Event drone filming in Dubai

The whole event film, from one team

A large event has one chance to be filmed. We bring the aerial and ground crews together under one plan, and handle the approvals.

• Multi-drone teams

  Coordinated teams for wide, tracking and crowd shots, from one team to eleven on a single event. At UNTOLD, a 249-gram FPV drone flew over the crowd under a special exemption permit.

  1 to 11 teams · FPV

• Ground videographers

  Videographers and ground cameras at the stage, the entrance and in the crowd, planned to match the aerial look.

  Ground crew · Cinema cameras

• Camera helicopter

  High, long-range shots from a camera helicopter, as on the Burj Khalifa.

  Helicopter

  Helicopter filming →

• Permits and on-set management

  Filming permits, airspace coordination and an on-set location manager, so the flights run to plan.

  GCAA · DCAA · DFTC

  Permit service →

• Post production

  We edit and deliver the finished film, so you receive one result from one supplier.

  Edit · Delivery

How an event shoot comes together

1. Brief and recce

   Week one

   We review the venue, the running order and the airspace, then plan the drone, ground and helicopter positions.

2. Permits

   Typically 14–16 working days

   We apply to the aviation, media and security authorities. Major events can be expedited in special cases, never guaranteed.

3. Event day

   On location

   A risk-assessed flight plan, live drone tracking and an on-set location manager, with the crew that planned it.

4. Edit and delivery

   After the event

   We edit the footage and deliver the finished film.

Event drone filming: common questions

How many drones can you run on one event?

We have run up to 11 drone teams on a single event, the UNTOLD Dubai launch on the Burj Khalifa, together with a camera helicopter. Smaller events use one to four teams. We plan the number of teams around the shots you need and the airspace available.

Do you provide ground cameras as well as drones?

Yes. On the events shown on this page we supplied one or two videographers alongside the drone teams, and larger productions get a larger ground crew. Drone and ground footage are planned together so they match.

Can drones fly over a crowd?

Flying over crowds is restricted, so it needs special approval. At the UNTOLD Music Festival we flew a 249-gram FPV drone over the crowd under a special exemption permit, across four nights. Each case is assessed by the authorities, and approval is never guaranteed.

How long do event permits take?

A standard commercial drone permit in Dubai usually takes 14 to 16 working days, and 18 to 20 working days in Abu Dhabi. Expedited approval is possible only in special cases, such as government projects or major events, and is never guaranteed. Start as early as you can.

Can you film an event at night?

Yes, if the DCAA and GCAA approve a risk assessment for the night flight before the event. We prepare that assessment as part of the permit application.

Do you provide post production?

Yes. On the events shown here we supplied post production, so we edit and deliver the finished film.

Do you film events outside Dubai?

Yes. We have covered events in Abu Dhabi, and we have offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, so we know the permit process in each.