The rule: what the midday break covers
The UAE's Occupational Heat Stress Prevention Policy, known as the midday break, returned in 2026 for its 22nd consecutive year. MoHRE's guidance page sets it out in three lines:
- Dates: 15 June to 15 September, every year.
- Hours: 12:30 to 15:00.
- Scope: "All types of work that are carried out under the sun and in open places."
The page does not limit the ban to construction. A camera operator, a gaffer, a runner holding a reflector on a beach or a rooftop is working under the sun in an open place. If those people are employees of a UAE company, the company is the one fined.
Employers must also provide shaded areas, cooling devices, sufficient drinking water and first-aid equipment at work sites, during the ban and whenever permitted outdoor work continues.
The penalties
MoHRE told Khaleej Times in July 2026 that companies face AED 5,000 per worker for breaches, up to AED 50,000 where several workers are involved. A LexisNexis summary of the same report lists what can follow: suspension of the company's file, downgrade in the ministry's tier system, and referral to public prosecution if a worker is injured.
The arithmetic for a typical shoot: a crew of four filming a pool exterior at 13:30 is four workers. That is AED 20,000 in fines for one set-up.
What nobody tells you about summer shoots
- "We have a filming permit" is not a defence we would rely on. MoHRE's list of exempted activities includes "works that require a permit from a relevant government authority", next to asphalt laying and emergency repairs. It does not say whether a film permit from the city commission counts, and we found no MoHRE statement on it. Read it as covering technical works, not content.
- Freelancers and models are a grey zone, the heat is not. The policy is written for employers and workers. Whoever is on contract, a model in a gown on a 41°C beach is at the same physical risk as your crew.
- The weather station is in the shade. Dubai's mean daily maximum is 40.3°C in June, 41.5°C in July and 41.9°C in August. Sand, white stone and car bodies in direct sun are hotter than that.
- Sunset moves 90 minutes. It falls around 19:04 at the start of June and around 17:28 in December. A summer evening slot gives you a longer usable afternoon after 15:00 than people expect.
- Your gear stops before your crew does. Phones are rated to 35°C, most cameras and drones to 40°C. Our heat and sand gear guide covers the shutdowns and lens fog.
Summer call sheet: a template that keeps you legal
This is the day structure we use for a June–September exterior shoot in Dubai. Adjust the times to the sunrise and sunset for your date.
| Time | Block | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05:15 | Call, kit check | Indoors / vehicle | Gear bagged against condensation |
| 05:30–08:30 | Exteriors, first light | Outdoors | Best light and lowest heat of the day |
| 08:30–12:00 | Exteriors in shade or interiors | Shade / AC | Water and cooling breaks every set-up |
| 12:30–15:00 | Interiors only | AC location | Midday break: no outdoor work |
| 15:00–17:30 | Interiors, B-roll indoors | AC | Ground and walls still radiate heat |
| 17:30–19:30 | Exteriors, golden hour and blue hour | Outdoors | Plan the hero shots here |
Two other things go on the call sheet: the address of the nearest hospital, and who on set is responsible for checking on people every 30 minutes.
Heat illness: the signs on set
Emirates Health Services describes heat exhaustion as heavy sweating, headache, muscle cramps, nausea, dizziness or fainting, rapid heartbeat and dark urine. Untreated, it can become heat stroke, which EHS defines as a core body temperature of 40°C or higher.
The Sharjah heat safety code lists the heat stroke signs to watch for: confusion, slurred speech, hot dry or flushed skin, rapid breathing, seizures. It tells employers to treat it as a medical emergency and dial 999.
What to do, from the EHS and DHA guidance:
- Move the person to shade or an air-conditioned space and remove excess clothing.
- Cool them: cold wet cloths on the head, neck and armpits, a fan for airflow.
- Give sips of cool water if they are conscious; no caffeine.
- If symptoms worsen, or do not improve within an hour, get medical help; with confusion or unconsciousness, call emergency services at once.
For prevention, the DHA summer guide recommends loose light-coloured clothing, hats, sunscreen, 8–12 cups of water a day and extra care between 12:00 and 15:00.
Permits still apply
The midday break is a labour rule. It sits on top of the usual shoot rules: a commercial shoot in Dubai needs the city filming permit (see our filming permit guide), and a drone needs its own approvals (see our drone guide). Personal photos with friends on the beach need neither, though the heat advice above still applies.
We plan summer shoots around these hours from the start, so the budget does not include fines or wasted midday hours: video production in Dubai. Special offer: one-off shoots from AED 950.
