Introduction Dubai is full of character with great light. You will find
Let me start with diving into the major laws, protecting the Dubai and its people in respect to taking photographs of buildings and people. The key is to stay informed, be aware or simply ask when in doubt.
Skip taking pictures of government and semi buildings, even military sites
You will be tempted to take photos due to sheer beauty of some of semi government or government buildings and military installations, just resist. Taking photos of such buildings and sites are restricted. If you are not sure to what implies as semi government sites, these simply include financial, civil service buildings such as Dubai Municipality or Dubai International Financial Centre and many more.
The best way is to ask the security or working personnel working at the site. If you ask politely, they would be able to give you a better answer.
Military sites are easier to spot, quite obvious with all the intense security presence and bordered walls which may also include prison facilities and other military administrative buildings. The best advice would be to simply avoid the spot and look out for the many other interesting venues in Dubai.
There are many other public facilities building have restrictions for photography, all in all the best route to take is to be curious and ask.
There are strict laws prohibiting you from taking photos of airport terminal, even employees working there and aircrafts from the ground.
Take permission first, before shooting
Privacy protection is taken pretty seriously in Dubai. There are stringent laws to protect that. As walking around, scouting for the best photo moments it is important to respect other people’s privacy. Don’t click pictures of others without seeking their consent. According to Article 378 of the UAE Code, taking pictures without getting permission could result in your camera being taken by authorities and the photographer being fined or imprisoned depending on the situation.
The best route to go about this law is to abide by it. You can gain consent by simply asking your subject. If you after a different look, speak to your subject within a reasonable time frame. Get your subject involved, time permitting you could get a particular pose. The goal would be to reassure your subject so that their privacy is protected. In the end, if your subject doesn’t comply – just walk away. There are so many other styles of photography that can be shot on the streets of Dubai, as the city is full of unique and diverse experiences.
If you are overwhelmed of the many restrictions to shoot in Dubai, there are two ways to look at this. Firstly there are so many options and spots in Dubai that you can shoot it. Secondly, if you really keen to take a picture of a certain beautiful structure, simply ask the security on how to acquire the necessary permits from the authorities to keep you safe.
Where do you Shoot
Bastakiya Historical District.
Al Seef District
Al Fahidi Historical District
Deira Market – commercial market
- 30 words on how big the place is and how to get there, what kind of people are there.
Dubai Creek
- short 30 words introduction about the creek.
- Talk about the type of people there, and activities that you will find there.
City Walk, Box park and La Mer are most of the commercial district with uptrend people
- short introduction around 15 words about what is the place, where you will find there and how to get there
- You will find signs and shop structures.
- Mostly still life photography there.
- Activities usually minimium.
We all love to shoot pictures of nature, buildings, famous sights, and local people. It is important to always ask for permission before you take pictures of people. It’s merely out of respect and courtesy. In countries like the US, you are in your rights to take photos of people without their permission, as long as they are in public space. In Dubai, you will always find exotic and interesting things and people and it is perfectly fine to take photographs. But you need to ask permission first.
- Rule 1: Don’t shoot pictures of Emirati people especially women without their permission.
- Rule 2: No photography of government buildings and other sensitive areas.
- Rule 3: Photograph everywhere unless there is a sign or security guard tells you not to.
Don’t make these rules stop you from venturing out into the streets of souk markets to capture traders, workers and shoppers. Put on a genuine smile and ask for a photo. I’m sure most of them would be fine with that.
Next week, a guide to find and capture the multicultural essence of Dubai.
Further reading: If you are traveling around the world and want to know about your legal rights as a photographer, carry a printed copy of The Photographer’s Right (I got this PDF from here). Alternately, you can read this book, Legal Handbook for Photographers:
