How much does video production cost in Egypt?
By Nancy Reda
Published 2026-10-05 · Updated 2026-10-05
What drives the cost of a video?
Most clients ask for "سعر تصوير اعلان", the price to shoot an ad. The honest answer is that eight things decide the price.
| What it covers | How it moves the price | |
|---|---|---|
| Crew | Director, camera, light, sound, producer, art, makeup | More people per day means higher daily cost |
| Shoot days | Number of days and hours on set | Usually the biggest multiplier |
| Locations | Studio, home, office, street, mall | Rental fees, travel and setup time |
| Talent | Actors, creators, voiceover artists | Fee plus usage rights by country and duration |
| Equipment | Cameras, lenses, lights, drone, gimbal | Cinema gear costs more than phone setups |
| Post production | Editing, colour, sound mix, motion graphics, subtitles | More versions and effects take more days |
| Music licensing | Rights to use a track in ads | Stock libraries cost less than famous songs |
| Permits | Approvals for public or special locations | Fees plus lead time |
On permits: in Egypt, filming in public spaces needs security clearance from the Ministry of Interior. Archaeological sites need approval from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Scripts may need censorship approval first. For simple commercials, this can take a few weeks (Al Zayat law firm).
Budget tiers: what can you expect?
These are the three tiers we see most.
| Typical setup | Price range (EGP) | |
|---|---|---|
| Social video | Small crew, half day or one day, one or two locations, light editing | EGP 4,500 to 13,500 for a simple video; EGP 18,000 to 90,000 for a full shoot |
| Brand film | Full crew, one to three days, cast talent, colour grading, licensed music | EGP 90,000 to 270,000 |
| TVC | Large crew, director, multiple days and locations, permits, full post production | From about EGP 100,000 to several hundred thousand, quoted per project |
UGC videos, filmed by creators on phones, sit below the social tier. See our guide on what UGC is and how it is priced.
Why cost per cutdown matters more than total cost
A cutdown is a shorter edit made from the same footage. One shoot can feed many ads.
Platforms reward variety. TikTok suggests 3 to 5 different creatives per ad group, and refreshing creatives when results start to decline (TikTok Business Help Center). One video is never enough for paid media.
Simple math
If a shoot costs X and gives you one video, each ad costs X. If the same shoot is planned well and gives 20 cutdowns, each ad costs about X divided by 20, plus extra editing time.
For a leading Egyptian fintech app, we produced 25 need based cutdowns. Each one spoke to a single user need, like sending money or paying a bill. This let the media team match the right message to the right audience without new shoots.
How does video production cost compare in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE?
- Egypt: crew and studio costs are usually lower, which is why many regional brands shoot in Cairo.
- Saudi Arabia: brands often need Saudi talent and Saudi locations to feel local, which can add travel and casting cost.
- UAE: in Dubai, ads for TV and online need a permit from the Dubai Film and TV Commission. Standard approval takes about 2 to 5 working days, and up to 10 for sensitive places like malls or hotels (Filming Portal UAE).
A common plan: shoot core footage in Cairo, then add local talent or voiceovers per Gulf market. For reference, a social shoot day costs about SAR 3,000 to 8,000 in Saudi Arabia and AED 3,000 to 8,000 in the UAE, and a TVC SAR 40,000 to 150,000 or AED 25,000 to 100,000+.
How to lower your video budget without hurting quality
- Write one shot list for all deliverables before the shoot.
- Shoot vertical first if most of your spend is on TikTok and Reels.
- Group scenes by location to cut setup time.
- Use one or two strong locations, not five average ones.
- Record extra hooks on set. They cost minutes now and save a reshoot later.
- Use licensed library music instead of famous songs.
- Agree on revision rounds up front.
How we budget a shoot at OneKind
We start from the media plan, not the camera. We ask how many ads the campaign needs each month, then plan the shoot to deliver them.
- List the user needs or doubts each ad must answer.
- Turn each one into a script with two or three hooks.
- Build one shot list that covers all of them.
- Quote clearly by line: crew, days, talent, locations, post, music, permits.
- Deliver in 9:16, 4:5 and 16:9 so one shoot covers every placement.
Wyzowl's 2026 survey found 82% of marketers say video gives them a good return. In our experience, that return depends far more on the number of strong versions you can test than on how expensive one version looks.
Related guides
How do you choose a video production company?
Sources
Al Zayat law firm: Film shooting permits and public space rules in Egypt
Filming Portal UAE: How to get a filming permit in Dubai
TikTok Business Help Center: Creative best practices for performance ads
Wyzowl: Video Marketing Statistics 2026
Rentman: 8 things to include in a video production quote
Udjat Agency, Marketing agency prices in Egypt (2026)
Fast Production, Video production cost in Saudi Arabia (2026)
FAQ
How much does it cost to shoot an ad in Egypt?
It depends on crew, days, talent and post production. A simple social video costs about EGP 4,500 to 13,500, a full social shoot EGP 18,000 to 90,000, and a TVC costs much more.
Why do two quotes for the same video differ so much?
Usually because of crew size, number of shoot days, gear, and what is included in post production and music rights. Ask for a line by line quote to compare fairly.
Is it cheaper to shoot in Egypt than in the Gulf?
Usually yes for crew and studio costs. Many brands shoot in Cairo and add local talent or voiceovers for Saudi and UAE versions.
How many videos can I get from one shoot?
With a good shot list, many. We produced 25 need based cutdowns for one fintech client from planned shoots.
Do I need to pay for music in my ads?
Yes. Music must be licensed for paid ads in the countries and period you plan to run them, or the ad can be muted or rejected.
Get a clear, line by line production quote built around your media plan. Talk to our production team