If you are opening or renewing a business in Sharjah, there is a good chance your trade licence depends on a CCTV system that meets the Sharjah Police specification. This checklist covers what is typically required, so you can plan the system and budget before an inspection, not after it.
Requirements depend on your licence activity and are updated from time to time. Use this checklist to prepare, then confirm the current rules for your activity with an approved installer.
1. Check whether your activity is covered
Activities commonly required to install compliant CCTV include retail shops, restaurants and cafés, hotels, warehouses and workshops, jewellers and exchange houses, schools and nurseries, clinics and pharmacies, and residential building common areas. Some activities must also connect their cameras to the Sharjah Police Raqib monitoring programme.
2. Coverage
Cameras should cover:
- Every entrance and exit, inside and out
- Cash counters and safes
- Car parks and vehicle gates
- Corridors, lift lobbies and stairs in buildings
- Stores and loading bays in warehouses
Cameras must not be placed in private areas such as toilets and changing rooms.
3. Image quality
Systems are typically required to use IP cameras of at least 2 MP (1080p), with 4 MP or higher at main entrances and outdoor positions. The point is identification: footage of the entrance should show a recognisable face, not just a figure. Outdoor cameras should be weather-rated (IP66), and wireless cameras are generally not accepted.
4. Recording and storage
- At least 60 days of continuous recording is the commonly applied requirement
- Storage protected against a single disk failure (RAID) on larger systems
- A recording frame rate high enough to follow movement clearly
Storage is where many existing systems fail. A recorder bought for 7 or 14 days of footage usually needs more or larger disks.
5. Power and the control point
- Backup power (UPS) so recording continues during a power cut
- A monitor at the control point so staff can view cameras
- The recorder in a secure location, with password-protected access
6. Signage and records
- CCTV warning signs at entrances
- A maintenance log and a register of footage that has been copied or handed over
- A trained staff member responsible for the system
7. Maintenance contract
Commercial systems are generally expected to be covered by a maintenance contract with an approved company. Regular maintenance also protects you: a system that has silently stopped recording is the worst thing to discover after an incident.
Common reasons systems fail inspection
From our work across Sharjah, the most common problems are:
- Too little storage for the required number of days
- Low-resolution cameras at the entrance, so faces are not identifiable
- Backlit entrance cameras facing a glass door, turning people into silhouettes
- No UPS, or a UPS whose battery has died
- No maintenance contract in place
How we can help
We hold a Sharjah Police approval for installing alarm and surveillance systems, and we are based in Um Al Tarafa. We check what your activity requires, design and install the system, and keep it maintained for your next renewal. Read about our police-approved CCTV service or request a free survey.
Frequently asked questions
Which businesses in Sharjah need police-approved CCTV?
It depends on the trade licence activity. Shops, restaurants, hotels, warehouses, workshops, jewellers, exchange houses, schools, clinics and residential buildings are commonly covered. Ask an approved installer to check your specific activity.
How long must CCTV footage be stored in Sharjah?
Commercial premises are commonly expected to store at least 60 days of continuous recording. Confirm the current figure for your activity before buying storage.