Dubai: Parents and visitors at Dubai private schools are being reminded not to take photographs or videos on school premises if other students or staff could be captured without appropriate consent.
The guidance reflects a growing focus on protecting children’s privacy and controlling how their images are recorded and shared in digital spaces.
Rules Apply Across School Campuses
A recent circular issued to parents at a Dubai school asks families and visitors to avoid taking photographs or videos where other students or staff may be identifiable without consent.
The guidance applies beyond classrooms and includes corridors, playgrounds, assemblies and drop-off and pick-up areas.
Parents have also been asked not to share photographs or videos showing other students on social media, WhatsApp groups or other digital platforms without the necessary consent.
Why Children’s Photos Are a Privacy Concern
The guidance refers to the UAE’s Federal Decree Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data, which generally requires consent for the processing of personal data, subject to specific legal exceptions.
The law establishes requirements concerning the confidentiality, security and privacy of personal data. Dubai’s private-school regulatory framework also requires schools to safeguard student rights and take appropriate measures to protect them.
Current school protocols recognise photography as a privacy issue, particularly when students are photographed in vulnerable situations.
As a result, even a family photograph can create concerns if another child is clearly identifiable in the background and the image is later shared beyond the family.
Schools to Provide Designated Photo Opportunities
The guidance does not prevent parents from photographing their own children altogether. Instead, schools are expected to provide designated opportunities and clear instructions on when and where photography is permitted.
Official school photography will continue under established consent and safeguarding procedures.
This is particularly relevant during concerts, assemblies, sports days and other school events. Being allowed to attend an event does not automatically mean parents can photograph or record every child present.
Dubai schools already commonly have photography and videography policies that require consent for the use of children’s images and place controls on recording and sharing content from school events.
The latest reminder encourages parents to follow each school’s specific arrangements to protect students’ privacy while still allowing families to capture important milestones.
