Aerial filming in the UAE has needed a permit since we started in 2006, and drone filming has needed one since our first drone job in 2013. What has changed is who approves it. One authority became several, and the process is now stricter and more structured.
UAE aerial filming permits, year by year
- 2006
- We start aerial filming from helicopters. Dubai Municipality is the only authority approving aerial permits, and the process is simple.
- 2009
- Dubai Studio City joins the permit process, adding a layer of oversight and standardising production requirements.
- 2010
- The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and the Ministry of Defence become key approvers. Requirements now cover safety, privacy and national security.
- 2013
- We film with drones for the first time. Permits are required from the start.
- Today
- Several authorities review each shoot, depending on the emirate and the location. See the list below.
Through every change the direction has been the same: the UAE supports filming, and expects it to be done within a clear procedure that protects privacy and security. The process is more involved than in 2006, but it is defined, and productions that follow it get approved.
Who approves aerial filming today
- Dubai Film and TV Commission
- The filming permit for productions in Dubai.
- Abu Dhabi Film Commission
- The filming permit for productions in Abu Dhabi.
- GCAA and the Ministry of Defence
- Aviation and security clearance for drone and helicopter flights.
- Ministry of Culture
- Needed for museums and cultural sites.
- Sharjah Media Council
- Issues filming permits in Sharjah.
- NOTAM
- A Notice to Airmen, issued for flights inside restricted zones.
The exact list depends on where you film. Our guide to aerial filming permits in the UAE covers each emirate, and the Dubai permit steps show how an application runs.
How long a permit takes now
- Dubai
- 14–16 days
- Abu Dhabi
- 18–20 days
Working days, counted from when the paperwork is complete. Government projects and major events can sometimes be expedited, decided case by case, but it is never guaranteed. We are licensed and registered with the Dubai Film and TV Commission, so we apply for permits on your behalf. See our filming permit service.
Common questions
- When did drone filming start in the UAE?
- ChopperShoot did its first drone filming job in the UAE in 2013, and permits were already required then. Aerial filming itself goes back further: we have filmed from helicopters in the UAE since 2006.
- Has aerial filming always needed a permit in the UAE?
- Yes. In the helicopter days the approval came from Dubai Municipality. Since then more authorities have joined the process, but a permit has always been part of aerial filming here.
- How long does a filming permit take in Dubai and Abu Dhabi?
- Dubai typically takes 14 to 16 working days and Abu Dhabi 18 to 20 working days. Government projects and major events can sometimes be expedited, decided case by case and never guaranteed.
- Who approves a drone shoot in the UAE today?
- In Dubai, the Dubai Film and TV Commission with the GCAA and the Ministry of Defence. In Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Film Commission. Museums and cultural sites also need the Ministry of Culture, flights in restricted zones need a NOTAM, and Sharjah permits come from the Sharjah Media Council.
- Can ChopperShoot apply for the permit for us?
- Yes. We are licensed and registered with the Dubai Film and TV Commission, so we can apply for permits on your behalf, and we provide an on-set location manager.
