Do you need a drone permit in Lebanon? (and in Dubai)

Short answer: yes. In Lebanon every camera drone flight needs a permit from the Lebanese Army, requested at least a week ahead. In Dubai only licensed companies may film from the air, after permits that cost about AED 4,500 and take days to weeks. Here is what each involves, what it means for a property video, and the alternative we use.

Lebanon: a Lebanese Army permit for every flight

Flying a camera drone in Lebanon needs a special permit from the Lebanese Army. The request is made in writing and covers the purpose of the flight, the serial numbers of the drone and the camera, the schedule and the locations. It comes with an Air Force licence, the operator's ID and a photo of the drone. The permit is free, but the process takes at least a week.

Flying near military sites or in conflict zones is forbidden, and a violation can lead to the drone being confiscated and to prosecution. In 2025 the digital rights group SMEX noted that only the Army can issue these permits, without clear published standards, and that some municipalities, such as Jezzine, also ask for prior written permission and a copy of the footage.

What this means for a property video:

• Plan at least a week between booking a crew and the flight.
• The permit is for a date and a place: if the weather turns, the flight moves.
• Lebanese studios that fly drones publish almost no prices. Minimum budgets for drone projects listed on Sortlist start at EUR 500 to EUR 1,000, and a cinematic property video with drone typically costs about $560 to $1,500 (our estimate from those minimums).

Dubai: licensed companies, about AED 4,500 in permits

In the UAE, commercial aerial filming is reserved to licensed companies: a freelancer with a personal drone cannot legally do a paid aerial shoot. In Dubai the reported fees are about AED 1,500 for the DCAA no-objection certificate and about AED 3,000 for the aerial filming permit, so about AED 4,500 ($1,225) before the crew is paid. Studios quote lead times from 3 to 7 working days up to 14 to 16 working days, and other emirates take longer.

Flights are limited to 120 metres, in daylight, within line of sight, and at least 5 km from Dubai's two airports (DXB and DWC). A Dubai studio's guide puts fines at up to AED 25,000. Recreational flying in Dubai has been suspended since January 2022, and was still suspended in January 2025.

In 2026 the whole country stopped flying for four months: an operator's blog reports that a GCAA safety decision suspended all drone operations from 2026-02-28, with commercial flights resuming on 2026-06-30. We did not check that against an official notice, but it shows how quickly an aerial plan can stop.

Elsewhere in the region

Saudi Arabia allows camera drones for registered operators, but registration needs a Saudi ID or a residence permit, and certification takes from about one month to more than five. In Egypt, owning or importing a drone needs a Ministry of Defence permit and customs seize drones at the border: in practice it is a no-drone market.

The alternative: a drone-style film from photos

A Sawwer Drone Film never flies. It is made from photos of the outside taken from several sides: each corner of the house, the front from the street, the garden, the view. From them we make slow aerial moves around the house and cut them into a 20 to 30 second film, ready the next day, for $99.

Be clear about what it is. The camera moves are generated from your photos; they are not real aerial footage. Details nobody photographed, like the far side of the roof, are the model's best guess, so we check every shot against your photos and cut any shot that adds something that is not there. If a buyer needs to see the whole neighbourhood from 100 metres up, hire a licensed crew and budget the week for the permit.