Dubai CCTV must be installed by a SIRA-licensed company and built to the SIRA Manual of Standards, then pass the SIRA audit and NOC. This guide explains each requirement. Servia CCTV packages start from AED 1,499.
💬 Free SIRA survey View packagesSIRA — the Security Industry Regulatory Agency, established under Dubai Law No. 12 of 2016 — regulates every CCTV and security system in the emirate. Two things must be true for a legal install: the company must be SIRA-licensed, and the system must be built to the SIRA Manual of Standards for Surveillance Devices. Before you hire an installer, ask for its SIRA licence details and confirm them with SIRA.
Sized wrong and you fail inspection. Here are the real tiers (not the "31 days" myth).
| Retention | Premises type |
|---|---|
| 30 days | Commercial shops, government offices, event halls, cinemas, hospitals & clinics, parking buildings, places of worship, financial institutions. |
| 90 days | Schools & nurseries, gold & jewellery shops, money exchanges, fuel stations, residential & commercial buildings, museums, labour camps. |
| 180 days | Hotels & hotel apartments, shopping malls, banks, data-storage / video-recording centres. |
Source: SIRA/MCC Manual of Standards for Surveillance Devices v2.0 (2023), §5. Footage is FIFO-overwritten and must not exceed 80% of storage capacity — so storage is sized to your legal period.
| Requirement | SIRA standard |
|---|---|
| Resolution | Min 1920×1080 (Full HD), fixed IP cameras only, hidden cameras prohibited |
| Detail (pixel density) | 500 px/m at entrances · 125 px/m at cash/reception · 30 px/m perimeter |
| Frame rate | 25 fps identification/vehicle · 12 fps recognition/detection |
| Camera / outdoor | ONVIF Profile S, H.264+, WDR 110 dB, IP66, varifocal if ≥4 m high |
| Recording | SIRA-approved recorder, 24/7 for Group C, RAID 5 enterprise drives, audit log kept for full retention |
| Signage & privacy | Visible notice in Arabic, English & Urdu; privacy masking of neighbouring areas |
Source: SIRA Manual of Standards v2.0 (2023), Technical & General Specifications.
Beyond fines, SIRA non-compliance can block your trade-licence renewal, building-completion certificate and operating approvals until a compliant, SIRA-approved system is installed — usually more costly and slower than doing it right the first time. Doing it with a licensed installer from day one avoids re-work.
Tell us your premises type — we'll confirm the exact SIRA requirement and quote a fixed price.
💬 WhatsApp us See pricingMinimum 30 days, up to 90 (schools, jewellers, exchanges, fuel, residential/commercial) and 180 days (hotels, malls, banks, data centres).
No — the official minimum is 1920×1080 (Full HD) with correct pixel density. "4K mandatory" is a common but inaccurate claim.
Yes. We advise on Abu Dhabi (ADMCC) and Northern-Emirates requirements. See our UAE compliance guide.