Filming Permits in Dubai and the UAE: How to Get One
Every commercial shoot in Dubai needs a filming permit from the Dubai Film and TV Commission, and the Commission issues permits only to UAE-licensed production companies – a foreign production company cannot apply directly. Non-scripted shoots clear in about two to three working days; scripted films and series take up to around 25 because of script approval. Drones need a separate civil aviation clearance, and private locations need the owner’s no-objection certificate.
This is the practical guide to Dubai filming permits for international productions: which of the relevant authorities issues what, the documents you need, how the process runs, what public and private locations require, and how Abu Dhabi and the other emirates differ. NEEDaFIXER is the UAE-licensed production company that applies on your behalf and obtains the official permits, so you can focus on the shoot. For the wider picture see our filming permits by country hub and filming in Dubai.
Who issues a Dubai filming permit? The Dubai Film and TV Commission
The Dubai Film and TV Commission, which sits under the Dubai Media Council, reviews and approves visual media productions across the emirate – film, television, commercial shoots, branded content, stills photography and music video work – and applications are made through its portal. It is the right authority for the ground permit; it is not the only approval most shoots need.
- Dubai Film and TV Commission – the filming permit itself, plus script approval for scripted projects.
- Property owners and venue operators – a no-objection certificate for any private location, which the Commission expects to see with the application.
- General Civil Aviation Authority and the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority – drone clearance for aerial footage; this never replaces the filming permit, you need both.
- Abu Dhabi Film Commission – a separate ground filming permit if your schedule crosses into Abu Dhabi.
Can a foreign production company obtain filming permits in Dubai?
Not directly. The Commission issues permits to companies licensed in the UAE, so an international production works through a local production company that applies as the entity of record. This is a crucial step to get right early: the licence, the trade name and the insurance all sit with that company, and the permit is issued in its name. Our licence and our extensive network of local crew, kit and locations exist precisely for this, and using them removes the legal issues that catch productions trying to shortcut the process.
How to get a filming permit in Dubai: the process
- Script and content approval. Scripted projects submit the script, treatment or shoot brief for review before a permit is issued. Content that conflicts with local regulations is flagged at this stage rather than on the day.
- Assemble the necessary paperwork. Passport copies for all cast and crew, a commissioning or assignment letter, the shoot brief or storyboard, the equipment list, insurance, and a no-objection certificate from the owner of any private location.
- Submit the application. Lodged through the Commission’s portal by the UAE-licensed production company with shoot dates, locations and crew details.
- Approval and any additional permits. Drone clearance, marine approvals or landmark venue permissions run in parallel so nothing waits on anything else.
- On the shoot. Keep the approved permits with the unit; authorities and venue security do ask to see them.
How long do Dubai filming permits take?
Non-scripted shoots are typically approved in about two to three working days once the necessary paperwork is complete. Scripted films and series can take up to around 25 working days because of the additional script-clearance stage. Landmark venues, desert conservation areas and drone approvals add their own time, and public holidays and Ramadan shorten the working week at the permit desks. We build these lead times into the schedule and start filing as soon as locations are locked, which is the single most effective way to avoid delays.
How much is a filming permit in Dubai?
Permit fees are charged per application and vary by the type and duration of filming activities, and the location fees that sit alongside them vary far more: a public street costs little, a landmark venue, a hotel, a mall or a desert reserve is a commercial arrangement with the operator. There is no single published price for a shoot, so we itemise the permit fees and the location fees separately in the budget before you commit. Security, escorts and access charges at certain locations are billed by the venue rather than the Commission.
Filming permits by location: public spaces and private locations
Dubai’s diverse locations do not all sit under one permission, and knowing which is which is what keeps a schedule intact.
| Location | What you need |
|---|---|
| Dubai Marina, JBR, public streets and public places | Standard Commission filming permit; extra notice for road closures, large units or night work |
| Downtown Dubai and the Burj Khalifa area | The filming permit plus the venue owner’s approval – these are private, managed locations, not free public space |
| Palm Jumeirah, hotels and beach clubs | A private-location no-objection certificate from the resort or operator, filed with the permit |
| The desert, Al Qudra and Al Marmoom | Conservation-area permits and, often, an authorised escort |
| Studios and stages | Booked commercially; the studio handles its own access, but a permit is still needed for anything outside |
Drone permits and aerial footage in Dubai
Aerial work is regulated nationally by the General Civil Aviation Authority, with a Dubai Civil Aviation Authority no-objection certificate for commercial flights in the emirate. No-fly zones cover airports and heliports, government and military sites, and other critical infrastructure; standard operations are daylight, within line of sight and below 120 metres. Bring the drone registration, the pilot’s licence and the insurance with the application. A drone clearance does not replace the filming permit, and stills photography from the air is treated the same as video.
The Abu Dhabi Film Commission and permits in the other emirates
Abu Dhabi runs its own system: the Abu Dhabi Film Commission, part of the emirate’s Creative Media Authority, issues a ground filming permit covering the Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra regions, and scripted work needs script approval first. Abu Dhabi is also where the UAE’s cash rebate lives – see our Abu Dhabi film rebate guide. Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah each have their own approval routes, generally through the emirate’s media or tourism authority, and a shoot that crosses emirates carries a separate permit file for each. We handle multi-emirate schedules as one project so the paperwork moves with the unit.
Permits for commercial shoots, a music video or stills photography
The permit route is the same for every format, but what the Commission asks for differs. A television commercial or branded content shoot submits the script or storyboard and the client letter. A music video submits the treatment and the track, and needs particular care with content review and with any public place where a crowd might gather. Stills photography with a professional crew, lights and stands is treated as a production, not as tourism, and needs the same permit; only genuinely personal photography sits outside the system. Documentary and factual units filming interviews in public places still need the permit, and news gathering runs on separate accreditation rather than a production permit.
What we do for you: a seamless filming experience across the emirates
We apply as the licensed production company, prepare and submit every document, obtain the required permits and the drone and venue approvals, negotiate location fees and access, and keep the approved permits with the call sheet. International productions we have supported in the UAE range from commercials and music videos to documentary units and feature-film second units, and the permit process is the same discipline every time: file early, submit complete paperwork, and never let a crew arrive at a location the permit does not cover. That is what a seamless filming experience actually rests on: complete paperwork filed early by a company the authorities recognise.
Frequently asked questions
How to get a filming permit in Dubai?
A UAE-licensed production company applies through the Dubai Film and TV Commission portal with your shoot dates, locations, crew list, passport copies, equipment list, insurance and, for scripted work, the script for approval. Private locations also need the owner’s no-objection certificate. NEEDaFIXER applies as that licensed company on your behalf.
Can a foreign company get a Dubai filming permit directly?
No. The Dubai Film and TV Commission issues permits only to production companies licensed in the UAE, so an international production applies through a local company that acts as the entity of record. The same applies to Abu Dhabi’s ground filming permit.
How long does a Dubai filming permit take?
Non-scripted shoots are typically approved in about two to three working days once documents are complete. Scripted films and series can take up to around 25 working days because of script clearance. Drone and private-venue approvals run in parallel.
Can you film the Burj Khalifa without a permit?
No. Downtown Dubai and the area around the Burj Khalifa are private, managed locations: you need the Commission’s filming permit plus the venue owner’s approval, and any aerial shot needs a separate drone clearance. Personal tourist photography is treated differently from a commercial shoot with crew and equipment.
Do you need a separate drone permit in Dubai?
Yes. Drone filming needs General Civil Aviation Authority approval plus a Dubai Civil Aviation Authority no-objection certificate for commercial flights, and it does not replace the filming permit. Airports, government and military sites and other critical infrastructure are no-fly zones.
Is filming in Dubai legal for international productions?
Yes, with the correct permits. Dubai actively supports international productions; what is not permitted is filming without the Commission’s approval, in restricted areas, or at private locations without the owner’s consent. Content is also reviewed against local regulations at the script stage.
Do I need a separate permit for Abu Dhabi?
Yes. Abu Dhabi is a separate jurisdiction with its own ground filming permit from the Abu Dhabi Film Commission and its own script approval for scripted work. A schedule that uses both emirates carries two permit files, which we manage as one project.
Tell us where you are filming in the UAE
Send the emirates, the locations and the dates and we will come back with the permit plan and the budget. For production companies, broadcasters, brands and agencies.
