional photography.
2. Commercial use changes things. A "personal" shoot that is later used in advertising, or a brand shoot styled as a wedding, may need a permit. If in doubt, ask before you shoot.

What does a Dubai filming permit cost?

Khaleej Times reported in October 2024 a non-refundable permit fee of AED 520 per application, plus location fees that depend on whether the location is private or government-managed. We could not confirm these figures on the DFTC portal, and fees change, so treat them as indicative.

Item	Reported amount (Khaleej Times, October 2024)
Permit fee	AED 520 per application, non-refundable; can cover multiple days and locations
Private locations	AED 0 to 25,000 per day, depending on production needs, clean-up and security
Government locations	Most categories AED 2,500, with exceptions; permits run 7 to 30 days by category
Filming without permission	Fine of AED 25,000
Shooting without location permission	Fine of AED 15,000
Filming beyond what the permit covers	Fine of AED 25,000
Other violations (littering, blocking roads, unpermitted aerial filming)	Fine of AED 20,000

The original 2012 resolution set different location fees, which shows how often these figures are revised. Always ask your production company for the current fee schedule.

Do you need permission to fly a drone in Dubai?

Yes. Drones in the UAE are regulated federally by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and, in Dubai, by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA). Rules differ for recreational and commercial flights, and they have changed several times since 2022.

Dubai: DCAA recreational drone rules

The DCAA's Directive DCAA-DCAD-2025-00007, published on 3 December 2025, sets the minimum requirements for private and recreational drone flights in Dubai.

Rule	Requirement in the directive
Registration	All recreational pilots and all drones registered with the DCAA
Licensing	UAE-based recreational pilots licensed by a DCAA-certified training organisation; tourist pilots meet minimum requirements
Where	DCAA-approved recreational zones only (shown on the DCAA's Dubai drone map)
Weight and size	Under 2.5 kg take-off mass, maximum dimension under 1 metre
Line of sight	Within 500 metres of the pilot, no binoculars or FPV goggles
Height	Below 122 metres (400 ft); on private property, no higher than the tallest structure
Speed	Under 19 metres per second
Distance from people	At least equal to the drone's height (1:1)
No-fly	Military, prohibited, restricted and danger areas; not continuously over pedestrian paths, motorways, metro or tram lines unless authorised
Equipment	DCAA-approved remote ID and geo-awareness systems

Toy-class devices under 250 g that meet the directive's criteria are excluded. In January 2025, Gulf News reported that the DCAA said recreational drone use in Dubai remained suspended "until further notice"; the December 2025 directive now sets the rules for approved zones. Check the DCAA website for the current status before you fly.

Federal: GCAA rules outside Dubai

The GCAA's UAS registration page says recreational users must register themselves and their drone before flying, through the UAE Drones platform, and drones up to 5 kg may fly only in approved green zones shown in the My Drone Hub app. Flights must be in daylight, in good weather, within line of sight, no higher than 400 ft, and at least 5 km from airports, heliports and controlled zones. In January 2025 the platform was reported as open only to UAE residents with UAE Pass.

Commercial drone filming

Commercial and professional operators follow a separate process. The GCAA requires an Unmanned Aircraft Operator Authorisation (stated processing time about 3 weeks), then operational permission for flights in restricted zones (14 working days) and security clearance for any flight with a camera. In Dubai, DCAA approval is also needed, and aerial filming for media appears in DFTC's permit categories. Budget weeks, not days, for drone approvals.

What other permissions might a shoot need?

Depending on the location, you may need approval from the site owner as well as DFTC.

Location type	Who to ask
Malls, hotels, resorts and restaurants	The venue's management
Master-planned districts and waterfronts	The developer or district operator
Parks, beaches and public spaces	The relevant government entity, via DFTC where a permit is needed
Airports (DXB and DWC)	Dubai Airports and Dubai Police first, then a DFTC location permit through a local production agency for commercial shoots
Heritage sites and museums	The site's management

Dubai Airports, for example, asks for written permission from Dubai Airports and Dubai Police for landside filming, and airside shoots need security passes for every crew member and piece of equipment, with requests 15 working days ahead.

How do we handle permits for client shoots?

We check permissions before we confirm any location shoot and tell you what applies, what it costs and how long it takes. Shoots in our Dubai studio take place on our own premises, which is often the fastest option for fashion and lookbook or reels work. For campaigns that need city or desert locations, permits are arranged where required, and the time and fees are quoted up front.

For weddings, read our guide to pre-wedding shoot locations in Dubai. For drone footage at weddings, see our wedding films, which include drone footage only where permitted.

Important: this guide summarises official and reputable sources as we found them on 21 October 2026. Dubai's filming and drone rules change often, and this is general information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the DFTC, DCAA or GCAA, or a licensed production company, before you shoot. Ask us through the quote form if you want help planning a location shoot.