How long has ChopperShoot been filming from the air?

ChopperShoot was founded in 2005 and began aerial filming from helicopters in 2006. That makes it two decades of aerial filming in the UAE.

When did ChopperShoot start drone filming?

In 2013. We added drones to our helicopter work and have used both ever since, choosing the right aircraft for each shot.

Where does ChopperShoot operate?

From offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, covering the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Can ChopperShoot arrange filming permits?

Yes. We are licensed and registered with the Dubai Film and TV Commission and apply for permits on behalf of clients. Dubai typically takes 14 to 16 working days and Abu Dhabi 18 to 20 working days.

20 Years of Aerial Filming: How We Pioneered Drone Filming in the Middle East

Oct 2

Written By Choppershoot

ChopperShoot has filmed from the air in the UAE for 20 years. We started with helicopters, added drones in 2013, and now work from offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh. This is how it happened.

Drone pilot with a camera controller and headset watching a fireworks display over the water at night — On a night shoot, with the camera operator on the monitor.

Twenty years, in five dates

2005: ChopperShoot is founded in Dubai.
2006: We start aerial filming from helicopters, the only way to get aerial shots at the time, for films, commercials and corporate projects.
2013: We add drones. They bring agility and precision, and close-range shots that a helicopter cannot get.
2018: We open our Abu Dhabi office.
2023: We open our Riyadh office to serve Saudi Arabia.

Helicopters and drones, chosen shot by shot

We did not replace helicopters with drones. We use both. A drone suits close work, tight spaces and low-altitude moves. A helicopter suits long lenses, altitude and large areas. Most productions use a mix, and we pick the right aircraft for each shot. See our drone filming and helicopter filming services.

Twenty years of permit work sits behind that. We are licensed and registered with the Dubai Film and TV Commission and apply for permits on behalf of clients. See our filming permit service and our guide to aerial filming permits in the UAE.

Where we work now

Drones: 40+
Offices: 3

Local offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh mean local permits knowledge and faster project starts. Our clients include BBC, CNN and Emaar. Larger jobs include Armin van Buuren on the Burj Khalifa and David Guetta on the Burj Al Arab helipad.

Drone pilot holding a remote controller in the mountains at sunset — A pilot at work in the mountains at sunset.

How we work

Clients first. We work with film studios, tourism boards and brands, and shape the service around the brief.
Planning before the shoot. We scout locations, secure permits and coordinate logistics, and an on-set location manager is part of the team.
A creative eye. Technical skill gets the aircraft in the air. Framing and story are what the client keeps.

The next twenty years

We will keep doing what has worked so far: the right aircraft for each shot, permits handled properly, and a calm crew on shoot day. Thank you to our clients, partners and team for twenty years of work.

Two drone pilots holding remote controllers at dusk in Downtown Dubai with the Burj Khalifa behind them — Two pilots at dusk in Downtown Dubai.

Common questions

How long has ChopperShoot been filming from the air?: ChopperShoot was founded in 2005 and began aerial filming from helicopters in 2006. That makes it two decades of aerial filming in the UAE.
When did ChopperShoot start drone filming?: In 2013. We added drones to our helicopter work and have used both ever since, choosing the right aircraft for each shot.
Where does ChopperShoot operate?: From offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, covering the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Can ChopperShoot arrange filming permits?: Yes. We are licensed and registered with the Dubai Film and TV Commission and apply for permits on behalf of clients. Dubai typically takes 14 to 16 working days and Abu Dhabi 18 to 20 working days.

Start a brief

Planning an aerial shoot in the Middle East? Send us the dates and locations

We reply with the aircraft and crew you need, the permit timeline and a quote.

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