In short: professional filming and photography in Dubai needs a permit from the Dubai Film and TV Commission (DFTC). Only a UAE-licensed production company can apply, so foreign crews appoint one. The commission says a permit takes one working day once location owners approve, and every application carries a non-refundable AED 520 processing fee plus location fees. Scripted film and TV need script approval first.
Last checked against the official DFTC pages: 24 September 2026.
A filming permit in Dubai is issued through the Dubai Film and TV Commission. In December 2024 the Government of Dubai announced the Dubai Films and Games Commission, under the Dubai Media Council, as DFTC's successor; the permit portal at filmdubai.gov.ae still carries the DFTC name, and it is where applications are made. We prepare the file with you and produce the shoot around it.
Who can apply
The commission is explicit: anyone who wants to film in Dubai "must appoint a UAE-licensed production company to obtain a filming permit", and DFTC does not issue filming permits directly to international companies. The commission publishes a list of licensed production companies. Read how to hire a licensed house for what that appointment involves.
What needs a permit
DFTC says permits are required for audio and visual media productions on all platforms, including TV, film, online, mobile and print, and for formats from advertisements and documentaries to photography, at government-operated and private locations. Its FAQ lists the exceptions: no filming permit is required for weddings, events, educational filming by colleges and schools, press conferences, and filming for personal use.
Step by step
- Brief the licensed house. Dates, locations, crew, kit and what you are making.
- Clear the script if the project is scripted. Script approval is required before the permit for movie and television filming. See script approval in Dubai.
- Get location consent. Private locations need a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the owner; government locations are approved through the commission.
- File the application. The licensed house submits it on the DFTC portal with the commissioning letter and supporting documents.
- Pay the fees and receive the permit. The processing fee and any location fees are paid on the portal.
- Shoot to the permit. Film only what the permit covers, with a member of the production house on set.
What the file holds
- A commissioning letter appointing the licensed production company (DFTC provides a template).
- An NOC from the owner of every private location.
- Dates, locations and the scope of filming.
- Valid work or business visas for international crew, arranged through the local production company.
- Insurance, which the commission currently lists as optional; a location owner may still ask for it.
- Any additional documents the commission requests.
Official fees
DFTC publishes its permit fees. Every application carries a non-refundable processing fee of AED 520, and one application can cover several days and locations. Private location owners set their own charges, which DFTC gives as from AED 0 up to AED 25,000 per day. Government location fees by production type:
| Production type | Government location fee | Permit covers up to |
|---|---|---|
| Scripted long-form | AED 2,500 | 30 days |
| Unscripted long-form | AED 2,500 | 30 days |
| News for a UAE broadcaster | AED 0 | 30 days |
| News for a foreign broadcaster | AED 2,500 | 14 days |
| Advertisements (TV and online) | AED 2,500 | 3 days |
| Corporate videos | AED 2,500 | 7 days |
| City stills or footage | AED 2,500 | 14 days |
| Aerial filming | AED 0 | 7 days |
These are the commission's charges as published on 24 September 2026. Our production fees are separate, and our estimates show the two apart.
How long it takes
The DFTC FAQ says a filming permit takes one working day, subject to the location owners' approval. Script approval, where needed, comes first and can take up to 25 business days. Some locations add their own notice periods: Dubai Airports, for example, asks for 3 working days for landside requests and 15 working days for airside.
Fines for filming without a permit
| Violation | Fine |
|---|---|
| Filming without permission | AED 25,000 |
| Filming without location permission | AED 15,000 |
| Filming activities not covered by the permit | AED 25,000 |
| Other violations, such as no production-house member on set, blocking roads, or aerial filming without permission | AED 20,000 |
Crew visas
A filming permit is not a visa. International crew need valid work or business visas, which the local production company arranges. We coordinate the crew list; immigration remains an official process. Do not send passport scans in a first email: they are only needed once the job is confirmed.
Questions
- How much does a filming permit cost in Dubai?
- DFTC charges a non-refundable AED 520 processing fee per application, plus location fees: AED 0 to 2,500 for government locations depending on the production type, and up to AED 25,000 per day at private locations, set by the owner. Production fees are separate.
- How long does a Dubai filming permit take?
- The DFTC FAQ says one working day, subject to location owners' approval. Scripted film and TV projects need script approval first, which can take up to 25 business days.
- Can a foreign company apply for a Dubai filming permit itself?
- No. DFTC does not issue filming permits directly to international companies; they must appoint a UAE-licensed production company, which applies on their behalf.
- Do weddings or personal videos need a filming permit?
- No. The DFTC FAQ says no filming permit is required for weddings, events, educational filming by schools and colleges, press conferences, or filming for personal use.
- What is the fine for filming without a permit in Dubai?
- DFTC lists AED 25,000 for filming without permission and AED 15,000 for filming without location permission, among other fines.
Ready when you are.