Ask three CCTV companies in Ajman for a quote on the same shop and you will get three prices that look like they are for three different jobs. Sometimes they are. One quote includes a recorder big enough to keep a month of footage; another quietly keeps a week. One uses cameras you can get serviced anywhere; another uses a brand nobody stocks. The cheapest quote is often the most expensive system you will ever own.
Here are the ten checks we would make if we were choosing a CCTV company in Ajman or comparing CCTV companies in Sharjah ourselves.
1. Approval for your type of premises
Many commercial premises must have CCTV that meets police requirements: Ajman Police in Ajman, Sharjah Police in Sharjah, and SIRA in Dubai. The rules cover where cameras go, image quality and how long footage is kept, and inspectors check them, often at licence renewal.
Ask every company, us included, for the approval document that covers your type of premises, and make sure the system they propose is designed to the rules, not just the price. Our guides explain the requirements: Ajman Police CCTV regulations and Sharjah Police CCTV requirements.
2. An itemised written quote
A real quote lists the camera brand and model numbers, resolution, the recorder and how many channels it has, the hard disk size, cable type and length, mounting, and labour. "8 cameras complete: AED X" is not a quote. It is a promise you cannot check.
3. Retention days calculated, not guessed
How many days of footage you keep depends on the number of cameras, resolution, recording mode and disk size. If your premises must keep a set number of days, ask the company to show the calculation. Running out of storage on day 9 of a 30-day requirement is one of the most common failures we find.
4. Brands that can be serviced locally
Hikvision, Dahua and Uniview, and the brands built on them, have parts and technicians all over the UAE. An unknown brand may be cheaper today and impossible to repair in two years. Ask what happens when a camera fails after the warranty.
5. Warranty in writing, for equipment and for workmanship
Equipment warranty comes from the manufacturer; workmanship warranty (loose connectors, water in a junction box, a badly mounted camera) comes from the installer. Get both in writing, with the period and what is excluded.
6. A site survey before the final price
Good companies walk the site first: where cables can run, where the recorder will sit, how the light changes at night, what needs to be covered for compliance. A final price given over the phone without a visit usually grows later.
7. A proper handover
- The admin password changed from the default and given to you, not kept by the installer.
- The phone app set up for each person who needs it, with their own login.
- A simple layout of camera positions and cable routes.
- A short demonstration of playback and exporting footage, because you will need it the day something happens.
8. Maintenance after installation
Cameras fail quietly. Disks fill or die, dust blinds lenses, summer heat cooks power supplies. Ask whether the company offers an annual maintenance contract, what it includes, and how fast they respond. Our guide to what a CCTV AMC includes and costs covers what to look for.
9. Local technicians and a real response time
"We come fast" is not a response time. Ask where the technicians are based and what they commit to in writing. We are based in Ajman, so faults in Ajman are typically handled the same or next business day, and Sharjah and Dubai visits are scheduled, with priority for maintenance contract customers.
10. Real work and real reviews
Ask for photos of installations the company actually did, not catalogue pictures, and read their recent Google reviews. A company that does tidy work is usually happy to show it.
Red flags
- A price with no model numbers or disk size.
- No site visit, but a "final" price.
- The installer keeps the admin password.
- Cameras pointed at neighbours or public areas they have no reason to cover.
- No written warranty, or "warranty" that only means the manufacturer's.
- Pressure to decide today.
The checklist to take to every quote
- Do you have the approval needed for my type of premises, and can I see it?
- Which camera and recorder models, exactly?
- How many days of recording will I get, and how did you calculate it?
- Can these brands be repaired locally after the warranty?
- What warranty do you give on equipment and on workmanship?
- Will you survey the site before the final price?
- Will I get the admin password and app access for my team?
- Do you offer maintenance, and what is your response time?
- Where are your technicians based?
- Can I see photos of your recent installations and your reviews?
Common questions
Does a home need police approval for CCTV?
The approval rules mainly cover commercial and regulated premises. Homes still have to respect privacy: cover your own property, not your neighbour's. Our home CCTV rules guide explains the details.
How many quotes should I get?
Two or three is enough, as long as you compare like for like. Use the checklist above so each quote answers the same questions.
Is the cheapest quote fine for a small shop?
It can be, if it passes the checklist. A small system built with serviceable brands, enough storage and a proper handover is a good buy. A cheap one that fails inspection or loses footage is not.
Need CCTV camera installation in Ajman or Sharjah? See our CCTV installation service or our CCTV installation in Ajman page.
Call 0585898309 or WhatsApp +971 58 589 8309 and we will answer all ten questions in writing for your site, before you pay anything.
