Guides / Video Production
How to choose a video production company in Dubai
Most video projects that go wrong were unclear before the camera was ever switched on. This guide covers what to prepare, what to ask a production company in Dubai, and how to compare the quotes you get back.
Start with the job the video has to do
Before you contact anyone, write one sentence that explains who the video is for and what they should do after watching it. A film for investors, a launch commercial and a set of Reels are three different productions, even if they show the same product.
Then list where the video will run. A website hero film, a 15-second vertical ad and a conference screen all need different framing, lengths and file formats. Telling the production company up front means they can shoot all versions in one go, which is far cheaper than re-editing later.
What to put in the brief
A one-page brief is enough to get an accurate proposal. Include:
- The objective and the audience
- Where the video will be shown and in which formats
- Languages needed (English, Arabic or both), including subtitles and voice-over
- Preferred shoot dates and the deadline for the final film
- Locations you already have access to
- Reference videos you like, and what you like about them
- A budget range, even a rough one
Questions to ask a Dubai production company
Good answers to these questions tell you more than a showreel does:
- Which parts are done in-house: concept, filming, editing, color, sound?
- Who will be my contact, and who directs on the day?
- Can I see work for a similar audience or industry, not just your best film?
- How many rounds of changes are included, and what counts as a new round?
- Who arranges filming permits and location permissions?
- Who owns the raw footage and the project files?
- What happens if the shoot day has to move?
What changes the quote
Two quotes for “a two-minute corporate video” can be far apart and both be fair. The price follows the amount of work, and the main drivers are the number of shoot days and locations, the size of the crew, cast and voice-over, the equipment (for example drones or specialist lenses), and the amount of post-production such as animation, color grading and extra versions.
When you compare proposals, check that they include the same things. A lower quote often leaves out script development, music licensing, subtitles or the vertical versions you will need for social media.
Permits and locations in Dubai
Commercial filming in public places in Dubai generally needs a permit, which is handled through the Dubai Film and TV Commission. Private venues such as hotels, malls and offices need the owner’s permission as well. Drone shots have their own aviation approvals.
A local production company should arrange this for you and build the lead time into the schedule. Ask which permits your shoot needs before you fix a date, because the answer can change the plan.
A realistic timeline
Every project moves through the same stages: brief and concept, script or storyboard, pre-production (casting, locations, permits, schedule), the shoot, the edit, and final delivery after your feedback. Simple interview or event films move quickly. Scripted commercials with cast and several locations need more time before the shoot than after it.
The most common cause of delay is slow feedback. Agree in advance who signs off the script and the edit, and how long each review will take.
Common questions
How do I compare two video production quotes?
Line them up item by item: shoot days, crew, equipment, cast, post-production, music, subtitles, number of versions and revision rounds. If one quote is much lower, look for what is missing rather than assuming it is better value.
Do I need a filming permit to shoot a commercial in Dubai?
Filming for commercial use in public locations in Dubai generally requires a permit through the Dubai Film and TV Commission, and private venues need the owner’s permission. Your production company should confirm what your shoot needs and arrange it.
Should I choose a production house or a creative agency?
Choose a production house if you already have the idea and script and need it filmed well. Choose an agency with in-house production if you also need the concept, the campaign thinking and the social versions from the same team.
Official sources
Rules and procedures change. Check the current requirements with the authority before you plan a shoot.