Who has to comply
SIRA rules apply to a wide range of commercial premises in Dubai, including retail, hospitality, warehouses, offices that receive the public, healthcare, education and residential buildings' common areas. High-risk activities such as jewellers, exchange houses and banks face stricter rules, including longer recording retention.
Whether your premises are covered depends on your licence activity, so check with SIRA or ask us to check for you before you buy equipment.
What SIRA typically looks for
The detailed specification depends on your activity and is updated regularly. Common points include:
- Cameras covering entrances, exits, cash points, corridors and other areas named for your activity
- Image quality good enough to identify faces at entrances, by day and night
- Continuous recording, usually kept for at least 31 days, and longer for high-risk activities
- Secure storage and password-protected access to footage
- No cameras in private areas such as toilets, changing rooms and prayer rooms
- Design, installation and maintenance by a SIRA-licensed security company
- A valid maintenance arrangement, so the system keeps working between inspections
Steps to a compliant system
1. Confirm which requirements apply to your licence activity. 2. Have a licensed company survey the site and design the camera layout. 3. Install, test and document the system. 4. Complete the approval and inspection process. 5. Keep the system maintained so it passes at renewal.
We help Dubai clients with the survey, design and installation, and with upgrading existing systems that no longer meet the standard.
Homes and villas
SIRA rules focus on commercial premises. Private villas and apartments do not need SIRA approval for home CCTV, but cameras must not record neighbours' private spaces or public areas beyond your property. See our CCTV installation in Dubai page for home systems.
Questions people ask
How long must CCTV footage be kept in Dubai?
Many commercial premises are required to keep at least 31 days of footage, while high-risk activities such as banks, jewellers and exchange houses must keep it for longer, often 90 days. Confirm the figure for your activity before sizing storage.
Do villas in Dubai need SIRA approval for CCTV?
No. SIRA approval is for commercial and regulated premises. Home systems should still respect privacy, which means not recording neighbours' homes or public areas.
Can my existing cameras be made SIRA compliant?
Sometimes. An audit shows whether the cameras, recorder and storage meet the current standard. Often only the recorder, storage or entrance cameras need upgrading.
Related
Last reviewed 17 October 2026.