The deposit: where your money is and when it comes back
A deposit is not a payment and not our revenue. It is an amount frozen for the rental period and returned to you once we have checked the equipment. Here is exactly how it works — no small print.
Why we ask for it
A camera leaves our shelf in your hands, and its value runs into tens of thousands of dirhams. A deposit is neither a penalty nor an insurance policy: it is what lets us hand over expensive gear without paperwork and keep the rental price low.
Two ways — your choice
A hold on your card
60%of the kit's replacement value, minimum AED 300
- Your bank freezes the amount instead of transferring it — the money stays yours.
- Cash or a bank transfer at pickup works too.
- Released within 24 hours of the equipment check; your bank shows it back in 1–5 business days.
- Above AED 15000 a card usually will not hold the amount — then the second option applies.
Passport for safekeeping + repair deposit
10%repair deposit of the replacement value, minimum AED 300
- Your international passport stays with us at your own written request — your choice, not our requirement.
- It is kept in a safe and returned on first request, at any moment.
- You get a numbered receipt; the second copy stays with us.
- We do not accept an Emirates ID or a driving licence.
How it goes
When we retain part of it
Only for a documented reason and only with a calculation we show you. The remainder always comes back.
Frequent questions
Is the money taken from my card?
No. Your bank reserves the amount: it shows up as a hold, but it stays in your account and is never transferred to us.
When is the hold released?
We release it within 24 hours of the equipment check. After that it is up to your bank — usually 1–5 business days.
Can I take my passport back before the rental ends?
Yes, on first request, at any moment. A passport is voluntary safekeeping at your request, not a pledge: we may not hold it against a debt and we will not.
Why am I not offered a money deposit?
Either the amount is above the card limit (AED 15000), or the kit includes items we release only against a passport or with our technician on set.
Is VAT charged on the deposit?
No. A refundable deposit is not a payment for a service and stays outside the tax base. VAT applies to the rental fee only.
Can I pay the deposit in cash?
Yes. We accept cash or a transfer at pickup and return it the same way after the equipment check.
Your rights
- Your passport comes back on first request — no conditions, no explanation needed.
- You receive a numbered receipt for the document; the second copy stays with us.
- Any retention comes with a document, a calculation and an explanation; the rest is refunded.
- We release the hold within 24 hours of the check; crediting takes your bank 1–5 business days.
- You see the deposit terms before paying and confirm them explicitly.