How long does a TV commercial take in Dubai? A week-by-week timeline
A realistic week-by-week timeline for a TV commercial in Dubai, from brief to delivery, and what makes it longer.
A single-location corporate or brand film takes three to four weeks at Steer Media, and a TV commercial usually takes longer: plan on about six to eight weeks from brief to delivered master. The extra time goes on casting, a tighter approval process, permits and the broadcast files. Work back from the air date and the plan below shows where the weeks go.
The three to four weeks is our published figure for a single-location film. The commercial timeline here is our planning guidance, built from how our own productions run, not a published statistic. A commercial with several locations, a large cast or a visual-effects load takes longer.
What is the timeline for a TV commercial, week by week?
| Week | Stage | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brief and treatment | Objective, audience, channels and media dates. Concept and treatment drafted and signed off. |
| 2 | Script, storyboard and permits | Script locked, storyboard drawn, locations chosen. The filming permit application goes in as soon as dates and locations are firm. |
| 3 | Pre-production | Casting, wardrobe, props, crew, equipment and a call sheet. Permit approval comes back. |
| 4 | Shoot | One to three shoot days for most single-location commercials. The most expensive days of the project. |
| 5 to 6 | Edit, grade and sound | Assembly, client review rounds, colour grade, music, voiceover and mix. |
| 7 | Versions and clearance | Cutdowns (15, 30 and 60 seconds), Arabic and English versions, subtitles, and any broadcaster review. |
| 8 | Delivery | Final masters in the format each broadcaster or platform requires. |
A single-location commercial with fast approvals can run closer to six weeks. Add a week for each extra location or heavy visual effects, and more for a multi-language set.
Where does the time go?
- 01Approvals.Every sign-off round adds days. One decision-maker, available on set and in the edit, is the biggest single time-saver.
- 02Permits.Dubai Film and TV Commission approval takes from a few days to two weeks and starts before the shoot is fixed. See our filming permit guide.
- 03Casting and talent.Finding the right face, getting agency availability and clearing usage can take a week or more.
- 04Music and voice.Original music and Arabic voiceover need a recording slot. Our Arabic localisation guide covers the voice side.
- 05Broadcast clearance.Television channels review commercials and set their own file specifications. Ask each channel for its lead time when you book airtime, not after the edit.
- 06Post-production.Grade, sound and several versions take longer than most clients expect.
Planning a film?
Tell us what you are making and when. We reply within one working day with a scoped quote.
How can you shorten it?
- 1Start permits early.They are the stage most often left out of a plan.
- 2Name one decision-maker.Others advise, one signs off.
- 3Lock the script before booking the crew.Changes after the shoot cost far more than changes before it.
- 4Plan the cutdowns before the shoot.One shoot gives the 30-second hero and the 15-second and vertical versions.
- 5Book airtime after the master is approved.A fixed media date is the usual source of rushed work, so keep a buffer between delivery and air date.
- 6Consider an AI-assisted routefor stylised concepts. See AI TV commercial production in Dubai, and note the rules on national symbols in our National Day guide.
What if the date is fixed?
Work back from it. A commercial that must air in eight weeks needs a brief this week to run the plan above comfortably, so a late brief means a smaller scope: one location, a small cast and fewer versions. Seasonal peaks such as Ramadan are the other trap, because crews, talent and edit suites book out. Our Ramadan 2027 campaign timeline shows how far ahead to start.
What does it cost?
A TV commercial at Steer Media starts from AED 100,000, and a corporate or brand film from AED 35,000. Price follows crew, shoot days, talent and post-production, not duration. A rush can add cost because crews and edit time have to be moved. Our guide to video production cost in Dubai explains the drivers, and our format comparison helps you decide which film to commission.
Send us your air date, your channels and a budget range. We reply within one working day with a timeline worked back from your date.
Planning a film?
Tell us what you are making and when. We reply within one working day with a scoped quote.
TV commercial timeline questions: how long and how fast.
How long does it take to make a TV commercial in Dubai?
Plan on about six to eight weeks from brief to delivered master. A single-location corporate or brand film takes three to four weeks at Steer Media, and a commercial usually takes longer.
How long do filming permits take in Dubai?
In our experience, from a few days to two weeks, and the application should go in as soon as dates and locations are firm.
Can a TV commercial be made in two weeks?
Only with a very small scope: one location, a small cast, no visual effects and one decision-maker. A rush can raise the price because crews and edit time have to be moved.
What slows down a TV commercial?
Approval rounds, permits, casting, music and voiceover, broadcast clearance and several language versions. The biggest single time-saver is one decision-maker.
When should I book airtime?
After the master is approved, and with a buffer between delivery and the air date. Ask each channel for its clearance lead time when you book.
How much does a TV commercial cost in Dubai?
At Steer Media a TV commercial starts from AED 100,000. The final price follows crew, shoot days, talent and post-production, not the length of the spot.
