Government approvals
Dubai Police and SIRA approvals for security businesses in Dubai
In Dubai, private security is regulated by the Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA). Guarding companies, CCTV and security system installers, security equipment traders and security consultants need a SIRA security licence alongside the trade licence. Dubai Police issues the good conduct certificate that security staff must hold, and runs a small number of its own permits. Caliph handles both.
At a glance Fact sheet
- Security industry regulator
- Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA), Government of Dubai
- Legal basis
- Dubai Law No. 12 of 2016 regulating the security industry
- SIRA approves
- Security companies, security staff, security equipment and the security systems of regulated premises
- Dubai Police issues
- The good conduct (police clearance) certificate and its own permits, such as street closure
- Applies to
- Companies in Dubai, including those licensed by a free zone
- Works alongside
- The trade licence from DET or a Dubai free zone authority
Overview
People often ask for "Dubai Police approval" when they want to open a security company or install cameras. Today that approval comes from SIRA. Law No. 12 of 2016 made SIRA the government body that regulates the security industry in Dubai and placed the Department of Protective Systems under it. SIRA sets the standards, approves the companies and the people, and certifies the systems.
Two groups of businesses deal with SIRA. The first is security service providers, whose own activity is security: general guarding, event security, cash and valuables transport, security consultancy, control rooms, vehicle tracking, security training, and trading or installing security devices. The second is ordinary businesses in sectors that SIRA's rules single out, such as hotels, financial institutions, gold and jewellery shops, shopping centres, warehouses, fuel stations, vehicle rental offices and restaurants. Their premises must have a security system that meets SIRA's manual.
Dubai Police still has a part. Each person who applies for a SIRA security staff card needs a good conduct certificate issued by Dubai Police and addressed to SIRA, and Dubai Police runs its own services for businesses, for example the security check on gold purchases. Caliph works out which body your activity answers to and prepares each application.
What Caliph takes care of
The right body identified
We check your licence activities and tell you whether you need a SIRA security licence, a SIRA system certificate, a Dubai Police service or none of them.
SIRA file tied to the trade licence
SIRA accepts a name reservation with the initial approval receipt, a trade licence or a free zone no-objection letter. We apply with the document that keeps your setup moving.
Staffing requirements explained early
Guarding activities need an assigned security manager, and installation activities need qualified engineers or technicians. You hear this before you hire.
Staff cards and police certificates
We collect each employee's good conduct certificate from Dubai Police and file the SIRA card applications.
Camera certification for your premises
If your shop, restaurant or warehouse is in a regulated sector, we coordinate the installer, the security plan and the audit.
What to have ready
- The trade licence, or the trade name reservation with the initial approval receipt
- A no-objection letter from the free zone, for free zone companies
- Passport and Emirates ID copies of the owners and the manager
- Details of the security manager, consultant, engineers or technicians that your activity requires
- For each security employee: Emirates ID, a residence visa under your company and a Dubai Police good conduct certificate addressed to SIRA
- For a system certificate: the approved security plan and a successful security audit report
- For vehicle tracking devices: the TDRA approval for the device
Requirements differ from one security activity to the next. Your Caliph consultant confirms what applies to you.
How the SIRA security licence works
Confirm the activities
Your consultant matches your services to SIRA's list of security activities and to the activity names used by DET or the free zone.
Start the trade licence
The trade name is reserved and the initial approval is obtained, or the free zone issues its no-objection letter.
Register on SIRA's e-services portal
The company is registered and the new security licence application is filed with all mandatory details.
SIRA issues the security licence
After review and payment SIRA issues the security licence, which allows the trade licence procedure to be completed.
Get your people carded
Managers, supervisors, guards, engineers and technicians complete the SIRA training for their role and receive their staff cards.
Meet the activity requirements
Equipment, vehicles or systems that need SIRA certification are approved before you start work.
Good to know
- You may not carry out a security activity until the security requirements and the licensed staff for that activity are in place.
- A security employee's residence visa must be under the company that applies for the SIRA card, and the profession on the visa has to match the card.
- At public events, guarding and the control of visitor entry and exit must come from a SIRA-licensed provider.
- Cameras, recorders, alarm panels and similar devices are examined by SIRA before they can be used in approved security systems.
Questions people ask
Do I need Dubai Police approval to open a security company in Dubai?
The approval you need is from SIRA, the Security Industry Regulatory Agency. SIRA issues the security licence for guarding, security consultancy, cash transport, security training and security equipment activities. Dubai Police comes in for your staff, who each need a good conduct certificate from Dubai Police addressed to SIRA.
Who approves CCTV installation companies in Dubai?
SIRA does. Installing security devices and equipment is a SIRA security activity, and the company needs security system engineers or technicians who hold SIRA cards. The cameras and recorders it fits also have to be models that SIRA has examined and approved for use in security systems.
Does my shop or restaurant need SIRA approval for its cameras?
It may. SIRA's rules name sectors that must meet its security system requirements, including hotels, financial institutions, gold and jewellery shops, shopping centres, warehouses, fuel stations, vehicle rental offices and restaurants. Those premises obtain a SIRA Security System Certification, based on an approved security plan and a successful audit.
What is a SIRA security staff card?
It is the personal licence SIRA issues to people who work in private security in Dubai, such as security managers, supervisors, guards, cash transport guards, system engineers and technicians. The employer applies for it, and each person completes the SIRA training course for the role.
What does Dubai Police itself issue for businesses?
Dubai Police issues the police clearance certificate, often called a good conduct certificate, which several regulators ask for. Its business services also include a security check on gold purchases and the street closure permit. Your consultant confirms whether any of these apply to you.
Can a free zone company get a SIRA licence?
SIRA's application accepts a no-objection letter from a free zone in place of the mainland name reservation and initial approval, so free zone companies can apply. Whether your zone offers the security activity you want is a separate question, which Caliph checks before you choose where to set up.
- Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA)
- SIRA, new security licence service
- Dubai Police, service catalogue
Reviewed by Caliph Business Solutions on . Rules differ by activity and by authority. Your Caliph consultant confirms what applies to you.
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