CCTV and Security Systems Company in Dubai (2026): SIRA Licence for Trading and Installation, Engineers, Approved Products, Tax and Cost

A CCTV company in Dubai that installs a single camera system before SIRA has licensed it faces a fine of AED 6,000 for a first offence, rising to AED 30,000 by the fourth [1]. The rule behind it is one sentence of Dubai law: "No Person may provide Security Services in the Emirate without first obtaining a Licence." [2] The same law defines a security service to include the right "to sell and install security equipment and systems", so a camera business is a regulated security business, not an electronics shop.

So a CCTV company needs a trade licence, a separate Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA) licence, SIRA-carded engineers and technicians, and SIRA approval for every product model it sells or installs. Get the order wrong and you hold stock you cannot install, or a licence you cannot use.

Since 2013, BusinessDubai.ae has set up trading and contracting companies across Dubai's mainland and free zones. This guide covers the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) activities, the SIRA licence and fees, staffing, product approvals, the technical standard, the 2026 Executive Regulation, fines, free zones, tax and first-year cost. It is general information, not legal or tax advice.

What does a CCTV and security systems company in Dubai need to operate?

A CCTV and security systems business in Dubai needs a DET licence (activity 4773954 for trading, 4321009 for installation and maintenance) plus a SIRA security licence, at least three SIRA-carded engineers or technicians for installation, and SIRA approval for every product model it sells or installs. Free zone companies follow the same SIRA rules.

SIRA's FAQ is plain: "Companies that sell, install, maintain, or operate security systems such as Video Surveillance Systems (VSS), CCTV, and similar security solutions are generally required to be licensed and approved by the Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA)." [3] Each layer below is issued separately, and each can stop you trading.

The first two layers are about your company. The last three are where most of the time and money go, and no trade licence quote shows them.

Which DET activity should a CCTV company choose?

A CCTV company that only sells equipment needs DET activity 4773954 Security Systems & Equipment Trading, a Commercial activity. A company that installs and maintains systems needs 4321009 Security Equipment Installation & Maintenance, a Professional activity, and SIRA will only license it with three carded engineers or technicians. Most installers that also supply hardware hold both.

The register descriptions show the overlap. Activity 4773954 "Includes selling security systems and equipment, such as, security gates, metal detectors, thermal binoculars, radar systems, police specialized equipment, surveillance and access control equipment, as well as the related accessories, such firms are allowed to carry out the installation, repair and maintenance services for the equipment they deal in" [4]. Activity 4321009 covers installing "surveillance equipment such as observation cameras, anti-burglar, motion detectors, intercoms, alarms, access control, barrier gates, it involves repairing and maintaining such equipment." [4]

SIRA's New Security License page lists each activity as its own security licence with its own conditions and a fees column [5]. The table combines the register and SIRA's page for the activities a security systems business is likely to consider.

SIRA's page names 4773954 "Security Equipment and Equipment Trading" and 4321009 "Installation of Security Devices and Equipment"; the codes are what match. The page lists 4,020 for trading and 2,020 for installation in its fees column; it does not state the currency, so confirm the amount at payment. Every row accepts the same entry document: "Trade License OR Business Name Reservation Certificate and Initial Approval Inquiry Receipt OR No Objection Letter from Free Zones" [5].

Why the trading description is not enough if you install

The 4773954 description says trading firms may install what they sell, which tempts founders to skip 4321009. Three things point the other way. SIRA licenses installation separately, with a three-person team. SIRA's product approval page asks for a trade licence that "includes Installation & Maintenance of Security Systems activity" before it certifies a camera or recorder [7]. And the 2026 Executive Regulation, as our researchers read the Arabic text, lists trading and installation as separate licence types [9]. If you install, hold 4321009, or get SIRA's answer in writing first.

Common Mistake: Taking a trading licence only, then quoting a villa or warehouse installation with no carded staff. The trading licence has no staffing condition, but SIRA's terms say "No activity may be conducted until the security requirements or security personnel for each activity are fulfilled." [5] Installing without the licensed activity risks the AED 6,000 first-offence fine for practising a security activity without a licence, and every uncarded worker on site is a separate AED 3,000 exposure for employing an unlicensed individual [1]. Add 4321009 and the three carded staff before you quote.

Activities that sit next to CCTV

Security Consulting (7490017) carries 3020 in SIRA's fees column and requires you to "Assign a Security Consultant"; it matters because building security plans need a consultancy stamp. Command and Control Center (8020002), the monitoring activity, carries 5020 and requires you to "Assign a Security Manager" [5]. Fire alarm equipment is a separate DET activity (4773916) and is not on SIRA's table. For manned guarding, cash in transit and event security, see our security company setup guide.

What does Dubai's security law say, and what changed in 2026?

Dubai Law No. 12 of 2016 created SIRA and requires a licence for any security service, including selling and installing security systems, across the whole emirate and its free zones. Resolution No. 1 of 2026, issued 10 June 2026, is the new Executive Regulation; our reading of its Arabic text gives company licences a one-year term.

The 2016 law and its 2018 amendment

Law No. 12 of 2016 Regulating the Security Industry in the Emirate of Dubai establishes SIRA in Article 5 and defines a security service as "Any service which is intended to provide security protection to establishments or individuals through the use of security devices and equipment or specialised personnel; to provide security protection training; to sell and install security equipment and systems; or to conduct studies and provide consultations related to maintaining security protection." [2]

Article 4 reads: "This Law applies throughout the Emirate including Special Development Zones and free zones, such as the Dubai International Financial Centre." Article 7 gives SIRA the power to "license the security devices and equipment determined by the Implementing Bylaw", the legal root of product approvals [2].

Law No. 3 of 2018 replaced the penalty article: a fine "of no more than five hundred thousand Dirhams (AED 500,000.00)", doubled on a repeat within one year, and "A fine must not exceed one million Dirhams (AED 1,000,000.00)." [10] The per-offence amounts SIRA publishes are far lower, as the fines section shows.

Resolution No. 1 of 2026: the new Executive Regulation

SIRA's Board issued Resolution No. 1 of 2026 Issuing the Executive Regulation of Law No. 12 of 2016 on 10 June 2026. It was published in the Official Gazette on 4 July 2026 and replaces Board Resolution No. 1 of 2018 [9]. We found the text in Arabic only. The points below are a translation of the Arabic text read by our researchers, not an official English version, and the Arabic text prevails.

On our reading, earlier decisions stay in force where they do not conflict, so the Preventive Systems Manual as published in April 2025 remains the working technical standard.

Real Talk: The one-year company licence will catch operators used to a two-year cycle. Individual cards stay at two years, so the company licence and staff cards now renew on different clocks. SIRA's FAQ says "It is recommended to start the renewal process 2 months before the current license expires to avoid any late fees" [3], and its licence terms add that "All dues, fines, or penalties, if any, must be paid before the renewal." [5]

How do you get a SIRA security licence, and what does it cost?

A SIRA security licence is applied for on SIRA's e-services portal once you hold a DET trade licence, a name reservation with an initial approval receipt, or a free zone NOC. SIRA prints an AED 100 service fee plus AED 10 knowledge and AED 10 innovation fees, and states two business days for the service.

SIRA's New Security License page lists "Service fee: 100 AED Knowledge fee: 10 AED Innovation fee: 10 AED" and "Time lapsed for getting the Service Two Business Days" [5]. The activity fee sits separately in the fees column.

SIRA's terms set the sequence: "An application for a security license must be submitted after fulfilling the security requirements or security personnel." [5] For an installer, the three carded staff come first.

The order that works for an installer

There is a loop in the rules. The cadre card page says "To license security personnel, the application must be submitted by a company or institution licensed to provide security services" [6], while the licence page wants the personnel in place first. The gap is bridged by a temporary licence: "This permit is valid for 90 days, non-renewable, and can only be issued once. The issuance fee for a Trainee Permit is 120 AED." [6] Ask SIRA's call centre (600500100) which sequence it accepts before you sign employment contracts, because the answer decides when salaries start.

Quick Math: For an installer with one engineer and two technicians, the fees SIRA prints in dirhams for year one are AED 120 for the licence service (100 + 10 + 10) and AED 1,060 for three cadre cards (420 + 320 + 320), so AED 1,180. On top sits the 2,020 listed in the fees column for 4321009, with no currency label, so confirm it at payment. Add 4773954 and the column lists 4,020 more. Next to three salaries these are small: the cost of this business is people and stock.

SIRA's decision clock is short, two business days on the service page and three working days in the 2026 regulation on our reading [9]. The elapsed time is set by the trade licence stage, hiring, courses and good conduct certificates. For a sequenced plan with the SIRA steps built in, get your setup plan→

Which engineers and technicians does SIRA require, and what do their cards cost?

SIRA's installation licence needs at least three carded staff: three engineers, two engineers and one technician, or one engineer and two technicians. A Security Systems Engineer card costs AED 420 and a Security Systems Technician card AED 320, each valid two years, and the holder's residence visa must be with your company.

SIRA calls these Security Cadre Cards, and the licensed company applies for each one. The table is from SIRA's New Security Cadre Card page [6].

SIRA's page also lists "Completion of the Security Operations Manager course" against the engineer card, so ask the training centre whether your engineer needs both courses. The terms that bite are short: "The security personnel's residency must be with the same company they work for." and "The profession listed in the residency must match the security personnel's license." The card is cancelled when the person leaves, and "The validity of the Security Cadre License is two years." [6]

The three-person rule is the floor for the licence. The Preventive Systems Manual goes further: "The entire technical maintenance crew must be licensed by SIRA, and service providers must update their technical crew's information directly and continuously with SIRA." [12]

Real Talk: Three carded staff gets you licensed; it does not staff a busy quarter. Every extra technician needs a visa with your company, a course, a good conduct certificate and a card before touching a site, and SIRA lists employing an unlicensed individual at AED 3,000 for a first offence [1]. One resignation can drop you below three, because the card goes with the residency. Line up a replacement before anyone serves notice.

How does SIRA approve a camera, recorder or alarm panel?

SIRA approves security products model by model. A licensed security company emails the application to ssel@sira.gov.ae, pays AED 100 plus AED 10 and AED 10, books testing and submits a sample to SIRA's inspection laboratory. SIRA says approval may take one working day up to eight months, depending on the device.

SIRA's Security Equipment and Devices Certification page sets five steps: email the application to ssel@sira.gov.ae, pay on the e-services portal, book a testing appointment, submit the sample to the inspection laboratory, and obtain the certificate [7]. Its terms state that "The application must be submitted through a security service provider company licensed by the Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA)." and that "A separate approval application form must be completed for each security device or system".

The documents depend on the product, and so does the licence activity SIRA asks to see. That second point decides whether a pure trader can file at all.

On SIRA's own wording, a company holding only the trading activity can file for door and motion sensors but not for the cameras and recorders that make up most of a CCTV catalogue [7]. A distributor that wants camera certificates in its own name needs the installation activity on its licence, or a licensed installer partner to file.

The published approved lists

SIRA publishes its approved lists on its Certified Devices and Equipment page: recorders and VMS, motion sensors, door contacts, IP modules, SecurePath, cameras, bollards and padlocks dated 31 August 2026, and alarm panels in a file dated 31 March 2026 [13]. SIRA's FAQ describes them this way: "We approve a specific list of devices (such as CCTV cameras, recorders, and alarm systems) that meet our technical standards." [3]

Our researchers counted about 2,500 certificate entries across 87 brand names in the camera list. Each row names the certificate holder (usually a UAE distributor), brand, model and certificate number, and the recorder list adds firmware. An "approved brand" is not enough: the model, and for recorders the firmware, must match an entry.

Pro Tip: Get the manufacturer's authorisation letter before you sign a distribution deal. Where a brand has no UAE entity, SIRA requires a letter in which "The manufacturer must clearly state in the authorization letter that they do not have a legal entity or trade license in the UAE and authorize the distributor/partner to obtain approvals and certificates for their brand from the Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA)." [7] With it, the certificates sit in your company's name, which is what installers check. File first for the models you will stock, at AED 120 in printed service fees per application.

Common Mistake: Importing stock before the model is approved. Approval can take up to eight months, and a camera missing from SIRA's list cannot go into a system that must pass a SIRA security audit, so installers will not buy it. Check the exact model and firmware against the current list, or wait for the certificate, before the purchase order goes out.

Do wireless cameras also need TDRA type approval?

Wireless products can need a second approval from the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA). Its Register and Approve Telecommunication Equipment service, last updated 23 October 2025, requires a registered telecom device supplier as applicant, with a transaction review fee of AED 500 and a certificate fee of AED 200, and levels one to three taking 1, 5 and 10 working days [14]. Whether a CCTV product is radio equipment is decided device by device, so Wi-Fi and 4G cameras need checking. SIRA itself asks for TDRA certificates for tracking devices [7]. On site, the Manual says "The use of wireless networks for security systems is prohibited unless approved by the institution." [12] For the full TDRA supplier and type approval process, see our electronics trading company guide.

Importing and re-exporting

A distributor needs a customs code to import, covered in our Dubai Customs registration guide. For re-exports, SIRA's Shipment NOC row for "Security Equipment and Dual-Use Goods" asks for the trade licence, "Bill of lading, shipping invoices, customs declaration, packing list", "The end user letter" and a product brochure, with two business days stated [15].

What technical standard must a CCTV installation in Dubai meet?

A CCTV system that SIRA certifies in Dubai must meet the Preventive Systems Manual, approved by Administrative Resolution No. 13 of 2025 on 14 April 2025. It requires at least 1080p Full HD cameras and recording, IP66 outdoor ratings, recording kept no less than 31 days, 20% extra recorder capacity, a dedicated security network and 30-minute UPS backup.

The Manual runs to 140 pages in SIRA's English translation [12]. Part One sets the technical specifications for every system; Part Three adds sector chapters, from data centres and warehouses to jewellery shops and schools. The table quotes the CCTV requirements an installer is audited against.

The prohibitions chapter bars pan and zoom cameras in private areas, hidden cameras and roof cameras that see beyond the facility, each "unless SIRA approval is obtained." [12] For server rooms, the data centre chapter sits alongside our data center company guide.

Pro Tip: Size storage from the Manual, not the client's budget. The floor of 70% of the day at 10 frames per second for 31 days, plus 20% headroom on recorders and on the network, sets a minimum disk and switch specification for every camera count. A recorder sized for two weeks fails the audit, and the swap comes out of your margin. Run the camera schedule through SIRA's VSS Calculators tool before you price the job.

What do building owners need from a CCTV installer?

A Dubai building or business that SIRA regulates needs an approved Security Plan Certificate, stamped by both the security consultancy and the installation company, a successful security audit, and a SIRA system certificate before the activity starts. It must then hold an annual maintenance contract with a SIRA-registered company covering at least four visits a year.

SIRA's New Security System Certification page sets the chain. "The Security Plan Certificate (SPC) is mandatory and must be stamped by both the security consultancy company and the security systems installation company." and "The activity must not be carried out until a successful security audit report is obtained to avoid violations and fines" [8]. The plan itself goes through SIRA's Security Plans Certification service, which for camera and alarm systems asks for a trade licence, a planning map and a projects plan, and states "3 Business Days" [16].

Once the auditor approves the site, SIRA's FAQ says the completion certificate "is typically available in the system within 2 working days." [3] The same FAQ separates audits, where "no violations/fines are issued during these visits", from inspections, which "may result in official warnings or fines".

After handover the obligations keep running. The Manual states: "The facility is committed to entering an annual maintenance contract with one of the companies registered with SIRA. The contract must include a preventive maintenance program with no less than four visits per year, along with the legal response and penalties for failure to comply." [12] It also obliges "The user, facility, and maintenance and installation service provider" to keep a record and notify SIRA of any change to the system, "even if minor".

Real Talk: The maintenance contract is where an installation business compounds. Every facility under the Manual needs an annual contract with at least four preventive visits, so every system you hand over is a candidate for recurring revenue. Price it at handover, not a year later when the client is shopping. Because the SPC needs a consultancy stamp as well as yours, partner with a licensed consultancy or add Security Consulting (7490017) and a Security Consultant card at AED 520 [6].

Clients can check you before they sign: SIRA's FAQ points buyers to "the Security Systems Providers Companies page, which is updated monthly and lists all companies licensed by SIRA." [3]

What are the SIRA fines for CCTV and security systems companies?

SIRA's published fines start at AED 6,000 for practising a security activity without a licence, AED 2,000 for an expired licence and AED 3,000 for employing an unlicensed individual, and climb with each repeat. Dubai Law No. 3 of 2018 caps a fine at AED 500,000, doubled for a repeat within a year.

SIRA's Violations and Fines page lists 32 items with amounts for a first to fourth offence [1]. The rows that matter most to a security systems company are below.

The amounts are in AED and the page carries no date. The 2026 regulation, on our reading, keeps existing fines until a new decision and requires notice and up to 30 days to fix a violation before a penalty [9]. The legal ceiling stays at AED 500,000, or AED 1,000,000 on a repeat [10]. Note the client row: a building owner using an unlicensed provider faces the same AED 6,000, which is why serious clients ask for your SIRA licence before your price.

Common Mistake: Letting the company licence and staff cards drift out of sync. The company licence renews yearly and cards every two years, so a business tracking only the trade licence date will eventually work with an expired card (AED 1,000 first offence) or an expired SIRA licence (AED 2,000) [1]. Keep one register of every card and licence expiry and review it monthly.

Mainland or free zone: where should a CCTV company be licensed?

A CCTV installer in Dubai is usually best on the mainland, from AED 18,200 without a visa or AED 26,900 with one at BusinessDubai.ae, because most installation clients are onshore buildings. A camera importer selling to resellers fits a free zone such as Meydan Free Zone or Dubai South, from AED 12,500 licence-only. SIRA licenses both.

SIRA does license free zone companies. Law No. 12 of 2016 applies "throughout the Emirate including Special Development Zones and free zones" [2], and every row on SIRA's licence table accepts a "No Objection Letter from Free Zones" in place of a DET trade licence [5]. Free zones apply the same gate at their end: Meydan Free Zone says its security systems trading activity "requires pre-approval from the Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA) before a business license can be issued" [17].

What the SIRA sources do not settle is whether a free zone licensee can sign installation contracts for buildings on the Dubai mainland. That turns on the scope of the free zone licence, not on SIRA. Because most installation clients are onshore villas, shops, towers and warehouses, the safer structure is a mainland licence for installation and a free zone, with its SIRA licence, for import and distribution to resellers.

Where you sit changes who you can invoice directly, your visa options and your tax position. Our mainland company setup and free zone company setup pages itemise each route. The comparison below uses BusinessDubai.ae's current package prices.

These packages are company formation only and exclude SIRA fees, engineers' cards and product approvals. The IFZA figures are a partner price, as IFZA publishes none. For zone detail, see our Meydan Free Zone guide, IFZA guide and JAFZA guide.

Real Talk: Do not choose a free zone for an installation business to save money. With one visa, the mainland package is AED 26,900 against AED 21,850 at Meydan Free Zone, a gap of AED 5,050. If the free zone licence then does not let you contract with the onshore owners in your pipeline, that saving is gone on the first project you cannot sign.

SIRA's cadre cards license practice "in the Emirate of Dubai" [6]. Other emirates follow their own security rules, so check with the relevant authority before quoting there. If you are weighing a company outside Dubai, our business setup in Abu Dhabi and business setup in Sharjah pages cover the company side.

How is a CCTV company taxed in the UAE?

A CCTV company pays UAE corporate tax at 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above, and charges 5% VAT on equipment and installation. The 0% free zone rate is only realistic for a distributor in a Designated Zone selling imported goods to resellers; installation and sales to end users are non-qualifying.

The ordinary rates under Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 are 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above [18]. A Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) can pay 0% on qualifying income, but only for activities listed in Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025 [19]. Two listings look relevant to a camera business, and only one works.

Cameras are not Qualifying Commodities

"Trading of Qualifying Commodities" is a qualifying activity, but the decision defines Qualifying Commodities as "Metals, minerals, industrial chemicals, energy and agriculture commodities and Associated By-products, excluding products packaged for retail sale" where a quoted price exists [19]. Cameras, recorders, alarm panels and access controllers are none of these, so a CCTV trader cannot use the commodities route.

The Designated Zone distribution route

The route that can work is Article 2(3)(l). Distribution "includes the buying and selling of goods, materials, component parts or any other items that are tangible or movable and may include the importation, storage, inventory management, handling, transportation and exportation of such goods", provided the activity is conducted in or from a Designated Zone, the goods are "imported through the Designated Zone", and they are supplied to "A customer who resells, processes or alters such goods or materials, or parts thereof for the purposes of sale or resale" or to a public benefit entity [19].

A distributor in a Designated Zone such as JAFZA that imports cameras and sells them to installers and resellers can fit that test. Confirm your zone is a Designated Zone first; our designated zone VAT guide explains the list. Installation, maintenance contracts and sales to end-user businesses are non-qualifying income, and "Any transactions with natural persons" are an excluded activity [19].

Non-qualifying income is tolerated only where it "does not exceed 5% (five percent) of the total Revenue of the Qualifying Free Zone Person in that Tax Period or AED 5,000,000 (five million dirhams), whichever is lower." A QFZP must also prepare audited financial statements. A company that fails a condition "shall cease to be a Qualifying Free Zone Person from the beginning of the relevant Tax Period and for the subsequent (4) four Tax Periods." [19] It is then taxed at the ordinary rates, 0% to AED 375,000 and 9% above, for that period and the four after it. Our Qualifying Free Zone Person guide works through the conditions.

Common Mistake: Assuming a free zone camera business pays 0% because it is in a free zone. A distributor that takes installation jobs or sells to villa owners can cross the de minimis line quickly: on AED 4,000,000 of revenue, 5% is AED 200,000. Cross it and the company loses QFZP status from the start of that period and for four more. Model the sales mix first, and keep installation in a separate mainland company if you need both.

Small Business Relief and VAT

A mainland installer with revenue at or under AED 3,000,000 may elect Small Business Relief for tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029, under Ministerial Decision No. 131 of 2026; the relief is not available to a QFZP [20]. Our Small Business Relief guide covers the election. VAT applies at 5% to equipment sales and installation services, with mandatory registration once taxable supplies and imports pass AED 375,000 and voluntary registration from AED 187,500 [21]. If you want the corporate tax and VAT position modelled on your real sales mix, model your tax position→

How much does a CCTV company cost in its first year?

A Dubai mainland CCTV installer's first year starts at BusinessDubai.ae's AED 26,900 one-visa package, plus SIRA's printed fees of AED 120 for the licence application and AED 1,060 for one engineer and two technician cards, plus the 2,020 listed in SIRA's installation fees column. Salaries, extra visas and stock are quoted separately.

The table itemises a first year for a mainland installer that also sells hardware. Package figures are BusinessDubai.ae's current prices for company formation only [22]; SIRA lines are as printed on SIRA's pages [5][6].

The SIRA lines add up to a few thousand at most. The real first-year budget is three salaries, two extra visas, courses and stock, which is why those rows are quotes rather than guesses. A free zone distributor starts instead from AED 21,850 with one visa at Meydan Free Zone or Dubai South, or AED 22,200 at IFZA (partner price).

Quick Math: A distributor launching ten camera models and two recorders files twelve approval applications. At AED 120 each in printed service fees that is AED 1,440. The fee is trivial; the timing is not. If two of the twelve take months in the laboratory, those are the two you should not have ordered in volume. Stage purchase orders behind the certificates.

Year two crowds the calendar: the trade licence, the yearly SIRA licence, visas and, a year later, every card. Our post-setup services team runs that calendar, including PRO work, so a lapsed card does not surface during an audit. For an itemised quote built on your staff plan and product range, get an itemised first-year quote→

Which setup fits your security systems business?

The right setup for a Dubai security systems business depends on who pays you. An importer selling to resellers fits a free zone such as JAFZA, an installer or integrator working in onshore buildings fits the mainland with activity 4321009, and alarm monitoring needs a separate SIRA command and control licence.

The table maps six common business models to a structure, the SIRA layers they trigger and the guide to read next.

A business that spans two rows, such as a distributor that also installs, is often cleaner as two companies: a free zone distributor holding stock and certificates, and a mainland installer holding the carded team. For network security services, see our cybersecurity company guide; for banking, our corporate bank account guide.

Real Client Stories

These are composite examples built from the situations security systems founders most often face in Dubai. Names and details are illustrative, and the only figures used are published SIRA fees and fines and BusinessDubai.ae's package prices.

The distributor whose cameras waited for approval

Karim set up in Meydan Free Zone on the AED 21,850 one-visa package to import IP cameras for installers. His licence carried trading only, and he ordered before filing any approvals. When the shipment arrived, installers would not buy models missing from SIRA's list, and SIRA asks for the installation activity on the licence before it certifies cameras. Karim obtained the manufacturer's authorisation letter, partnered with a licensed installer to file, and paid AED 120 in printed fees per model. Approval can take up to eight months. Lesson: secure the authorisation letter, the right activity and the approvals before the purchase order.

The installer who started on a trading licence

Priya took a mainland licence with one visa at AED 26,900 carrying only activity 4773954, because the register lets trading firms install what they sell. Then a villa compound asked for a SIRA-compliant CCTV system. Without 4321009 and three carded staff, her company could not hold the installation licence the job needed, and installing anyway risked the AED 6,000 first-offence fine for practising without a licence. She added 4321009, hired one engineer and two technicians, and paid AED 1,060 in cards plus the 2,020 listed in SIRA's fees column. Lesson: license the installation activity and the team before you quote installation work.

The integrator who dropped below three

Omar ran a mainland integrator for residential towers with both activities and exactly three carded staff. One technician resigned mid-project, and his card had to be cancelled with his residency. The company fell below SIRA's three-person minimum, and sending an uncarded replacement to site would have meant the AED 3,000 fine for employing an unlicensed individual. Omar had to hire, visa and card a replacement before the tower handover could continue. He now keeps a fourth carded technician and starts SIRA renewals two months early, as SIRA recommends. Lesson: treat three carded staff as the floor, not the plan.

Start your CCTV company the right way

For a CCTV and security systems company, the trade licence is the easy part. Three decisions decide whether the business works: the installation activity and a carded team before you quote installation, product approvals before the stock arrives, and a structure where tax and market access fit, which for most installers means the mainland. Each is cheap to get right at the start and expensive to fix after a SIRA inspection.

BusinessDubai.ae has completed 700+ company registrations across the UAE since 2013, with itemised pricing and no hidden fees. We will price a mainland company setup for an installer against a free zone company setup for a distributor, map the DET and SIRA activities to your catalogue, and hand the yearly SIRA, visa and card renewals to our post-setup services team once you are trading.

Talk to a setup expert→

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a SIRA licence to sell CCTV cameras in Dubai?

Yes. SIRA's FAQ says companies that sell, install, maintain or operate CCTV systems are generally required to be licensed and approved by SIRA, and Dubai Law No. 12 of 2016 treats selling and installing security systems as a security service. A trade licence alone is not enough.

Can I sell and install CCTV with only a trading licence?

Not safely. The DET description of 4773954 lets trading firms install what they sell, but SIRA licenses installation (4321009) separately with at least three carded engineers or technicians, and asks for the installation activity before certifying cameras. If you install, hold 4321009.

How much is the SIRA security licence fee in 2026?

SIRA's New Security License page prints a service fee of AED 100 plus knowledge and innovation fees of AED 10 each. Its fees column lists 4,020 for trading (4773954) and 2,020 for installation (4321009) with no currency printed, so confirm the amount at payment.

How long does SIRA take to issue a security licence?

SIRA's service page states two business days, and the 2026 Executive Regulation, on our reading of the Arabic text, sets a decision within three working days of a complete application. Most of the elapsed time is the trade licence stage and carding your staff.

How long is a SIRA company security licence valid?

Under Resolution No. 1 of 2026, as our researchers read the Arabic text, a company security licence is valid for one year and the renewal application is due at least 30 days before expiry. SIRA's FAQ recommends starting renewal two months before the licence expires.

How many engineers do I need for a CCTV installation licence in Dubai?

SIRA requires at least three licensed staff for activity 4321009: three engineers, two engineers and one technician, or one engineer and two technicians. The Preventive Systems Manual also requires the entire technical maintenance crew to be licensed.

How much does a SIRA engineer or technician card cost?

SIRA lists AED 420 for a Security Systems Engineer card and AED 320 for a Security Systems Technician card, each valid for two years. The holder needs a residence visa with your company, a Dubai Police good conduct certificate and an approved course.

Can a new technician work while he waits for his SIRA card?

Only under a Trainee Permit. SIRA issues a temporary licence valid for 90 days, non-renewable and only once, at AED 120. Without a card or a permit, putting him on site exposes the company to SIRA's AED 3,000 first-offence fine for employing an unlicensed individual.

Do I need SIRA approval for every camera model?

Yes. SIRA approves devices model by model, and its terms require a separate application for each security device or system. Each application carries AED 100 plus AED 10 and AED 10 in printed fees, and the model must comply with the Preventive Systems Manual.

How long does SIRA product approval take?

SIRA's product certification page says approval may take from one working day up to eight months, depending on the device. You email the application to ssel@sira.gov.ae, pay, book testing and submit a sample to SIRA's inspection laboratory.

Can a foreign camera brand get SIRA approval without a UAE company?

Yes, through a UAE distributor. SIRA requires a letter in which the manufacturer states it has no UAE entity and authorises the distributor to obtain approvals for its brand, and the application must go through a SIRA-licensed company.

Where can I check whether a camera or recorder is SIRA approved?

SIRA publishes approved lists on its Certified Devices and Equipment page, including cameras and recorders dated 31 August 2026. Each entry names the certificate holder, brand, model and certificate number, and recorder entries add firmware, so check the exact model rather than the brand.

Do Wi-Fi or 4G security cameras need TDRA approval?

Possibly. TDRA's equipment approval covers radio equipment device by device, needs a registered telecom supplier as applicant, and lists an AED 500 review fee and AED 200 certificate fee. SIRA's Manual also prohibits wireless networks for security systems unless approved.

How long must CCTV footage be kept in Dubai?

SIRA's Preventive Systems Manual sets recording for no less than 31 days at no less than 10 frames per second per camera, with 20% extra recorder capacity. An undersized recorder fails the security audit.

Are hidden cameras allowed in Dubai?

Not without SIRA approval. The Preventive Systems Manual requires cameras to be clearly visible and prohibits hidden cameras, pan and zoom cameras in private areas and roof cameras looking beyond the facility unless SIRA approves.

What is a SIRA Security Plan Certificate?

A Security Plan Certificate (SPC) is SIRA's approval of a facility's security system plan. For camera and alarm systems it needs a trade licence, planning map and projects plan, takes three business days by SIRA's page, and must be stamped by the security consultancy and the installer.

Does a Dubai building need a CCTV maintenance contract?

Yes, where the Preventive Systems Manual applies. The facility must enter an annual maintenance contract with a SIRA-registered company, including a preventive maintenance programme of no less than four visits per year, and must tell SIRA if the contract is not carried out.

Can a free zone company get a SIRA licence?

Yes. Dubai Law No. 12 of 2016 applies throughout the emirate including free zones, and SIRA's licence page accepts a No Objection Letter from free zones in place of a DET trade licence. Meydan Free Zone also requires SIRA pre-approval before it issues a security systems trading licence.

Can a JAFZA or Meydan company install CCTV in mainland Dubai buildings?

The SIRA sources do not confirm it either way. A free zone company can hold a SIRA licence, but onshore contracting depends on the scope of its free zone licence. Most installation clients are onshore, so a mainland licence is the safer choice for installation.

Does a Dubai SIRA licence cover Abu Dhabi or Sharjah?

No. SIRA is a Dubai agency acting under a Dubai law, and its cadre cards license practice in the Emirate of Dubai. Other emirates follow their own rules, so check with the relevant authority before quoting there.

What is the fine for installing CCTV without a SIRA licence?

SIRA's published fine for practising a security activity without a licence is AED 6,000 for a first offence, AED 12,000 for a second, AED 18,000 for a third and AED 30,000 for a fourth. The legal ceiling under Law No. 3 of 2018 is AED 500,000, doubled on a repeat within a year.

Can a client be fined for hiring an unlicensed CCTV company?

Yes. SIRA's violations schedule lists using the services of an unlicensed security provider at AED 6,000 for a first offence, rising to AED 30,000 for a fourth. Clients can check a provider on SIRA's Security Systems Providers Companies page, which SIRA updates monthly.

Is CCTV distribution from a free zone taxed at 0%?

Only in a narrow case. Under Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025, distribution qualifies if conducted from a Designated Zone, with goods imported through it and sold to a buyer who resells or processes them. Installation and end-user sales are non-qualifying, within a de minimis limit of the lower of 5% of revenue or AED 5,000,000.

Can a CCTV installer claim Small Business Relief?

Yes, if it is not a Qualifying Free Zone Person and its revenue is at or under AED 3,000,000. Ministerial Decision No. 131 of 2026 extends the relief to tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029, and it must be elected.

Is VAT charged on CCTV equipment and installation in Dubai?

Yes. Equipment sales and installation services are standard-rated at 5% VAT. Registration is mandatory once taxable supplies and imports exceed AED 375,000 in twelve months, and voluntary from AED 187,500.

Is there a minimum capital for a CCTV company in Dubai?

SIRA's licence page sets no capital figure for trading or installation, and the 2026 regulation, on our reading, lists staff, equipment, premises and approvals as the conditions rather than a capital amount. Your licensing authority may set its own share capital rules for the company.

References

[1] Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA). Violations and Fines schedule, 32 items with first to fourth offence amounts, including practising without a licence, expired licences, unlicensed staff and using an unlicensed provider. SIRA Violations

[2] Government of Dubai. Law No. (12) of 2016 Regulating the Security Industry in the Emirate of Dubai: definition of Security Service (Article 2), scope including free zones (Article 4), establishment of SIRA (Article 5), power to license devices (Article 7) and the licence requirement (Article 17). Dubai Legislation Portal

[3] SIRA. Frequently Asked Questions: licensing of CCTV sellers and installers, approved devices, renewal timing, audit versus inspection visits, completion certificate timing and the monthly-updated provider list. SIRA FAQ

[4] Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, business activity list as recorded in a public copy of the register: 4773954 Security Systems & Equipment Trading (Commercial) and 4321009 Security Equipment Installation & Maintenance (Professional), with descriptions; rows last updated 24 October 2023. Activity 4773954 and activity 4321009

[5] SIRA. New Security License service page: service, knowledge and innovation fees, stated time of two business days, the activity table with its fees column and staffing conditions, accepted entry documents including a free zone No Objection Letter, and terms. SIRA New Security License

[6] SIRA. New Security Cadre Card service: card categories, documents and fees (Security Systems Engineer 420, Technician 320, Consultant 520), two-year validity, residency rules and the 90-day Trainee Permit at AED 120. SIRA Security Cadre Card

[7] SIRA. Security Equipment and Devices Certification service: steps through ssel@sira.gov.ae, fees, per-product requirements including the licence activity, the manufacturer authorisation letter and an approval time of one working day up to eight months. SIRA device certification

[8] SIRA. New Security System Certification service: Security Plan Certificate stamped by the consultancy and the installer, successful security audit report, fees and terms. SIRA system certification

[9] SIRA Board of Directors. Resolution No. (1) of 2026 Issuing the Executive Regulation of Law No. (12) of 2016, issued 10 June 2026 and published in the Official Gazette on 4 July 2026. Arabic text; the points in this article are a translation read by our researchers. Dubai Legislation Portal, Arabic 2026 legislation and SIRA agencies legislations

[10] Government of Dubai. Law No. (3) of 2018 Amending Law No. (12) of 2016, replacing Article 21 on administrative penalties: AED 500,000 ceiling, doubled on repeat within one year, AED 1,000,000 cap. Dubai Legislation Portal

[11] SIRA. Renew Security License service page: fees, stated time of two business days and the activity fees column for renewals. SIRA Renew Security License

[12] SIRA. Administrative Resolution No. (13) of 2025 Approving the Preventive Systems Manual, issued 14 April 2025, 140 pages, English translation by SIRA: camera, recording, network, power, maintenance and prohibition requirements. Preventive Systems Manual (PDF)

[13] SIRA. Certified Devices and Equipment: approved lists for recorders and VMS, motion sensors, door contacts, IP modules, SecurePath, cameras, bollards and padlocks dated 31 August 2026, and alarm panels in a file dated 31 March 2026. SIRA certified devices

[14] Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA). Register and Approve Telecommunication Equipment service, page last updated 23 October 2025: registered supplier requirement, AED 500 review and AED 200 certificate fees, and 1, 5 or 10 working days by level. TDRA equipment approval

[15] SIRA. Shipment NOC service for re-exports, including the documents for security equipment and dual-use goods, fees and stated time. SIRA Shipment NOC

[16] SIRA. Security Plans Certification service: documents for camera and alarm system plans, fees and stated time of three business days. SIRA security plans certification

[17] Meydan Free Zone. Security systems and equipment trading activity page (activity 4773.c6), stating SIRA pre-approval before licence issue, updated 9 September 2026. Meydan Free Zone activity hub

[18] UAE Government portal. Corporate tax at 0% up to AED 375,000 of taxable income and 9% above under Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022. u.ae corporate tax

[19] Ministry of Finance. Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025 Regarding Qualifying Activities and Excluded Activities: Qualifying Commodities definition (Article 1), Designated Zone distribution (Article 2(3)(l)), excluded transactions with natural persons (Article 2(2)), de minimis (Article 3) and loss of status (Article 5). MD 229 of 2025 (PDF)

[20] Federal Tax Authority and The National. Small Business Relief: AED 3,000,000 revenue threshold, election required, not available to Qualifying Free Zone Persons, extended to tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029 by Ministerial Decision No. 131 of 2026 (reported 7 August 2026). FTA Small Business Relief and The National

[21] Federal Tax Authority. Registration for VAT: 5% standard rate, mandatory registration above AED 375,000 of taxable supplies and imports, voluntary above AED 187,500. FTA VAT registration

[22] BusinessDubai.ae. Package prices as of November 2026: Dubai mainland AED 18,200 without a visa, AED 26,900 with one visa, about AED 15,000 on renewal; Meydan Free Zone and Dubai South AED 12,500, 21,850 and 28,400; IFZA AED 12,900, 22,200 and 25,400 (partner price); company formation only, excluding SIRA fees, cadre cards and product approvals. Internal data from trading and contracting company registrations since 2013. businessdubai.ae