Our Dubai office

Our drone, FPV and helicopter crews work from Al Quoz 3, Dubai, where ChopperShoot has operated as a drone filming company since 2006. We plan the shot, secure the DCAA, DFTC and Ministry of Defence approvals, and fly it.

33 Goshi Warehouse, Al Quoz 3, Dubai · Covers Dubai and the Northern Emirates

Start a brief WhatsApp
Armin van Buuren's DJ set on top of the Burj Khalifa at night, filmed by ChopperShoot drones
Burj Khalifa · Dubai
11 drone teams

Armin van Buuren's set on top of the Burj Khalifa, filmed with 11 drone teams.

Read the case study →

Locations

Across Dubai

Where we film in Dubai

Landmarks, coastline, desert and city streets. Every location has its own airspace rules, and we plan each flight around them.

Evening aerial view of an island resort and marina with the Dubai skyline lit up behind
Dubai skyline at duskIsland resort and marina in the foreground
Aerial view of Bluewaters Island and Ain Dubai at sunset
Bluewaters IslandAin Dubai at sunset
Wide aerial view of the Dubai Marina coastline, beach and skyscrapers
Dubai MarinaBeachfront and towers at dusk
Top-down aerial view of a residential complex with geometric rooftops and a swimming pool in Dubai
Real estateResidential community, top-down
Camera helicopter and drone filming a feature film off the World Islands with the Dubai skyline in haze
World IslandsFeature film, helicopter and drone
Aerial view of the Dubai skyline with the Burj Khalifa, seen from above City Walk
Downtown DubaiThe Burj Khalifa skyline from above City Walk
See more aerial photography →

How we work

Crew and kit

Filmmakers first, pilots second

We started in 2006 flying manned and RC helicopters and moved into drone filming in 2013. Our crew are filmmakers and gimbal operators who understand composition, framing and timing, which is why directors often bring us in as a second unit when the main unit is busy. Our in-house drone engineering facility builds and maintains our rigs.

Heavy-lift cinema drone hovering against an orange evening sky with the crescent moon

Permits

DCAA · DFTC · MOD

Drone filming permits in Dubai

Our permit team handles the full approval process. Depending on your flight path and location, a Dubai shoot needs approvals from:

Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA)
No Objection Certificate for commercial flights in Dubai airspace.
General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA)
Federal drone and pilot registration.
Dubai Film and TV Commission (DFTC)
Filming permit for public streets, landmarks and government sites.
Ministry of Defence
Security clearance for the flight.
Dubai Municipality
Approval for flying over public parks, beaches and desert areas.
Location owners
Consent for private property and venues, such as an NOC from Emaar or Nakheel.
Typical timeline in Dubai
14–16 working days
Special cases
Can be expedited
Counted from when we receive your Letter of Intent and the location owner's NOC. Expediting is possible for government projects or major events, decided case by case.
Full guide to drone permits in Dubai and the UAE →

Showreel

Dubai · UAE

See the work

Still from the ChopperShoot showreel: drone and FPV aerial filming over Dubai
Showreel · UAE and KSA

Showreel

Our pilots and camera operators at work

FPV, cinema drone and helicopter work from across Dubai and the UAE.

More videos →

Stock footage library

Dubai aerial stock footage

We hold a large library of Dubai aerials, including unobstructed footage of the city's roads and landmarks filmed during the 2020 lockdown. Ask us for specific skyline, desert or architectural angles.

Browse stock footage →

Start a brief

Filming in Dubai? Send us the date, the location and the shot

We reply with a crew recommendation, the permits you need and a quote.