Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, has issued a resolution governing the use of cameras by enforcement officers when documenting violations and carrying out judicial judgments, decisions, and orders.
Executive Council Resolution No. 13 of 2026 sets rules for what can be recorded during enforcement procedures, how footage must be stored, and who can access it. Recordings are required to be held in encrypted systems, protected against unauthorised access or tampering, and managed in line with Dubai laws and the standards set by the Dubai Electronic Security Centre. Government entities must maintain a database of authorised users and their access levels.
Officers are permitted to record only for official purposes and within the scope of their authority. Recording is prohibited in places considered highly private, including homes, places of worship, and changing rooms.
People must be informed when recording is taking place. Officers cannot copy, store, or transfer footage to personal devices or unauthorised systems, and are prohibited from using recordings for any personal or unlawful purpose.
The resolution also covers training requirements. Government entities must train enforcement officers before granting them judicial enforcement powers. The training must cover how to apply the resolution, document violations and enforcement actions, handle recordings securely, and understand the legal and ethical responsibilities tied to camera use, with particular attention to privacy.
Private companies contracted by government entities to carry out statutory functions are also subject to the resolution’s obligations. Footage must be stored electronically by the government entity, kept confidential under Dubai Electronic Security Centre rules, and may only be shared or accessed with written approval and for specified purposes.
The resolution takes effect from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
