Answers
Answers: CCTV rules in the UAE and GCC
Short, sourced answers to the questions people ask about cameras, footage and the law in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
General information, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by premises type: confirm with the relevant authority or an approved installer.
UAE rules by emirate
- Who regulates CCTV in Dubai?
In Dubai, CCTV and other security systems are regulated by the Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA), which operates under Dubai Police. SIRA…
- How long must CCTV footage be kept in Dubai?
The figure most widely cited from SIRA's requirements is a minimum of 31 days of continuous recording for most premises, with longer periods for…
- Who regulates CCTV in Abu Dhabi?
In Abu Dhabi, surveillance systems fall under the Monitoring and Control Centre (ADMCC), established under Abu Dhabi Law No. 5 of 2011. It sets…
- What do Abu Dhabi Police advise for home CCTV?
Abu Dhabi Police and the Monitoring and Control Centre ask residents not to point cameras at neighbours' homes or private areas, not to post footage…
- Do I need an Ajman Police–approved company to install CCTV in Ajman?
For commercial premises, yes in practice: Ajman Police restrict security-system installation to approved companies, and installers submit camera…
- What are Sharjah Police's main CCTV rules?
Sharjah Police approve the companies allowed to install systems and publish technical requirements. Points that appear consistently include: covert…
Privacy, footage and the law
- Can I post CCTV footage on social media in the UAE?
Generally, no. Article 44 of Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on cybercrimes prohibits using technology to breach a person's privacy, including…
- Can my camera cover my neighbour's house or the street?
Avoid it. UAE privacy law treats capturing people without consent seriously, and Abu Dhabi Police explicitly ask residents not to point cameras at…
- Is CCTV footage personal data under UAE law?
Footage that identifies a person is personal data under the UAE's data protection law, Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021. In practice that means…
- How do I make sure my CCTV footage is accepted as evidence?
Keep the system compliant (SIRA in Dubai, ADMCC in Abu Dhabi, police requirements elsewhere) with signage in place; make sure the recorder's clock is…
Saudi Arabia and Qatar
- What does Saudi Arabia's surveillance camera law require?
The Law of the Use of Security Surveillance Cameras, issued by Royal Decree on 3 October 2022, requires covered establishments to install and…
- How long must CCTV recordings be kept in Saudi Arabia?
The law refers to periods set in the Ministry of Interior's requirements, and 90 days is the figure widely reported for most covered establishments.…
- How long must CCTV recordings be kept in Qatar?
Qatar's Law No. 9 of 2011 requires surveillance cameras at many premises, enforced by the Ministry of Interior's Security Systems Department, and…
Running a system well
- How many days of recording should my system store?
Start from the legal minimum for your location and premises type, then add margin: many UAE businesses work to at least 31 days, Saudi sites to 90…
- Are hidden or covert cameras allowed?
Treat them as off-limits without authority approval. Sharjah Police rules prohibit covert cameras without prior approval, Saudi law bans cameras in…
- Do CCTV cameras and recorders need security updates?
Yes. Cameras and recorders are network computers, and serious flaws are published every month; in September 2026 alone CISA flagged a…