Usually yes, but ask first. The corridor is a common area controlled by the building, so get written approval from building management (and your landlord if you rent). Point the camera only at your own door. If the building says no, a door viewer camera fitted inside the door's peephole is a good alternative.
Deliveries left outside, a knock at midnight, a nanny coming and going: there are good reasons to want eyes on your front door. In an apartment, though, the space just outside your door isn't yours. Here's how to do it without problems.
Step 1: Ask the right people
- Building management or the owners' association. The corridor, walls and ceiling are common property. Many towers have rules on anything fixed to the outside of a unit door. A short email asking for approval is usually enough.
- Your landlord, if you rent. Most tenancy contracts don't allow drilling or alterations without consent.
Get the answer in writing. It protects you if anyone complains later.
Step 2: Choose a camera that suits apartments
Door viewer (peephole) camera Replaces the inside of your peephole with a small screen and camera. Nothing changes on the corridor side, so it is the easiest to get approved and the least likely to bother neighbours.
Battery video doorbell Rings your phone and lets you talk to visitors. Mounts with a small bracket or strong adhesive, so no wiring in the corridor. Needs your flat's Wi-Fi to reach the door, and the battery needs charging every few weeks or months.
Small wired camera Best picture and records all the time, but needs cabling. Only worth it if management approves and can route the cable neatly.
Step 3: Aim it at your door only
Your camera should show your door and the area right in front of it. If it sees straight into the flat opposite, or down the whole corridor, adjust the angle or switch on the privacy mask. Recording neighbours' comings and goings is exactly what UAE privacy rules warn against.
Turn on motion zones too, so you only get alerts for your doorway and not every person walking past.
Step 4: Keep the footage private
If something goes missing, give the clip to the building's security team or the police. Don't post it in the building's WhatsApp group. Sharing images of people without consent can break the UAE's privacy law, even if you're the one who was wronged.
What if the building says no?
- Use a door viewer camera on the inside of your door instead.
- Ask whether the building's own CCTV already covers your corridor, and how to request footage if you ever need it.
- For valuables, an indoor camera facing your entrance hall is entirely inside your own home.
Frequently asked questions
Will a video doorbell work with my building's intercom?
Usually not directly. Building intercoms are a separate system. A video doorbell sits on your own door, and the building intercom still handles the lobby entrance.
Do battery doorbells cope with UAE heat?
Indoor air-conditioned corridors are no problem. On an outdoor walkway or a villa gate in full sun, a battery model can overheat and stop charging, so a wired doorbell or a gate intercom is the better choice there.
Can you install it for me?
Yes. We supply and fit door viewer cameras, video doorbells and villa intercoms in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman, and we can help you prepare the request to building management.
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Menu names can differ slightly between models and software versions. Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Back to the help centre