Every entry point
Gates, front and back doors, shutters and garage doors. A clear face at the door is worth more than a wide shot of an empty room.
How Many CCTV Cameras Do I Need?
A simple way to plan your cameras by property type, with the spots that matter most and the mistakes that leave gaps.
Planning Guide
Start with what you need to see
The right number of cameras is not about covering every wall. It is about clearly recording every way in and out, plus the places where something valuable happens, such as a cash counter, a stockroom or a parked car. List those spots first, then choose a camera for each. The numbers below are typical starting points for properties in Dubai and the UAE.
Typical Numbers
Cameras needed by property type
| Property | Typical cameras | Main spots to cover |
|---|---|---|
| Studio or 1-bed apartment | 1 – 3 | Front door, living area, balcony |
| 2 to 3-bed apartment | 2 – 4 | Front door, hallway, living area, balcony |
| Townhouse | 4 – 8 | Gate, front door, back door, garden, parking |
| Villa | 8 – 16 | Gate, driveway, every entrance, each side of the house, garden, pool |
| Small shop | 4 – 8 | Entrance, counter and till, aisles, stockroom |
| Office (per floor) | 4 – 12 | Entrances, reception, corridors, server room |
| Warehouse | 8 – 32 | Loading bays, gates, racking aisles, yard, perimeter |
Typical starting points. Large plots, extra floors and long boundaries need more cameras.
Placement
Where cameras matter most
Parking and driveways
Use a higher resolution camera where you need to read number plates, and add night vision for dark corners.
Valuables and cash
Counters, tills, stockrooms and server rooms. Mount the camera above and slightly in front of where people stand.
Dome or bullet?
Dome cameras suit indoor ceilings and are harder to knock out of position. Bullet cameras suit outdoor walls and long views.
Avoid These
Common planning mistakes
The most common gaps we see are cameras pointed into strong sunlight at the gate, wide-angle cameras placed too far away to identify a face, no camera on the back door or roof access, and recorders with too little storage, which overwrite footage before anyone notices a problem.
Commercial premises in Dubai are covered by Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA) rules on camera coverage and recording, so check what applies to your business. In apartments, keep cameras inside your own unit and ask building management about shared areas.
FAQ
Camera planning, answered
How many CCTV cameras do I need for a villa?
Most villas in the UAE need between 8 and 16 cameras: the gate, the driveway, each entrance, each side of the house and the garden or pool area. Larger plots and multi-storey villas need more.
How many cameras do I need for an apartment?
Usually 1 to 4. Most people cover the front door from inside, the main hallway or living area and the balcony.
How many cameras does a small shop need?
Typically 4 to 8: the entrance, the counter and till, the main aisles and the stockroom. A camera over the till should show both the customer and the cash drawer.
Is one 360-degree camera enough for a room?
It can cover an open room, but the detail at the edges is lower. For entrances and counters, a fixed camera pointed at the spot gives a clearer image.
Can you plan the cameras for me?
Yes. Send us a floor plan or a few photos on WhatsApp and we will suggest how many cameras you need and where to put them.
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Not sure how many cameras you need?
Send us a floor plan or a few photos and we will send back a camera plan for your home or business.