Great! So you have decided to shoot in Dubai. Given the numerous locations it has to offer – you made a wise choice. Shooting at any location requires due diligence so that you can be sure there are no hassles on the day of the shoot. A few key things to keep in mind are – Permits, Fees, and Regulations.
1. Permit by DFTC
Shooting permits are required for any audio and visual media productions on public, government-operated and private property. Any individual that wishes to shoot in Dubai should appoint a production company licensed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to obtain a shooting permit for them.
The Dubai Film and TV Commission (DFTC) is the only authorized entity to issue shooting permits in Dubai and takes up to 5 working days to grant the same for non – scripted shoots. Scripted ones usually take up to 25 days.
All the permits need to be granted before you fly to Dubai since it’s the only way to get your equipment through the airport.
2. Application Processing Fee
This is the first thing that needs to be paid while applying for a shoot in Dubai. It is a non-refundable processing fee of AED 500. A single application includes permit requests for multiple days and locations.
3. Location Fees
Public Locations charge up to AED 2,500 for 3 days for an advertisement shoot while for corporate content the same fee can give you a permit of 7 days for video and 14 days for still. Aerial shots don’t cost a penny.
Private and Semi-Government Locations charge a maximum of AED 25,000 per day. The final fee may vary depending upon demand and production requirements. These locations reserve the right to charge any additional fees incurred by the location during filming, such as clean-up or security.
In case you are shooting an interview or a b-roll in your Client’s Dubai office, there will be no location charges.
4. Permit Handling Fee
Film permits in Dubai can only be processed through a local production company, which charge a fee for handling the application. This might differ from company to company and ranges from AED 500 to AED 3000.
5. Location managers
Company regulations demand a location manager to be on site each day of filming in Dubai. This is to protect both your company and the UAE production company. In case any regulatory issues emerge, it won’t be your firm that will be responsible, instead, it will be the UAE licensed firm.
6. Fines
Violating any of the above or not hiring a trustworthy production company that guides you through all the permits that are needed, might cost you a fine of up to 500,000 AED or even a prison sentence. So be sure you are picking the right one.
At Joy Films, we are always ready to take your enquiry and give you all the information and advice you need about permits and location authorization. When using Joy Films to secure your permit we assure to provide you with experienced location managers, a synchronized crew that works round the clock to deliver on your script.