Guide for international exhibitors and crews
Filming at a Dubai Exhibition: Permits, Customs and Crew Rules
Planning to film your stand at a show in Dubai or Abu Dhabi? Here is what you need to sort out before you fly: approvals, badges, bringing in camera kit, visas and drones.
Last updated 21 October 2026. Rules change, so confirm with your organiser and the authorities before you travel.
Important: This guide is general information only, not legal, customs or immigration advice. Visione Globale is not responsible for any errors or changes in these rules. Read the full disclaimer.
The short answer
Filming your own stand at a trade show does not usually need a Dubai Film and TV Commission permit, because events are exempt.[1] But you will need the organiser’s approval and badges, and some venues ask for a security approval.[2] If you fly a crew in, you also need to clear the camera kit through customs and make sure the crew can legally work in the UAE.[6][7]
Checklist
Five things to sort before you film.
- 01
Organiser filming approval and badges
Everyone on the show floor needs the right badge, and contractors need a contractor badge. Read the filming or media section of your show’s exhibitor manual first.[2][3]
- 02
Venue security approval
At least one DWTC show manual required Dubai Police approval for any photo or video shoot in the venue, taking 5 to 7 working days.[2]
- 03
Customs for your camera kit
Bringing your own equipment means a customs declaration and usually a refundable deposit, cleared again when you leave.[5][6]
- 04
The right visa for your crew
The UAE says working on a visit or tourist visa is illegal. Check your crew’s status before they fly.[7]
- 05
Drone approvals
Commercial drone flights need aviation approvals plus written permission from the organiser and venue.[8]
Permits and approvals
Do you need a filming permit?
Dubai’s filming permits are issued by the Dubai Film and TV Commission (DFTC). Its guidance says permits are not needed for weddings, events or educational filming, so filming your own stand at a trade show normally falls outside it.[1]
Scripted adverts and other productions are different. They need a DFTC permit, which only a UAE-licensed production company can apply for. The fee is AED 520 per application, and filming without permission can be fined AED 25,000.[1]
The show and the venue have their own rules on top. The 2021 exhibitor manual for Gulf Print & Pack, a show at Dubai World Trade Centre, said every photo, video or time-lapse shoot in the venue needed Dubai Police approval, with a passport copy, visa copy and shoot details, taking at least 5 to 7 working days.[2] Check the filming or media section of your own show’s manual, since rules differ by show and venue.
Camera equipment
Bringing your camera kit into the UAE.
Professional camera kit is usually cleared at the airport as a temporary admission. You declare it, show a serial-numbered equipment list and pro forma invoice, and pay a refundable deposit. One UAE permit agency puts this at about 10% of the declared value, covering customs duty and VAT.[6] Before you leave, you show customs the same items to get the deposit back.
The UAE accepts ATA Carnets, but only for goods displayed or used at exhibitions.[4] That suits stand exhibits better than a film crew’s kit.
Crew visas
Can your crew work on a visit visa?
Many nationalities get a free visit visa on arrival in the UAE, and others must arrange one before travel. Show organisers usually cannot sponsor visas.[2]
A visit visa is for visiting. The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation says working on a visit or tourist visa is illegal, and companies that use workers without permits face heavy fines.[7] If your crew is flying in to do paid filming, check their status with the immigration authorities or work through a UAE-licensed company.
On the show floor
Venue rules that affect filming.
These come from Dubai World Trade Centre’s venue rules and a DWTC show manual. Other venues have similar rules.
Drones
Drones need extra approvals.
Commercial drone flights in the UAE need a licence and approval from the General Civil Aviation Authority, and Dubai adds its own approval from the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority. Drone flights in Dubai resumed on 30 June 2026 after restrictions earlier in the year.[8] Inside a venue, you also need written permission from the organiser and the venue. Plan for it to take time, or leave the drone at home.
Your options
Fly your crew in, or hire a UAE crew?
Both work. This is what each means in practice.
| What to handle | Flying your own crew in | Hiring a UAE-based crew |
|---|---|---|
| Customs | Declare every item, pay a refundable deposit, re-export the same serial numbers | Nothing to declare: the kit is already in the UAE |
| Visas and work status | Check each crew member can legally work in the UAE | The crew already lives and works here |
| Venue and organiser approvals | You handle forms, badges and security checks | The crew handles them with you, and knows each venue |
| Travel and hotels | Flights, excess baggage and hotels in show week, when prices peak | No travel or hotel costs |
| Same-day edits | Possible if you bring an editor and edit kit | On-the-Spot Editing on site, with fast local delivery |
| Knowing your brand | Your own team knows your brand and products | Needs a good brief and shot list from you |
Timeline
When to do what.
- 8 weeks beforeDownload the exhibitor manual and read the filming, media, badge and freight sections. Decide whether to fly a crew in or hire locally.
- 6 weeks beforeBook your crew. If flying in, check visas and start the equipment list with serial numbers and values.
- 4 weeks beforeApply for badges and any filming or security approval. At least one DWTC show asked for 5 to 7 working days for Dubai Police approval.
- 2 weeks beforeSend the shot list and stand schedule. Confirm which hours you can film, since contractor work usually happens outside visitor hours.
- Show daysCarry ID and badges at all times. Expect bag and equipment screening at the entrance.
- After the showIf you brought kit in, re-export the same items to close the customs record and get your deposit back.
Check your show’s dates on our UAE exhibition calendar.
Sources
Where this information comes from.
We use official authority, venue and organiser documents where available, and name the source for every point.
- Khaleej Times: Dubai filming permit rules, fines and process
- Gulf Print & Pack exhibitor manual, A–Z guide, 2021 edition (DWTC show)
- DWTC Venues Health and Safety Rules and Regulations, June 2024
- ATA Carnet country sheet: United Arab Emirates
- U.S. International Trade Administration: UAE temporary entry
- Filming Portal UAE: temporary import of filming equipment
- Business Standard: working on a visit visa is illegal in the UAE (MOHRE)
- GNSS: UAV operations resume in Dubai (DCAA and GCAA)
Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal, customs or immigration advice. It is based on the third-party sources listed above, which may change at any time. Visione Globale is not responsible for any errors, omissions or changes in these rules, or for decisions made based on this page. Always confirm requirements with your show organiser, the venue and the relevant UAE authorities before you travel. Show names and trademarks belong to their owners.
FAQs
Filming at UAE exhibitions FAQs.
i.Do I need a filming permit to film at a trade show in Dubai?
Not usually from the Dubai Film and TV Commission. Its guidance exempts events from the filming permit, which covers filming your own stand at a show. You still need the organiser’s approval and the right badges, and some venues require a security approval. Scripted adverts or productions are different and need a permit through a UAE-licensed production company.
ii.Can I bring my own camera equipment to Dubai for an exhibition?
Yes. Declare it to customs on arrival with a serial-numbered equipment list and a pro forma invoice. Customs usually takes a refundable deposit, returned when you re-export the same items. Missing or mismatched items can delay the refund.
iii.Does the UAE accept ATA Carnets?
Yes, but only for goods displayed or used at exhibitions, fairs and similar events. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the only emirates that receive incoming carnets, and partial shipments are not accepted. Professional camera kit used to film a show is usually cleared as a temporary admission with a deposit instead.
iv.Can my crew work in Dubai on a visit visa?
The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation says working on a visit or tourist visa is illegal. Before a crew flies in to do paid filming, check their status with the immigration authorities or work through a UAE-licensed company.
v.Can I fly a drone at a Dubai exhibition?
Only with approval. Commercial drone flights in Dubai need GCAA and DCAA approvals, and inside a venue you also need written permission from the organiser and the venue. Drone flights in Dubai resumed on 30 June 2026 after restrictions earlier in the year.
vi.How early should I arrange filming at a UAE show?
Start about eight weeks before. Badge and security approvals can take one to two weeks, and crews book out early in busy months like November and January.
Skip the paperwork
Hire a Dubai crew for your stand.
We are a Dubai-based crew filming product demos, interviews and stand walkthroughs at shows across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with On-the-Spot Editing and next-day delivery. See our exhibition video production service.