SCENE 01 / LOCATION SCOUTING SERVICES
Location Scouting Services
Find perfect filming locations across UAE—from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and beyond.
Finding the right location can make or break a production. That's why we've built a team of skilled scouts who know the UAE inside and out—from the soaring skyscrapers of Dubai Marina to the desert dunes of the Empty Quarter. We handle everything: site research, logistics assessments, permit forms. You tell us what you're looking for, and we'll find it.
Here is how this works in practice. Over the years, we've put together a database of more than 5,000 locations across the emirates. But we don't just hand you a list and wish you luck. Our scouts hit the ground to check each site meets your specific needs, whether that's a traditional Arabian courtyard in Al Fahidi for your period piece or a futuristic Dubai skyline shot for a sci-fi production.
What really sets us apart is our network. We've spent years building relationships with property owners, government authorities, twofour54 in Abu Dhabi, the Dubai Film and TV Commission, and FUNN in Sharjah. When you need to shoot at a location that mostly says no to shoots, we know who to call.
Our Location Scouting Services
Finding the right location can make or break a production. That's why we've built a team of skilled scouts who know the UAE inside and out—from the soaring skyscrapers of Dubai Marina to the desert dunes of the Empty Quarter. We handle everything: site research, logistics assessments, permit forms. You tell us what you're looking for, and we'll find it.
Here is how this works in practice. Over the years, we've put together a database of more than 5,000 locations across the emirates. But we don't just hand you a list and wish you luck. Our scouts hit the ground to check each site meets your specific needs, whether that's a traditional Arabian courtyard in Al Fahidi for your period piece or a futuristic Dubai skyline shot for a sci-fi production.
What really sets us apart is our network. We've spent years building relationships with property owners, government authorities, twofour54 in Abu Dhabi, the Dubai Film and TV Commission, and FUNN in Sharjah. When you need to shoot at a location that mostly says no to shoots, we know who to call.
Comprehensive Location Scouting Solutions
Expert location scouts with intimate knowledge of the UAE's diverse landscapes, urban environments, and cultural sites. Professional location services from initial scouting to production support with permits and logistics coordination.
Urban Locations
- • Modern cityscapes
- • Historic districts
- • Commercial areas
- • Residential neighborhoods
- • Industrial zones
Natural Landscapes
- • Coastal beaches
- • Mountain regions
- • Vineyard settings
- • Forest locations
- • River systems
Cultural Sites
- • Historic forts
- • Traditional architecture
- • Traditional villages
- • Museums
- • Heritage locations
Production Facilities
- • Studio spaces
- • Controlled environments
- • Green screen facilities
- • Equipment storage
- • Crew facilities
How We Work With You
Here's how we typically work with productions. You tell us what you're looking for, we go find it, and we handle all the headaches in between—permits, negotiations, logistics. By the time you show up to shoot, everything's ready.
Requirements Analysis
First things first—we sit down with you to know exactly what you're after. We'll go through your script, look at reference images, talk about budget constraints, and nail down the visual style you're going for. No detail is too small at this stage.
Research & Reconnaissance
Here is how the picture comes together. Our scouts will start their work after we determine what you need. Our team retrieves site options from the database followed by actual inspections at each location. Our team takes photos of each location from different perspectives while we record all key operational details including power availability and parking spaces and site-level conditions and daylight patterns.
Presentation & Selection
We put together a detailed presentation for each shortlisted location. You'll get pro photos, logistical breakdowns, rough costs, and info on what permits we'll need. Most clients find exactly what they want within the first round of options.
Coordination & Securing
Once you've made your choice, we handle the rest. We negotiate fees with property owners, set up access schedules, manage contracts, and secure all needed permits. By the time your crew arrives, everything's sorted and ready to go.
You'll have a single point of contact throughout—someone who knows your project and can give you straight answers when things change. And things always change.
What We Bring to the Table
Years of boots-on-the-ground experience across United Arab Emirates, a database we've built from scratch, and the kind of local connections that take time to develop.
Our Resources
5,000+ Locations On File
We've been building this database for years. Every entry has photos, GPS coordinates, notes on access and power, and info on what time of year works best. It's not just a list—it's institutional knowledge.
On-Site Technical Surveys
Before we recommend anywhere, we check it ourselves. Power capacity, truck access, parking situation, ambient noise—the stuff that matters when you're actually trying to shoot there.
Permit Handling
Emirati bureaucracy can be... Emirati. We deal with the permit applications, the property releases, the back-and-forth with local officials. You shouldn't have to.
Scouting Statistics
Why Choose Fixers in United Arab Emirates for Location Scouting
Local Expertise
Our scouts developed their lives within this location. The locals possess knowledge about all the rural paths which lead to secret gardens and concealed towns that most visitors fail to find. Our local knowledge enables us to give locations which you cannot find elsewhere.'t see in any other production's portfolio.
Complete Documentation
Here is what we have to work with. Each location report we deliver is thorough enough to hand directly to your line producer. The document has tech specs together with permit needs and access routes and info about nearby facilities.'s all there, organized and ready to use.
Rapid Response
At times plans change at the last minute. We get it. That's why we give 48-hour turnaround on location reports and emergency scouting services when you need to pivot fast during production.
Cultural Heritage Access
Here is the layout. Getting permission to film at UNESCO sites, historic forts, or national monuments isn't easy—but we've done it dozens of times. We know the application process, the right contacts, and how to present your project in a way that gets approvals.
On Location
Location scouting in the UAE spans futuristic skylines, heritage districts and the Empty Quarter dune sea, with access coordinated through emirate film commissions in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah.
Here is how this works in practice. We scout locations across all seven emirates, matching a production's creative brief to the UAE's great visual range. Our scouts survey urban backdrops such as the Burj Khalifa skyline, Dubai Marina and the Museum of the Future, heritage settings like the Al Fahidi historic district in old Dubai, cultural landmarks including the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, and natural environments from the Liwa Desert and the Empty Quarter to the Hajar Mountains and Jebel Jais.
Here is the short of it. For each candidate we document access, power openings, parking, sun orientation and ambient noise, and we flag the permit pathway, since filming authorisation runs through the relevant emirate body, the Abu Dhabi Film Commission via twofour54, the Dubai Film and TV Commission or the Ras Al Khaimah Film Commission. We advise on the prime October-to-April shooting window, when trusted sun and mild temperatures make outdoor work practical.
Here is the breakdown. The UAE's screen credits prove the depth of its locations. 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' used the Liwa Desert as the planet Jakku, and 'Dune' and 'Dune: Part Two' built an entire imagined world from the same dune seas. 'Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol' scaled the Burj Khalifa, 'Furious 7' staged its stunt at Abu Dhabi's Etihad Towers, and '6 Underground' ranged across the capital.
Here is what that looks like on the ground. Our scouts know these landmark sites and, just as importantly, the lesser-known alternatives, the quiet wadis, the working souks, the desert tracks, that give a production something distinctive. We set up cultural and heritage clearances for sensitive sites. This includes Al Ain, home to the UAE's only UNESCO World Heritage site, and we present each shortlisted location with the logistical and regulatory detail a line producer needs to plan the shoot.
FAQ
Location Scouting FAQ
Essential information for planning your location scouting project in United Arab Emirates.
How long does location scouting take in United Arab Emirates?
It really depends on what you're looking for. A straightforward commercial shoot? We can mostly turn around options in 2-3 days. Feature films mostly need 1-2 weeks of dedicated scouting to cover all the scenes. Documentaries fall somewhere in between—mostly 3-7 days. And if you're in a bind, we give emergency scouting with 24-48 hour delivery.
What permits are required for filming at Emirati locations?
The specific permit needs depend on your shoot sites location and its dimensions. Local authorities need all public areas to obtain permission for filming through a filming permit. The owners of private sites need to give release forms for their sites. Historical monuments and UNESCO sites have their own application process through cultural affairs offices. We handle all of this for you—it's one of the main reasons shoots hire us.
What are typical location scouting costs in United Arab Emirates?
The cost for basic day-rate scouting operations ranges between $300 and $500 for each day of operation. The firm gives complete packages which combine service for many sites together with records support and permit management help.'re looking at $1,500-$6,000 based on scope. Remote locations add to the cost—figure $800-$2,500 per day for mountain or rural scouting. Permit fees themselves range from $150 to $1,500 based on the site.
Can you scout locations in remote areas of United Arab Emirates?
Here is the short of it. We have several preferred destinations which exist outside of typical tourist areas. We often scout in the Hajar Mountains, along the Arabian Gulf coast, in remote desert areas, and across the interior regions. Our team performs accessibility reviews for distant production locations while we handle gear movement and find suitable housing for crew members working in the area.
How many location options will we receive?
Here is the breakdown. For each scene or setup you need, we mostly present 3-5 vetted options. These aren't just random suggestions—each location we show you has been checked for logistics, permit availability, and budget fit. We'd rather give you fewer, better options than overwhelm you with places that won't actually work.
What documentation do you provide for each location?
Here is what that looks like on the ground. The location packages contain many high-resolution photos taken from different perspectives together with tech survey data about power infrastructure and access points and facility details and logistics info which has parking details and service locations and site restrictions. The system gives site maps together with shooting position recommendations which depend on lighting conditions for all complex locations.
Related Services
Productions in United Arab Emirates that need this often pair it with Local Fixer Services, Production Budgeting Services, and Production Scheduling Services for full coverage. Most projects also draw on Pre-Production Services and Travel Coordinator.
On Set
Ready to Discover Perfect Locations?
Let's find the backdrop your project deserves. Get in touch and tell us what you're looking for—we'll take it from there.