The UAE is a country that loves to welcome filmmakers. From cashback rebates to world-class facilities, everything is geared for production facilitation. But you still need film permits. 90% of the time, these are a breeze and can be organised in a matter of days, through a licensed and experienced UAE-based film-production company. That other 10% is when we have to put our detective hats on and break out the magnifying glasses.
The film permits process
Ground permits are acquired through the Film Commission or the Media Council, depending on which emirate you are filming in. Simple enough, but you may also need an NOC from the owner of the location, which will either be the government or a private entity.
Here’s where it can get tricky: Although it may seem obvious that a site is government or privately owned, it’s not always quite so clear cut. Some government locations are also governed by other entities, which means that further filming permissions and NOCs will be required. For a single location, you could end up needing 3–4 different permits and NOC’s. All relatively simple… but time consuming.
How much do filming permits cost?
The next consideration is the cost, which is a little more straightforward, but still prone to some variation. To help with your budgeting and planning, here are some useful guidelines:
If you are filming at Government-owned locations, you should typically allow around AED 3,000 for processing and permit fees. These fees can often cover multiple locations, and provide access for up to a month, depending on where you are filming.
For private locations, there is a AED 520 processing fee per location, and then anywhere between AED 0–25,000 for each permit fee, depending on the location. With these permits, an experienced UAE production company can save your film production thousands of dirhams by knowing who to speak to and how to negotiate these costs down.
Planning your production
We usually recommend allowing for at least 2 weeks of processing time, for all permits and NOCs. It can be done quicker, depending on the emirate, but it’s best to play it safe.
We’ve been filming in the UAE for quite some time. And over the years, we’ve been able to form strong relationships with most property developers and government institutions. So we know who to speak to from the start, to keep the film permit process as quick, cost effective and effortless as possible.