Classrooms Are Now Included in Dubai's School CCTV Specification
Dubai schools are being asked to meet an updated SIRA security specification, communicated through KHDA. The headline change: cameras are now specified for inside every classroom — something earlier requirements did not cover. Systems that passed inspection a few years ago may no longer be compliant.
This guide walks through the full 21-point camera specification, the four operational requirements, and the practical steps school operators should take now.
What Changed: Classrooms Are Now Specified
Earlier SIRA specifications for educational establishments focused on entrances, corridors, perimeters, and high-value areas. Interior classroom coverage was not standard. The updated specification adds classrooms at Detection View classification — enough to establish presence and activity, not the higher Identification standard reserved for entry points.
Classroom surveillance touches on pupil and teacher privacy. Schools should communicate thoughtfully with staff and parents about the purpose and positioning of cameras before installation begins.
The Full 21-Point Camera Specification
The specification lists 21 areas, each assigned a required image-quality view class. The complete list, grouped by class:
| Area / Location | Required View Class |
|---|---|
| Entrances of the establishment | Identification |
| Cashier and reception desks | Recognition |
| Washroom entrances | Recognition |
| Entrances to men's changing rooms | Recognition |
| Safes for cash and important documents | Recognition |
| Emergency exit doors on all floors | Observation |
| Elevators, lobbies and stairs | Observation |
| Inside elevators (wide-angle lens, angled to show floor number) | Observation |
| Establishment corridors | Detection |
| Inside classrooms | Detection |
| Laboratories | Detection |
| Waiting halls | Detection |
| Stairs leading to the roof | Detection |
| Inside the clinic room | Detection |
| Designated rooms for people with disabilities | Detection |
| Inside large exhibition halls | Detection |
| The outer wall of the establishment | Detection |
| Storage rooms (file and equipment stores) | Detection |
| The external perimeter | Detection |
| Outdoor play and event areas (sports fields, swimming pools, playgrounds) | Monitoring |
| Vehicle entrances | ANPR (SIRA-approved system) |
Beyond Cameras: Four Operational Requirements
The specification goes beyond camera positions. Four operational items are also required, and schools that have addressed the camera side but not these will still fail inspection:
- 24-hour security guards — manned security presence at all times.
- SIRA-approved system health monitoring service — continuous monitoring that the CCTV system is online. This is commonly overlooked in existing installations and is frequently absent in older systems.
- SIRA-approved communication devices for guards — specified communications equipment, not general-purpose devices.
- SIRA-approved ANPR system at vehicle entrances — a true automatic number plate recognition system, not simply a camera positioned above the gate.
Why "View Class" Is the Detail That Trips Schools Up
Monitoring, Detection, Observation, Recognition, and Identification are not descriptive words — they are defined image-quality standards in the SIRA specification, each requiring a specific pixel density on the target subject at the coverage distance.
- Detection — establishes that someone is present and their general activity
- Observation — sufficient to observe behaviour in detail
- Recognition — sufficient to confirm whether a known individual is present
- Identification — sufficient to identify a person to an evidentiary standard
- Monitoring — wide-area scene monitoring; the lowest density class
A camera's megapixel rating alone is insufficient. A 4MP camera mounted at the wrong distance or angle can deliver Detection-grade image quality in a position where Identification is required. Entrances — specified at Identification class — are where existing school CCTV most often falls short. A standard 2MP dome covering a wide entrance corridor will rarely deliver Identification-grade quality at the distances involved. This is a camera-placement-and-specification problem, not simply a camera-count problem.
What School Operators Should Do Now
- Commission a gap survey against the current specification, not the original design drawings — camera positions from several years ago will not have been assessed against this specification.
- Assess the achieved image class per position, camera by camera — not just whether a camera is present, but whether it delivers the required view class at the target subject.
- Confirm all four operational items — guards, health monitoring service, SIRA-approved comms devices, and a compliant ANPR system at vehicle entrances.
- Plan classroom coverage with the school community in mind — brief staff and parents, and position cameras for Detection (a wide classroom view) rather than intrusive close-up angles.
- Prepare documentation — as-built drawings, camera schedules, and view-class calculations should be ready for inspection. SIRA inspectors will want classification evidence, not just the installed hardware.
Handled well, the updated specification extends Dubai's safeguarding standard into the classroom and demonstrates that a school takes pupil safety seriously. Handled as a last-minute scramble, it becomes expensive remediation. The practical first step is a position-by-position survey against the current 21-point specification — before an inspection, not after.
Mideatek provides free gap surveys for Dubai schools against the current SIRA specification. We are a SIRA-approved installer with experience across educational, commercial, and residential projects. Our survey produces a full documentation package — camera schedules, view-class calculations, and as-built drawings — suitable for SIRA submission. For our full CCTV installation Dubai service, visit our services page.
Call +971 54 556 6456 or submit an enquiry online — we can typically survey within 48 hours of your request.
Frequently Asked Questions — School CCTV Dubai
Do Dubai schools now need CCTV in classrooms?
Yes. Under the updated SIRA specification communicated via KHDA, classrooms are now included at Detection View classification. Previously, interior classroom coverage was not standard in the SIRA school specification.
How many camera positions does the SIRA school specification cover?
21 specified areas, each with a required image view class, plus four operational requirements: 24-hour security guards, a SIRA-approved health monitoring service, SIRA-approved communication devices for guards, and a SIRA-approved ANPR system at vehicle entrances.
What is "view class" in SIRA requirements?
View classes (Monitoring, Detection, Observation, Recognition, Identification) are defined image-quality standards, each requiring a specific pixel density on the target subject at the coverage distance. A camera must be positioned and specified to deliver the required class at the required location — the class must be achieved in practice, not just specified on paper.
Can Mideatek survey our school for compliance?
Yes. We are a SIRA-approved installer and provide position-by-position gap surveys against the current specification, with full documentation including camera schedules and view-class calculations. Free site survey — call +971 54 556 6456.