Is CCTV Mandatory for Restaurants in Dubai?
Yes — CCTV is effectively mandatory for restaurants and cafés in Dubai. Dubai Municipality (DM) requires CCTV as part of the food establishment permit process, and SIRA (Security Industry Regulatory Agency) regulates the technical standards of any installed system. Operating a Dubai restaurant without a SIRA-compliant CCTV system risks your trade licence renewal and can result in fines during DM inspections.
The good news: a well-designed restaurant CCTV system typically requires only 8–16 cameras and can be installed in a single day with minimal disruption to operations.
Where Must CCTV Cameras Be Placed in a Dubai Restaurant?
Based on Dubai Municipality and SIRA guidelines, cameras must cover:
- All entrance and exit doors: Every door — including staff exits and emergency exits — must be covered
- Cash desk / POS terminals: High-resolution camera (4MP minimum) covering every point of sale from an angle that captures both the cashier and customer
- Dining area: Full coverage of all dining tables — ceiling-mounted fisheye or dome cameras typically achieve this with minimum camera count
- Bar area (if applicable): Full coverage of bar service area and back-bar stock
- Kitchen entrance: Camera at the pass between kitchen and dining room — required by Dubai Municipality
- Outdoor terrace (if applicable): Weatherproof cameras for outdoor dining areas
Note: Cameras inside the kitchen are encouraged by Dubai Municipality for food safety compliance monitoring but are not mandatory under SIRA.
Recommended CCTV System for Dubai Restaurants
Small Café or Quick Service Restaurant (up to 30 seats)
- 4–6 cameras total
- 2x 4MP dome cameras for dining area (one at each end)
- 1x 4MP camera at cash desk
- 1x bullet camera at entrance
- 1x camera at kitchen pass
- 8-channel NVR, 2TB storage
- Cost: AED 4,500 – AED 8,000
Mid-Size Restaurant (30–100 seats)
- 8–12 cameras
- Ceiling-mounted fisheye domes for main dining hall sections
- 4MP cameras at each POS terminal
- Outdoor bullet camera for terrace / entrance
- 16-channel NVR, 4TB storage
- Cost: AED 8,000 – AED 18,000
Large Restaurant / Hotel F&B (100+ seats, multiple sections)
- 16–32 cameras covering main dining, private dining rooms, outdoor terrace, bar, POS terminals, and all exits
- 32-channel NVR with 8TB storage for 30-day retention
- Cost: AED 18,000 – AED 50,000
SIRA + Dubai Municipality Compliance for Restaurants
- System must be installed by a SIRA-approved company (Mideatek is fully licensed)
- Minimum 2MP resolution; 4MP recommended for POS and entrance cameras
- 30 days continuous recording — DM inspectors may request footage from any date within this window
- SIRA technical drawings required for new installations
- System must be operational at all times during trading hours
Camera Placement Tips for Restaurants
- Use fisheye cameras in open dining areas: One 12MP fisheye on the ceiling can cover an entire 50-seat dining room. This minimises camera count and keeps the aesthetic clean.
- Avoid obvious camera placement at cash desks: A covert or semi-covert high-res camera at POS terminals is more effective for loss prevention than an obvious dome that staff can avoid.
- Cover all delivery entrances: The back-of-house delivery area is a common point for supplier fraud — always include a camera here.
- Use WDR cameras at entrances: Dubai restaurant entrances have extreme contrast between bright outdoor sunlight and darker interior — Wide Dynamic Range cameras handle this well.
Mideatek has installed CCTV in restaurants across Dubai Marina, Downtown Dubai, JLT, DIFC, Business Bay, Deira, and all other areas. We manage the SIRA approval process completely and deliver a system that satisfies Dubai Municipality inspection requirements. Call +971 54 556 6456 for a free survey — we can typically install within 48 hours of your approval.