How to Get GRA CCTV Approval in Ras Al Khaimah: Step-by-Step Application Guide (2026)
Short answer: In Ras Al Khaimah, CCTV approval is not a form the shop owner downloads. Your GRA-approved integrator confirms your facility category, surveys the site, prepares the design (camera layout, camera schedule, storage calculation), submits it through the GRA Hemaya system, installs exactly what was approved, and walks the premises through inspection — after which the facility receives its Hemaya certificate, which trade-licence renewal often depends on. Start at least a month before you need the certificate, because approval timelines are set by the authority, not the installer.
Most businesses in RAK must run CCTV built to the official Technical & Security Requirements & Specifications for HEMAYA System (Version 4.1). The companion guide — GRA CCTV Requirements in Ras Al Khaimah — explains what the system must be. This guide is the other half: how the approval journey actually runs, who does what at each step, and what tends to go wrong — written from the installer's side of the desk. RADON COMPUTER is a GRA-approved CCTV integrator in Al Nakheel, listed on the official GRA list of approved integrators.
Do you need approval at all?
| Facility | Approval needed? |
|---|---|
| Businesses in Categories 1–7 (government, banks, hotels, shops, salons, clinics, factories, construction sites…) | Yes — a valid Hemaya certificate, often required to issue or renew the trade licence |
| Private villas and homes | Generally not obliged to hold a Hemaya certificate, but many owners install professional CCTV anyway |
| Not sure which category you fall under | Ask GRA before buying anything — equipment bought for the wrong category cannot be submitted |
If you are unsure, confirm your category with GRA (+971 7 235 7779, [email protected]) or with an approved integrator before purchasing cameras. Category mistakes are the most expensive kind, because only equipment matching the approved design can be installed.
What you need before the application
| Item | Who prepares it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Facility category (1–7) | Confirmed with GRA / the integrator | The category decides the entire technical specification |
| Site survey | The integrator | Camera positions, entrances, heights, lighting, cabling routes |
| AutoCAD camera layout (A4 landscape, cameras numbered outside-in, facility coordinates) | The integrator | This drawing is part of the submission and the inspection reference |
| Camera schedule + storage calculation for the full retention period | The integrator | 90 days for most categories, 30 for construction sites |
| Bill of Quantities with exact brands and models | The integrator | Only the approved equipment may be installed |
| Your trade licence details and contact information | You | The certificate is tied to the facility |
Government fees are separate from the installation cost and are confirmed at submission — the authority sets them, not the installer.
The application, step by step
| Step | What happens | What you do | What you have at the end |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Choose an approved integrator | Verify the provider is on the current GRA list — approvals are emirate-specific | Check the GRA integrators list yourself | A provider who can legally submit and install |
| 2. Confirm your category | Categories 1–7 carry different requirements | Answer the integrator's questions about your activity | The specification that applies to you |
| 3. Survey and design | Site survey, camera layout, camera schedule, storage calculation, Bill of Quantities | Give access to the site; approve the design | A design ready for submission |
| 4. Submission | The integrator submits through the GRA Hemaya system | Confirm your details are correct | Approval of the design |
| 5. Installation | Only the approved design and equipment are installed — no substitutions | Schedule the works | A system that matches the approved drawings |
| 6. Inspection and certification | Image quality, recording, retention and search functions are demonstrated | Be reachable for the inspection date | Your Hemaya certificate |
| 7. Maintenance and renewal | Annual maintenance contract, technical support log, service records | Sign the mandatory AMC; keep records | A file that renews without drama |
Two obligations sit permanently with the facility owner after certification: the annual maintenance contract (mandatory under Version 4.1) and keeping the system recording continuously for the full retention period.
Why applications and inspections fail
- The installation does not match the approved design — a camera moved, a model substituted, a camera added "just one more".
- Storage cannot hold the full 90-day retention because the calculation was never done, only guessed.
- Faces at the entrance are not identifiable — a camera facing bright glass without true WDR, or mounted above 2.5 m.
- Infrared-only night images where the specification requires full-colour.
- No UPS, or one that cannot run the system for 30 minutes.
- Missing signage, records or maintenance contract at inspection time.
- A camera or disk failed and nobody noticed, breaking continuous recording before the inspection.
Every one of these is avoidable at the design stage — which is exactly why the cheap quote that skips the survey costs more later. The Hemaya compliance checklist covers the full pre-inspection walk-through.
Certificate renewal — start a month early
An expired Hemaya certificate is typically the first thing that blocks a business's other government renewals: the trade licence cannot be renewed while the certificate is lapsed.
- A grace period of 30 days from expiry generally applies, but it is subject to approval and is not automatic — staying inside the window does not remove the penalty risk.
- The safe approach is to renew before the expiry date, starting at least a month ahead.
- Before applying, audit the system first: every camera working, playback verified on random dates, storage genuinely covering the retention period, AMC records in order.
Renewal readiness is one of the main reasons the maintenance contract is mandatory — a maintained system renews in days; a neglected one re-opens the whole inspection. See CCTV AMC plans in RAK.
Special case: construction sites (Category 7)
On sites under construction the obligation falls on the contractor, not the landowner. Coverage must run from the beginning of works and throughout the build, with 30-day retention, reinforced pole mounts, plate-number capture day and night, solar power and secure 4G remote access. Details and pole/mounting specifications: construction site CCTV in RAK.
What to budget
As an indicative starting point, not a quotation:
| System | Indicative range |
|---|---|
| Basic 4-camera system, small shop | From AED 1,500 – 2,500 |
| GRA-approved 8–16 camera system, warehouse or hotel | AED 4,000 – 12,000+ |
Government fees and any civil or electrical works are separate. For the full cost picture see how much CCTV installation costs in RAK — and before signing with anyone, run the seven checks in how to choose a CCTV company in RAK.
Frequently asked questions
Can I submit the GRA application myself without an integrator?
For regulated premises, the design must be prepared and submitted by a provider approved by RAK Police and GRA, and installation must match that approved design. A company that tells you "you can do the approval yourself" is a red flag — it usually means they are not currently approved.
How long does GRA CCTV approval take?
Timelines are set by the authority, not the installer — plan at least a month ahead of when you need the certificate, longer for large or high-category sites. A complete, accurate submission is the fastest path; rejected designs restart the clock.
Does my small shop really need this?
Most commercial premises in Categories 1–7 do — and the Hemaya certificate is commonly required to issue or renew the trade licence. If you are genuinely unsure whether your activity is in scope, ask GRA before buying equipment.
My certificate expired — what now?
Contact an approved integrator immediately. Renewal inside the 30-day grace window may be possible but is not automatic, and the trade licence stays blocked while the certificate is lapsed. Expect a system audit before renewal is granted.
Official sources
- GRA protection-system regulation guide (PDF)
- Hemaya technical specification Version 4.1 (PDF)
- GRA list of approved integrators
- General Resources Authority: +971 7 235 7779 · [email protected]
Get the certificate without the runaround
RADON COMPUTER is a GRA-approved CCTV integrator in Al Nakheel, Ras Al Khaimah. We confirm your category, survey your site, prepare and submit the Hemaya design, install to the approved drawings and stay with you through inspection, renewal and the mandatory maintenance contract.
Book a free site inspection or WhatsApp us on +971 56 566 5529 — we will tell you honestly which category applies and what your approval realistically needs.