What Dubai businesses need to know about SIRA surveillance rules — who needs it, the technical standards, the approval process, and how to design a system that passes inspection the first time.
In short: most commercial premises in Dubai are legally required to run a SIRA-compliant CCTV system — installed by a SIRA-approved company, recording at the mandated resolution, retaining footage for at least 31 days, and able to support Dubai Police investigations. Compliance is frequently tied to obtaining or renewing a trade licence.
The Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA) is the Government of Dubai body — established by Decree No. 12 of 2016 — that regulates the private security sector in Dubai, including CCTV and surveillance systems. SIRA sets the technical standards for cameras, storage and monitoring, and only companies it has approved may legally design and install these systems in the emirate.
SIRA's mandate is Dubai-specific. Other emirates have their own security authorities, so a system that is compliant in Dubai is not automatically compliant elsewhere in the UAE.
The information on this page is provided for general guidance only and may not reflect the latest amendments to SIRA regulations. SIRA standards (including resolution tiers, retention periods and approval procedures) are updated periodically.
Before committing to any surveillance project, always refer to the current official SIRA guidelines and seek guidance from SIRA-approved installers and official channels. Verify all requirements directly with the Security Industry Regulatory Agency at www.sira.gov.ae ↗ (eServices portal: portal.sira.gov.ae ↗).
Quick Surf Network engineers surveillance systems to SIRA specification and helps coordinate the approval process; final certification and lawful installation in Dubai are carried out through SIRA-approved channels.
For a large share of Dubai businesses, yes — and it is frequently required to obtain or renew a trade licence. SIRA periodically updates the regulated list, so premises not named below may still be covered. Common mandated sectors include:
SIRA specifies minimum standards for resolution, coverage, storage and integration. The headline benchmarks are below — confirm the exact current spec for your premises with SIRA or a SIRA-approved installer.
| Requirement | Benchmark |
|---|---|
| Minimum resolution (standard areas) | Trending toward 4MP as the practical benchmark in 2026. |
| High-risk / facial-capture zones | 8MP is commonly expected at entrances, exits and POS counters. |
| Footage retention | Minimum 31 days of continuous recording. |
| Camera coverage | All critical points — entries/exits, common and high-risk areas — with no blind spots. |
| Privacy | Cameras must not cover private areas such as restrooms. |
| Police integration | The system must be able to support Dubai Police investigations and SIRA's integration framework. |
| Evidence quality | Recordings must be usable as forensic evidence. |
Because requirements tighten over time, designing slightly above the current minimum is usually the cheaper long-term choice — it avoids a re-fit at the next inspection cycle.
A compliant project follows a defined sequence. The certification is secured before cabling begins — not discovered at inspection.
Register the building (Surveillance System Unit / SSU) on the SIRA portal to establish it as an approved site for review.
Prepare and submit CCTV layout drawings showing every camera location and its coverage area.
SIRA reviews the design and issues the Security Plan Certification (SPC) once the layout is approved.
Install strictly to the approved design and SIRA technical specifications, by a SIRA-approved installer.
Pass the SIRA / Dubai Police inspection, after which the system is considered legally compliant.
Keep the system serviced and certification current so you stay compliant at every licence renewal.
Quick Surf Network engineers surveillance as part of a managed, secured network — not a box of cameras bolted on afterwards. We design to SIRA specification from the drawing stage and coordinate the approval process end-to-end with SIRA-approved channels.
Coverage, resolution tiers and retention are planned to meet the mandated standards on the first inspection — drawings prepared for SPC review.
Cameras live on an isolated VLAN, segmented from staff and business data, with hardened access — surveillance that strengthens security rather than widening the attack surface.
24/7 monitoring and a written 4-hour response SLA keep footage recording and systems healthy — so a failed camera is caught before it becomes a compliance gap.
Straight answers to the questions Dubai businesses ask most about surveillance compliance.
Send us your floor plan or site address. We'll design a SIRA-specification camera layout, recommend the right resolution tiers, and help you navigate approval through SIRA-approved channels.