The UAE has many fascinating engineering wonders, trendy shopping malls, and dazzling attractions, all of which immediately attract your attention. With a smartphone in your hand, you can post and complete your Instagram page with amazing photos that showcase the country’s beauty and architecture. Before you decide to try, be sure to understand some of the UAE’s rules on public photography, which you need to follow.
Regulations on public photography in the UAE
Here is a list of UAE general photography rules, which, if followed correctly, can exempt you from fines and other consequences.
1- Follow the agreement: approve the photo before organizing photo shoots in the UAE, please be sure to obtain approval.
Whether you plan to consider the Dubai Mall, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, or any other place in the country, if you plan to do the professional shooting, you need to obtain permission from the relevant authorities. If they allow it, only you can shoot in that particular area. This is an agreement to organize photo shooting in the UAE. To ensure the safety of passengers and civil aviation bureau employees, taking photos at the airport is strictly prohibited. Photographers need special permission to shoot here.
2- Do not take pictures of government buildings, military locations and Semi- government buildings.
When you are looking at Dubai or any other embassy in the UAE, you may encounter many government buildings and government buildings that want to push the photos. Before taking the next step, please know that taking photos in government and the army locations in the United Arab Emirates is restricted unless you have special permission.
If you are not sure what will happen, the federal areas to avoid include Dubai International Economic Center and Dubai International Airport. Also, government agencies that prohibit this include the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry and DLD. When a military position is involved, the rule also includes the UAE General Military Base (GHQ), the Dubai Civil Defense Center, etc. Other public areas, such as airports, beaches, bridges, cultural attractions, and free zones, also have photo booths.
3- Do not distribute or display pictures without permission
Sharing photos of others without permission in the UAE is a punishable offense. According to Article no.43 of the UAE Copyright Law, the photographer has no right to display, publish, or distribute the original picture or its copy without the authorization of the person who appears in the photo. Violation of the law may result in a fine, or imprisonment of at least six months to one year.
4- Permissions first: never snap or click anyone’s photo without their consent or permission
It is crucial to respect the solitude of others. Do not click on other people’s pictures without their permission. Article 378 of the UAE Code provides that taking pictures without permission will result in the confiscation of the camera, destruction of the record and fines to the photographer, or imprisonment in some cases.