Choosing a CCTV camera for a home or business in Dubai involves more than comparing resolution, night vision, and price. For premises that must follow Dubai’s security requirements, you also need to confirm whether the equipment is suitable for the approved security system.
The SIRA approved camera list is an important resource for businesses, security contractors, facility managers, and property owners planning CCTV installations in Dubai. It helps users identify camera models recorded in the official list rather than relying on a brand name or a seller’s claim.
In this guide, we explain how to use the SIRA approved camera list, verify the exact camera model, understand equipment certification, and avoid common mistakes when purchasing CCTV cameras for regulated projects.
The SIRA approved camera list is an official document published by Dubai’s Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA) that identifies camera equipment and its approval details.
The official PDF includes fields such as the company name, brand, model or version, and certificate number. The published entries include equipment from manufacturers and brands such as Axis, Watchnet, CP Plus, Hikvision, Dahua, Pelco, Honeywell, and others. However, this does not mean every model from these brands is approved. The exact model must be checked. View the official SIRA camera list.
For this reason, the SIRA approved camera list should be checked before confirming the camera order for an applicable commercial or regulated CCTV project.
Where Can You Find the Official SIRA Approved Camera List?
The safest approach is to obtain the document directly from the official SIRA website rather than relying on an old PDF shared by a supplier.
Use these official resources:
SIRA Approved Camera List (PDF) — check the camera models, brands, companies, and certificate numbers.
SIRA Security Equipment and Devices Certification — understand SIRA’s equipment approval process.
SIRA Security Plans Certification — review the security-plan process for applicable facilities.
Before purchasing equipment, revisit the official source to confirm that you are using the latest available document.
How to Check SIRA Approved Camera Models
If a supplier gives you a camera model number, follow these steps to check it against the SIRA approved camera list.
Step 1: Obtain the complete model number
Ask the supplier for the manufacturer’s complete model number and version. Similar models can have different suffixes or specifications, so the brand name alone is insufficient.
Step 2: Search the official PDF
Open the official camera list and use the PDF search function to locate the model number.
Step 3: Compare the details
Check the following fields:
Manufacturer or company name
Brand
Exact model or version
SIRA certificate number
The details should match the device you intend to purchase.
Step 4: Ask for supporting evidence
Request the relevant certificate or approval reference from the supplier or installation company. If the details are unclear, confirm them with SIRA or through an appropriately licensed security service provider.
This process is the practical way to check SIRA camera approval without relying only on advertising or verbal confirmation.
Does SIRA Approve Entire Brands or Individual Camera Models?
This is one of the most important points when using the SIRA approved camera list.
A manufacturer may produce many different camera types, including dome cameras, bullet cameras, PTZ cameras, and specialized models. Finding one model from a brand in the official list does not automatically confirm that every other model from that manufacturer is approved.
For example, a supplier might offer a newer camera with higher resolution or better night vision than a listed model. Those improvements do not, by themselves, establish SIRA approval.
Always match the exact model and version before placing an order.
What Is the Difference Between SIRA Approved Cameras and SIRA Approved CCTV Equipment?
The SIRA approved camera list specifically concerns camera models. A complete surveillance installation may involve additional equipment, including recording devices and other security components.
SIRA’s equipment certification service separately identifies cameras and recorders among the device categories for which technical documentation and a device sample may be required. The service also states that equipment must comply with the applicable specifications and that applications are submitted through the required process.
When planning a project, therefore, do not assume that checking the camera alone confirms that the entire CCTV system meets the applicable requirements.
Confirm the status of other required equipment with the security contractor responsible for the project.
What Camera Specifications Should You Check?
Even when a model appears in the SIRA approved camera list, its suitability for a particular site still needs to be evaluated.
Consider:
Resolution: Does the camera meet the technical requirements that apply to the project?
Night vision: Can it provide usable images in the site’s lighting conditions?
Weather resistance: Is the camera suitable for the intended outdoor location?
Wide Dynamic Range (WDR): Is it appropriate for entrances, windows, and other areas with strong or changing light?
Lens and viewing angle: Does it cover the necessary area without creating avoidable blind spots?
Recording compatibility: Will the camera work with the proposed recorder and system configuration?
SIRA’s published technical specifications include detailed camera requirements for analogue systems, covering subjects such as resolution, weather protection, lighting, and camera placement. The applicable requirements should be checked against the actual project and system type.
Does a SIRA Approved Camera Automatically Make a CCTV Installation Compliant?
No. Checking the SIRA approved camera list is only one part of the process.
For applicable facilities in Dubai, the security system may also need an approved security plan, installation by an appropriately licensed provider, and the required security certification and audit.
SIRA’s official security-plan service identifies documents such as the trade licence, planning map, and project plans for camera and alarm system applications. Its new security-system certification process also identifies an approved security plan and a successful security audit report among the required documents for applicable categories.
This is why selecting equipment should be coordinated with the approved system design rather than treated as a separate purchasing decision.
How to Choose SIRA Approved CCTV Companies in Dubai
When selecting a CCTV installation company, verify its relevant licensing and experience instead of relying only on the phrase “SIRA approved.”
Ask the company:
Can you verify the exact camera models against the official SIRA list?
Will you provide the relevant equipment approval references?
Is the proposed recorder suitable for the system?
Will you handle the security-plan process where required?
Does the quotation include installation, configuration, testing, and handover?
Who will manage the required certification and audit steps?
A dependable provider should explain the approval process and provide clear equipment details before installation begins.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Checking the SIRA Approved Camera List
Avoid these common purchasing mistakes:
Assuming every camera from a recognised brand is approved.
Checking the brand but not the exact model number.
Using an outdated camera-list PDF.
Accepting a supplier’s claim without supporting evidence.
Assuming camera approval automatically approves the recorder.
Buying equipment before confirming the project’s requirements.
Assuming camera approval alone makes the complete installation compliant.
A few checks before ordering can help reduce delays, incompatible equipment, and unnecessary replacement costs.
Final Takeaway
The SIRA approved camera list is a useful starting point when selecting CCTV equipment for applicable projects in Dubai. Check the exact manufacturer, brand, model or version, and certificate details against the official document, and confirm any uncertainties before purchasing.
Remember that choosing a listed camera is only one part of a compliant CCTV project. Equipment selection, system design, installation, security planning, and any required certification must also be addressed according to the premises and applicable SIRA requirements.
For businesses and property owners, the safest approach is to verify first, purchase second, and coordinate the installation with a properly licensed security service provider.
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Afsal, SEO Content Writer at CCTV Service Dubai
Afsal writes the guides, cost breakdowns, and compliance explainers published on CCTV Service Dubai. His work covers CCTV camera installation, security system planning, and regulatory requirements across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and the wider UAE, researched and written in close collaboration with the company’s installation and compliance team to keep every article accurate and current.
With a background in SEO and digital content across multiple UAE-based businesses, Afsal focuses on turning technical, regulation-heavy topics — ADMCC and SIRA requirements, camera specifications, storage and retention rules, installation costs — into guides that are actually useful for someone trying to make a decision, not just technically correct.
What Afsal Covers
CCTV camera installation guides for Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah
ADMCC and SIRA compliance explainers
CCTV system costs, camera types, and equipment comparisons
Security camera maintenance and best practices
Buying guides for businesses choosing an installation company
How This Content Is Put Together
Every guide is developed alongside CCTV Service Dubai’s installation team, who bring the hands-on project experience — 5+ years in the field and 500+ completed installations across the UAE. Afsal’s role is to research, verify, and write that experience into guides that are clear, accurate, and genuinely helpful, rather than generic content pulled from unrelated sources.
