How to hire an event video and photography company in Dubai: ten questions to ask
Ask what you will receive, by when, in which formats and who arranges access before you ask what it costs. Ten questions that separate suppliers.
To hire an event video and photography company in Dubai, ask for the deliverables, the deadline, the formats, who arranges access and permits, and how the price is built, before you compare quotes. Two quotes with the same total can cover very different things, and the questions below are what show the difference.
Start with what you will publish
Write down where the footage will go before you speak to any supplier: the website, a sales deck, Instagram, LinkedIn, a screen at the next show. The list decides the formats, the length and how many versions you need. A supplier cannot quote well without it, and you cannot compare quotes without it.
Ten questions to ask
Exhibiting at a UAE show?
Tell us the event and the dates. We reply within one working day with a scoped quote.
How the price is built
Event coverage is quoted per brief. It is not priced per minute, because a short film can cost more than a long one. These are the things that move the number.
| What changes the price | Why |
|---|---|
| Number of shoot days | Each day carries a full crew call, whatever is shot in it |
| Crew size | Stills, video, sound and a producer are separate roles |
| Number of deliverables | Every version, length and language adds edit time |
| Edit and finishing | A highlight film, interviews and cutdowns are separate edits |
| Locations and access | More halls, venues or cities mean more time and planning |
Batching lowers the cost per piece. A single reel carries the full cost of a crew call, and a day that produces several shares it, so brief the event for everything you will need.
Where Steer Media fits
Steer Media is one company you can ask these questions of. We work from studios in Dubai and Pakistan, with film, photography and motion graphics in-house, and we cover exhibitions, launches and brand events across the UAE. We quote per brief and reply to every enquiry within one working day. See event video and photography for what we offer, and how much video production costs in Dubai for the wider cost picture.
Exhibiting or hosting an event in the UAE?
Send us the event, the dates and what you want to publish afterwards. We reply within one working day with a scoped quote.
Hiring questions: price, permits and timing.
How much does event videography cost in Dubai?
It is quoted per brief, because the cost comes from shoot days, crew size, the number of deliverables and the edit. It is not priced per minute. A reel starts from AED 1,000 for the shoot alone with Steer Media, and larger coverage is scoped from your brief.
Do I need a permit to film an event in Dubai?
Dubai requires a Dubai Film and TV Commission permit for essentially any professional production, with standard processing of a few days to two weeks, longer if a script needs approval. Exhibition venues and organisers also set their own filming rules, so ask who arranges access before you book.
What should an event video and photography brief include?
The event name and dates, where the footage will be published, the deliverables you want, the deadline, any interviews or speakers to cover, and the organiser contact for access.
How long does event video editing take?
It depends on the number of films and cutdowns. Photography with Steer Media is normally delivered in 5 to 10 working days, and the edit schedule for video is agreed in the brief. If you need clips during the event, say so at the start.
