Live in 4K: what a stream needs to hold up.
4K live streaming is the real-time broadcast of video at 3840 × 2160 pixels to an online audience while an event is happening. It asks more of every stage than a 1080p stream: the cameras, the encoder, the bitrate and an upload connection with room to spare. The picture is only as good as the weakest of those.
We plan and produce 4K live streams for conferences, product launches, exhibitions, corporate announcements and hybrid events in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and across the UAE. One team looks after the cameras, the vision mix, the audio, the graphics and the stream, and records the whole event for editing afterwards.
At a glance
| Service | Live production and 4K streaming (3840 × 2160) of conferences, launches, exhibitions and corporate broadcasts |
| Where | Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and across the UAE |
| Destinations | YouTube, your own website player, an event platform or an internal system. 4K goes to the destinations that accept it and a lower resolution to those that do not |
| Includes | Multi-camera vision mixing, audio, on-screen graphics, real-time 4K encoding, a backup route for the stream and a recording of the full event |
| Also available | A highlight film and short social cutdowns edited from the recording after the event |
| Pricing | Quoted per brief. It depends on the venue, the number of cameras, the length of the stream, the internet connection and the crew. Send the event, the venue and the date for a scoped quote |
What a 4K live stream involves
- Cameras and lenses. 4K cameras and lenses suited to the room, on fixed positions or with operators
- Vision mixing. Switching live between cameras, slides, speakers and remote guests
- Audio. Room microphones, presenters and remote participants mixed into one clean feed
- Graphics. Speaker names, logos and sponsor slides added live
- Encoding. Compressing the 4K picture in real time, in H.264 or H.265 (HEVC), to suit the destination
- Connectivity. A wired line where the venue has one and a second route if it drops
- Recording. A full-quality copy made on site, for editing and the archive
Behind the scenes: Mastercard
A look behind the camera at our live streaming and event coverage for Mastercard: the crew on the floor, the cameras on tripods and the monitors at the live production desk.
Want the same for your event? Get a streaming quote.
Event highlights: Mastercard
Highlights from the Siga Summit on Female Leadership in Sport, Dubai Edition, for Mastercard.
Bandwidth in plain numbers
YouTube publishes recommended bitrates for live encoders. For a 4K stream at 30 frames per second it recommends 42 Mbps with H.264 or 30 Mbps with H.265 or AV1, and for 4K at 60 frames per second it recommends 50 Mbps or 35 Mbps. A common rule of thumb is to have at least 1.5 times the stream bitrate available as upload capacity, so a 30 Mbps stream wants about 45 Mbps of reliable upload. Our guide to 4K live streaming in Dubai has the full table.
4K or 1080p?
Not every event needs 4K. It earns its cost when the picture will be shown on large screens, cropped in editing or kept as a high-quality record. For talks watched mostly on phones, 1080p can be the better choice, and some events do both: 4K recorded on site and a 1080p stream. We compare them in 4K vs 1080p live streaming.
How we plan a live stream
- Brief. What the stream is for, who watches it and where it goes
- Venue check. Power, camera positions, rigging times and the internet connection
- Test. The full chain from camera to destination, tried at the venue at the time of day the event runs
- Rehearsal. The vision mix, audio and graphics run through with the speakers
- Live. The stream goes out and the full event is recorded on site
- After. The recording, a highlight film and cutdowns for social, in the formats you publish
Permits and access in Dubai
Dubai requires a Dubai Film and TV Commission permit for essentially any professional production, and venues and organisers set their own filming rules. We confirm access with the organiser or venue before the day.
Streaming a show with a full control room on site? See our 4K outside broadcast service. Covering the stand and the people rather than streaming? See event video and photography. Choosing a supplier? Read ten questions to ask before you hire. The wider services are on our video production page.
Planning a live event in the UAE?
Send us the event, the venue, the date and where the stream should go. We reply within one working day with a scoped quote.
4K live streaming questions: cost, bandwidth and platforms.
What is 4K live streaming?
4K live streaming is real-time video at 3840 × 2160 pixels sent to an online audience while an event is happening. A 4K frame has four times the pixels of a 1080p frame, so it needs capable cameras, an encoder that can compress it live and a faster, steadier connection.
How much does 4K live streaming cost in Dubai?
It is quoted per brief, because the cost depends on the venue, the number of cameras, the length of the stream, the internet connection, the crew and whether you want a recording and an edit afterwards. Send us the event, the venue and the date and we will scope it within one working day.
How much internet bandwidth does a 4K live stream need?
YouTube recommends 30 to 50 Mbps for a 4K live stream, depending on the codec and the frame rate. Plan for about 1.5 times that as reliable upload capacity, and test it at the venue during the hours of the event.
Which platforms support 4K live streaming?
YouTube accepts 4K live streams. Other platforms differ and change their limits, so we check what each destination accepts and send the highest resolution it supports.
Can you record the event while it is streaming?
Yes. We make a full-quality recording on site while the stream is live, so the event is kept even if the connection drops, and it can be edited into a highlight film and social cutdowns.
Do I need a permit to live stream an event in Dubai?
It depends on the venue, the organiser and whether the footage is for commercial use. Dubai requires a Dubai Film and TV Commission permit for essentially any professional production, and venues and organisers set their own filming rules. We confirm access before the day.
Can you live stream events outside Dubai?
Yes. We work across the UAE, including Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
Get a streaming quote.
Tell us the event, the venue, the date and where the stream should go. We reply to every enquiry within one working day.