In short: script approval is a free step with the Dubai Film and TV Commission that comes before the filming permit for movie and television projects. The commission says it takes up to 25 business days, and the entire script must be submitted even if only one sequence is filmed in Dubai. Arabic productions submit in Arabic; all others in English.
Last checked against the official DFTC pages: 24 September 2026.
In Dubai, a scripted project needs script approval before it can get a filming permit. The Dubai Film and TV Commission requires it "for all movie and television filming". It is a separate application from the permit, and it usually sets the pace of the whole schedule.
Who needs it and who files it
Script approval applies to movie and television filming. Unlike the filming permit, individuals and international companies can submit a script for approval themselves on the commission's script portal. The filming permit that follows still needs a UAE-licensed production house as the applicant, so it helps if the same house handles both.
What to submit
- The entire script. The commission says it "should be submitted, even if only a sequence is filmed in Dubai".
- In the right language. Arabic productions submit in Arabic; all other productions submit in English.
- A synopsis and project details that match the pages, the dates and the locations you plan to film.
How long it takes
The commission's script approval page says approval "takes up to 25 business days to be issued". Its FAQ also gives approval timelines by production type:
| Production type | Timeline in the DFTC FAQ |
|---|---|
| TV series | 20 to 25 working days |
| Feature films | 10 to 15 working days |
| Documentaries | 10 to 20 working days |
Build the recce and bookings around the official window, not a hoped-for shortcut, and apply for the filming permit once the script is approved. The permit itself then takes one working day, subject to location owners' approval.
Is it free?
Yes. The DFTC FAQ answers "No, it is free of charge" to the question of a script approval fee. The filming permit that follows has its own fees: a non-refundable AED 520 processing fee plus location fees, listed in our filming permit guide.
What we check before it goes in
That the dates and locations in the pages match the scout. That the synopsis a producer typed in a hurry still matches the current draft. That the house named on the script file is the house that will apply for the permit. And that nothing in the script will surprise the commission on the day. Write to lata@carvingdreamsevent.com with the pages and the cities.
Questions
- How long does script approval take in Dubai?
- Up to 25 business days, according to the Dubai Film and TV Commission. Its FAQ gives 20 to 25 working days for TV series, 10 to 15 for feature films and 10 to 20 for documentaries.
- Is script approval in Dubai free?
- Yes. The DFTC FAQ says script approval is free of charge. The filming permit that follows has separate fees.
- Do I submit the whole script if only a few scenes are shot in Dubai?
- Yes. The commission says the entire script should be submitted even if only a sequence is filmed in Dubai.
- Can a foreign company apply for script approval?
- Yes. Individuals and international companies can submit scripts themselves, but the filming permit still requires a UAE-licensed production house.
- Does a TV commercial need script approval?
- The commission requires script approval for movie and television filming. For a commercial, send us the script and we will confirm the current requirement with the commission before filing.
Ready when you are.