Who must install CCTV, how long footage must legally be kept, the exact camera specifications, and the penalties — for Dubai (SIRA), Abu Dhabi (ADMCC), Sharjah (Raqib), Ras Al Khaimah (Himaya), Fujairah (ZAM), Ajman and Umm Al Quwain. Written by a SIRA-licensed security-systems team and cross-checked against the official government standards.
💬 Free compliance survey View CCTV packagesYes — for a wide range of premises. Here it is in plain terms.
Across the UAE, video surveillance is not optional for defined categories of business and building. In Dubai and Abu Dhabi the governing technical rulebook is the same government document — the MCC Manual of Standards for Surveillance Devices, Version 2.0 (2023) — enforced by SIRA in Dubai and ADMCC in Abu Dhabi. The Northern Emirates each enforce their own police-run programme. The categories legally required to install approved CCTV include:
Source: MCC/SIRA Manual of Standards for Surveillance Devices v2.0 (2023), "Groupings and Video Storage Duration." Each emirate's authority may add further categories.
Many websites say "31 days." The official standard is tiered — 30, 90 or 180 days depending on your business type.
| Minimum retention | Applies to |
|---|---|
| 30 days | Government authorities, financial institutions, commercial shops, event/wedding halls, cinemas, hospitals & clinics, parking buildings, places of worship, holiday homes, precious/hazardous/medical warehouses. |
| 90 days | Money exchanges, schools/universities/nurseries, gold & jewellery shops, residential & commercial buildings, fuel stations, museums, labour camps, public-transport places. |
| 180 days | Hotels & hotel apartments, shopping malls, banks, digital data-storage & video-recording centres. |
Footage is overwritten on a first-in-first-out basis once the period is exceeded, and recorded video must not occupy more than 80% of total storage capacity — so storage has to be sized correctly, not just "a hard drive." In Ras Al Khaimah, RAK Police's Himaya regime (Law No. 3 of 2015) sets a flat minimum 90 days for all entities.
Source: MCC/SIRA Manual of Standards for Surveillance Devices v2.0 (2023), §5; RAK Law No. 3 of 2015 (RAK Police, "Himaya").
Straight from the official Manual of Standards v2.0 (2023) — not blog guesswork.
| Requirement | Official standard |
|---|---|
| Minimum resolution | 1920 × 1080 (Full HD). Fixed-type IP cameras only; PTZ by prior approval; hidden cameras strictly prohibited. |
| Pixel density (detail) | Entrances/exits 500 px/metre; cash & reception areas 125 px/metre; perimeter/parking 30 px/metre. |
| Frame rate | Identification & vehicle cameras 25 fps; recognition & detection 12 fps. |
| Camera standards | H.264+ compression, ONVIF Profile S, dual streams, WDR 110 dB, outdoor rating IP66, varifocal lens if mounted ≥ 4 m. |
| Recording / storage | SIRA-approved recorder, continuous 24/7 for Group C, RAID 5 enterprise drives (≥7200 rpm), audit log kept for the full retention period. |
| Cyber-security | Passwords ≥ 11 chars changed every 3 months, lockout after 5 failed logins, no end-of-life OS, MAC filtering. |
| Control room | Door access control, ≥ 21″ monitors, ≥ 30 min backup power, no camera-phones inside; footage export only via official authority letter. |
| Signage | A visible surveillance notice in Arabic, English and Urdu is mandatory; privacy masking of neighbouring/private areas is required. |
Source: MCC/SIRA Manual of Standards for Surveillance Devices v2.0 (2023), Technical & General Specifications.
A common (and risky) mistake competitors make: applying "SIRA" everywhere. SIRA governs Dubai only. Here's the correct regulator for each emirate.
| Emirate | Regulator & system | Legal basis / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | SIRA (Security Industry Regulatory Agency) | Law No. 12 of 2016. SIRA-approved installers, audit & NOC, VideoGuard telemetry. Servia is SIRA-licensed |
| Abu Dhabi | ADMCC / Monitoring & Control Centre (MCC) | Law No. 5 of 2011. ADMCC-accredited installer, system-design submission & final inspection via TAMM. |
| Sharjah | Sharjah Police — "Raqib" (راقب) | Site CCTV must connect to the Raqib monitoring platform; only Sharjah-Police-approved companies may install/maintain. |
| Ras Al Khaimah | RAK Police — "Himaya" (حماية) | Local Law No. 3 of 2015. Mandatory for all entities; min 90-day retention; approval via RAK Police + GRA spec. |
| Fujairah | Fujairah Police GHQ — "ZAM" (زام) | Police permission before installing; approved installers with certified-technician ID cards. |
| Ajman | Ajman Police (CID CCTV section) | Camera-layout plan approved by Ajman Police; only police-certified installers. |
| Umm Al Quwain | UAQ Police (+ Economic Dept.) | Approved Video Management System (VMS) and police-certified installer required. |
Sources: SIRA (sira.gov.ae); Abu Dhabi Media Office (ADMCC); Sharjah Police Raqib; RAK Police / Khaleej Times on Law 3/2015; Fujairah Police ZAM; Ajman & UAQ Police. Northern-Emirates technical specs should be confirmed with the relevant police authority at time of install.
On top of each emirate's install rules, Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (PDPL), in force since 2 January 2022, treats a person's image as personal data. That means CCTV footage must be captured on a lawful basis, kept secure, retained only as justified, and handled under the oversight of the UAE Data Office. Compliant signage, privacy masking and access control aren't just security best-practice — they're how you stay on the right side of the federal data law too.
Source: Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 (PDPL); UAE Data Office (u.ae). Free zones such as DIFC apply their own data law.
Beyond fines, the bigger risk is operational: authorities can withhold building-completion certificates, trade-licence renewals and operating permits until a compliant, authority-approved system is in place. In Abu Dhabi, operating a monitoring system without MCC/ADMCC approval is reported to carry up to two years' imprisonment and/or a fine of AED 50,000–200,000, plus seizure of equipment. Every emirate can fine non-compliant premises and force a re-install through an approved company — which usually costs more than doing it right the first time.
Penalty figures per Abu Dhabi Law No. 5 of 2011 (as widely reported); confirm current amounts with the relevant authority.
We're a SIRA-licensed CCTV and security-systems provider. We don't just sell cameras — we deliver systems that pass:
Tell us your premises type and emirate — we'll tell you exactly what the law requires and quote a fixed price.
💬 WhatsApp us now See packages & pricingYes — defined categories (shops, warehouses, jewellers, exchanges, schools, clinics, hotels, malls, banks, fuel stations, residential/commercial buildings, labour accommodation and more) must install approved CCTV. It's enforced by SIRA in Dubai, ADMCC in Abu Dhabi, and the police in Sharjah (Raqib), RAK (Himaya), Fujairah (ZAM), Ajman and UAQ.
Minimum 30 days, rising to 90 days (schools, jewellers, exchanges, fuel stations, residential/commercial buildings, transport, labour camps) and 180 days (hotels, malls, banks, data centres) under the MCC/SIRA Manual of Standards v2.0. RAK requires a flat minimum of 90 days.
No. The official SIRA Manual of Standards sets a minimum of 1920×1080 (Full HD) with fixed IP cameras, enforcing detail through pixel-density-per-metre (500 px/m at entrances). "4K mandatory" is a common but inaccurate claim.
Yes, Servia is a SIRA-licensed CCTV and security-systems provider in Dubai, and we advise on the equivalent approvals across the other emirates. Message us on WhatsApp for a free compliance survey.
You can face fines, equipment seizure, and — often more costly — withheld building-completion, trade-licence or operating approvals until a compliant, authority-approved system is installed by a licensed company.
This page is a plain-language summary for UAE business owners, prepared by a SIRA-licensed installer and cross-checked against official sources (SIRA/MCC Manual of Standards v2.0 2023, RAK Law 3/2015, Federal PDPL 45/2021). Regulations change — for the requirement that applies to your exact premises, book a free survey and we'll confirm it against the current authority standard.