The 12 Shots Every Dubai Listing Video Needs

By Kamal Abdelrahman, filmmaker and real estate marketing manager, Dubai

Most listing videos have the same problem. Someone walks in, films whatever's in front of them, and gets home to find they've got ten shots of the living room and none of the view.

A shot list fixes that. You don't need to be creative in the moment, because the thinking's already done. Here are the 12 shots I'd want from any Dubai listing, whether you're using a cinema camera or your phone.

The 12 shots

1. The hook. The single best thing about the property: the view, the terrace, the pool. Film this first, and use it first. Don't make people wait for it.

2. Building or community exterior. Where is this? A slow shot of the building, the gate or the street gives people their bearings.

3. The arrival. The lobby, the corridor or the front door opening. It makes the viewer feel they're being brought inside.

4. The living room wide. Shoot from a corner to show the space and how the room connects to everything else.

5. Living room detail. The light on the sofa, a nice finish, the way the room opens out to the balcony. Details make it feel real.

6. The kitchen wide. Show the layout and how it connects to the rest of the home.

7. Kitchen detail. Open a drawer. Show the appliances. A little movement goes a long way.

8. The main bedroom. From the door or a corner, showing the bed, the window and the space around it.

9. The bathroom. Often the hardest room to film. Don't fight it. One clean shot is enough, and keep yourself out of the mirror.

10. The view. Start inside and move toward the window or balcony. This movement from inside to outside is one of the best transitions you've got in Dubai.

11. The lifestyle or amenity. The gym, pool, kids' area, walkway or nearby coffee shop. People aren't only buying rooms. They're buying what's around them.

12. The agent's ending. You on camera with one sentence and a clear next step. This is how people get to know you, and it's the shot most agents skip.

How to film them

Keep the movement slow. Fast walking is the number one reason listing videos feel cheap. Walk at half your normal speed, with soft knees. A gimbal helps, but careful movement helps more.

Keep your lines straight. Vertical walls should look vertical. Crooked lines make a room look wrong even if the viewer can't say why. Hold your camera level and at about chest height.

Don't film into the sun. Morning or late-afternoon light is usually easier to work with. Check the property's direction before you go.

Hold each shot for longer than feels necessary. You want at least five to ten seconds of clean footage. You can always cut it shorter.

Film each key shot twice. If you need both horizontal and vertical versions, film both. A horizontal shot cropped for Reels often loses the room.

Prepare the property first

Ten minutes of preparation will save you from an hour of regret.

• → Turn on every light, or as many as look good
• → Open the curtains
• → Clear the counters and hide cables and bins
• → Close toilet lids
• → Remove personal photos if it's occupied
• → Get the owner's or tenant's permission to film first

Also check any rules with the building's management. Some communities require permission for filming, especially in shared areas.

Put it in the right order

You film in the order that's practical. You edit in the order that keeps people watching. A strong edit might go like this:

• → The hook (shot 1), with one line of text
• → A fast, clean run through the main spaces
• → The view and the lifestyle
• → You, with the next step

Notice that I didn't start with the lobby. The exterior and arrival shots are useful for full tours, but on a Reel, they often come later or get cut altogether.

What to say over it

Don't just list what we can see. "This is the kitchen" adds nothing. Tell people what they can't see. Who is this home good for? What's walking distance? What's the morning light like? What would you tell a friend?

And only say what you know is accurate. Check your details, like sizes, prices and availability, against the listing, and make sure your marketing follows the rules that apply to you.

Use the list

Save these 12 shots on your phone and tick them off as you go. You'll be faster within a few listings, and you'll stop coming home with gaps. As Kamal Abdelrahman, I've worked in-house at a Dubai brokerage for 3+ years, and consistent basics win over one fancy shot nearly every time.

I go deeper on all of this in my free course for agents on Content Academy.

Next listing: screenshot this list before you leave for the viewing, and film all 12.

Looking for this kind of work? See real estate video in Dubai.