Some businesses in Sharjah must not only install approved CCTV but also connect it to the Sharjah Police operations room. This connection is widely known as Raqib. Banks, exchange houses and jewellers are among those required to connect. Systems that don't meet the requirements can lead to fines of AED 5,000 to AED 15,000, closure or licence suspension.
If you run a business in Sharjah, you'll hear two things about CCTV. First, your premises may need a camera system that meets the Sharjah Police specification. Second, some activities must go one step further and connect that system to the police. The second part is what people usually mean by Raqib.
What Raqib is
Raqib (راقب, "watcher") is the name commonly used for connecting a business's CCTV to the Sharjah Police operations room, so the system can be monitored and checked remotely. It sits on top of the normal approval: you still need compliant cameras, recording and storage at your premises.
Sharjah Police runs one of the largest camera networks in the country. By mid-2026 it reported over 172,000 cameras across the emirate, and nearly 20,000 residential, commercial and industrial buildings under its surveillance compliance system.
Who has to connect
Sharjah Police requires companies in sensitive activities to install surveillance and connect it to the police operations room. Banks, money exchange houses and jewellery shops are named examples. Other high-value or high-traffic premises can also be asked to connect as part of their approval.
The exact requirement depends on your trade licence activity. If you're not sure, ask before you buy equipment. It's the most expensive thing to get wrong.
What happens if you don't comply
Under Executive Council Resolution No. 28 of 2015 on securing vital facilities, establishments that don't meet the surveillance requirements face fines of AED 5,000 to AED 15,000. The authorities can also close the premises or suspend the licence. Criminal Investigation Department teams carry out regular inspections to check that systems are installed and working.
How to get ready
- Confirm your requirement for your activity: approval only, or approval plus connection.
- Install a compliant system through a Sharjah Police approved company: the right camera positions, continuous recording and enough storage for the required days.
- Prepare for connection: a stable internet line, a UPS for the recorder and network equipment, and correct date and time.
- Complete the connection and documents as required for your activity.
- Keep it running. Faults, full disks and offline cameras need fixing quickly, which is where a maintenance contract pays for itself.
How Noor Al Khair Computer helps
Noor Al Khair Computer is a Sharjah Police approved CCTV and alarm installer, with its office in Um Al Tarafa, Sharjah. We can:
- check what your activity requires before you spend anything
- design and install CCTV to the Sharjah Police specification
- prepare the system, network and power for police connection where it applies
- audit an existing system that failed an inspection and fix only what's needed
- maintain it, so it stays online and recording
Send us your trade licence activity on WhatsApp and we'll tell you what applies.
Frequently asked questions
Is Raqib the same as Sharjah Police CCTV approval?
No. Approval is about having a compliant system at your premises. Connection to the police operations room is an extra step that applies to certain activities.
Does every shop in Sharjah need to connect?
Not every shop. It depends on your activity. Banks, exchange houses and jewellers are clear examples. Check your own activity before you buy equipment.
Can my existing cameras be used?
Often, yes, if they meet the specification. We audit the system first and only replace what doesn't meet the requirement, such as low-resolution entrance cameras or too little storage.
Related
Menu names can differ slightly between models and software versions. Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Back to the help centre