The cost of hiring a licensed bodyguard in Dubai will typically be based on the number of days per person and standard shifts, although additional charges apply for 24-hour coverage, armed bodyguards and secure vehicle and driver. Temporary assignments will also be billed per hour, with a minimum charge per booking. The number of hours covered per day is the most influential element when determining total cost.
| At a glance
Bodyguard cover is priced three ways in Dubai: hourly for short bookings, daily for single-officer cover, and monthly for ongoing protection. Round-the-clock cover is not one bodyguard working longer. It needs a rotating team, which is why the rate rises sharply rather than gradually. SIRA licensing is a real cost input. A quote well below the market floor usually means unlicensed or unvetted personnel. A secure vehicle with a trained security driver is a separate line, not an inclusion. Giving a provider the schedule, the venues and the travel pattern up front is what turns an estimate into an accurate quote. |
How much does a bodyguard cost in Dubai?
More influence is applied to the nature of the assignment than the personal attributes of the bodyguard when determining costs. The chart below outlines the normal structure and associated costs for providing bodyguard services in the Dubai market.
| Type of cover | How it is charged | Typical structure | Indicative range |
| Short event cover | Hourly, with a minimum booking | One officer for a few hours at a single venue | [CONFIRM: Landmark hourly rate and minimum hours] |
| Single officer, standard day | Per day | One officer across a 10 to 12 hour shift | [CONFIRM: Landmark day rate] |
| Single officer, extended day | Per day | One officer with early starts, late finishes or multiple venues | [CONFIRM] |
| Round-the-clock cover | Per day or per month | A rotating team of three or more officers so the principal is never uncovered | [CONFIRM] |
| Cover with secure transport | Per day | Officer plus a trained security driver and vehicle | [CONFIRM: with and without vehicle] |
| Family or residence cover | Per month | Standing cover at a residence plus movements | [CONFIRM] |
Costs in the Dubai market will fluctuate depending on the training level of the officer in question, the risk associated with the job and whether the cover is temporary or ongoing. It is important to note that the above figures are not set in stone and should merely outline the structure in order for providers to be able to give an accurate price.
What a bodyguard day rate normally includes
These should therefore be carefully reviewed to take into account the different pricing structures of providers. A higher quoted figure may very well include what you are going to need regardless.
- Included as standard: One licensed bodyguard for the agreed shift, in the agreed uniform, with a simple threat briefing and a written report.
- Typically a separate line: Advanced work on venues, routing, security driver/vehicle, additional personnel for major operations, and out-of-UAE travel.
- Often forgotten: Overtime over and above the booked shift, holiday surcharges, and days when the officer is required to stand by without being used.
Always ask about the overtime rate before signing. Projects will always go on later than planned, not earlier, and it’s in the overtime rate that the agreed budget will be quietly moved around.
How much does a 24/7 bodyguard cost?
Cover 24 hours a day will cost at least three times what it does per day because the reasoning is simple. One officer cannot cover for 24 hours straight. Around-the-clock coverage requires the work of a rotating team, usually a minimum of three officers, including relief for rest days and vacation. The price you are paying for is the schedule, not for an individual.
For continuous coverage such as this, most suppliers will switch to a monthly retainer, rather than a daily rate, which tends to work out cheaper than booking daily. If you know that you will need coverage for more than two weeks, request monthly rates from the beginning.
In case continuous cover is more than necessary, there are middle-of-the-road solutions to consider. Cover for movements, with the residence being protected by a residential security guard, tends to give almost all of the desired results at a fraction of the cost.
Seven things that move the price
| Factor | Effect on cost | What to tell your provider |
| Hours per day | The single biggest factor | The real start and finish times, including travel at either end |
| Number of officers | Scales directly | How many people are being covered, and whether they split up during the day |
| Armed or unarmed | The cost of armed protection is higher, and there are more strict requirements regarding the license | If the client needs armed protection or not. Usually, such protection is not needed in Dubai |
| Secure transport | A car and a driver are included | Whether the bodyguard should drive the car or you have your own driver |
| Advance work | Includes prep time prior to the task | Places, routes and any public engagements as early as possible |
| Notice period | Last minute notice will command a higher rate | The more lead time the better. Two weeks versus two days will affect the cost |
| Duration | More time booked lowers the daily rate | whether it is a single incident or the beginning of something permanent |
Why the cheapest quote is rarely the cheapest option
Security personnel operating in Dubai should be licensed by the Security Industry Regulatory Agency, which means that the license has its price in terms of training and certification. When the price comes substantially below the market minimum, it may very well mean that the corresponding expense has been omitted somewhere.
The practical aspect is that an officer without a valid individual SIRA license simply cannot operate within your scope of responsibility. Getting this information too late is definitely the last thing you want to happen to you. Before making any comparisons of quotations, please make sure that the personnel suggested by the company have the licenses in question, and find out who is responsible for their renewal. This checklist of the contents of SIRA approval tells you what to expect.
How to brief a provider so the quote is accurate
The majority of the quotations are not precise due to the lack of precision in the requirements. There are just five points that are sufficient for getting an exact quotation.
- Dates and working hours per day.
- The number of people involved, and whether or not they travel together.
- The venues and the general movement pattern, even approximately.
- If a vehicle and a driver are required, or if it’s already available.
- Whether this is one assignment or likely to continue.
Once these five factors are known a provider can quote accurately rather than overcharging to protect themselves from the unknowns. And once you can compare the quotes against one another, because all providers have quoted based on the same assignment.
Since its inception in 2004, Landmark Security has been providing protective services throughout Dubai and beyond, employing SIRA-certified close protection operatives and a team comprising of ex-military and ex-police officers. We quote our services based on the brief, and not according to a set rate card, and we’ll always let you know when continuous protection is more than what your assignment requires.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bodyguard cost per day in Dubai?
For a licensed operative performing their duties on a typical 10 to 12 hour shift, the daily rate is charged, and additional hours, armed security or a secure transport vehicle are all extra. Ask your provider to quote based on your schedule, as nothing influences the price more than the number of hours required each day. [CONFIRM: insert Landmark day rate]
How much does a 24/7 bodyguard cost?
Over three times daily. You need a rotation of at least three officers to ensure continuous cover, and therefore you pay for a whole roster, not an individual. For cover that lasts longer than two weeks, get the monthly retainer rates that usually are more cost-effective.
Do bodyguards in Dubai have to be licensed?
Yes. It is mandatory that close protection officers are licensed by the Security Industry Regulatory Agency, and each officer has his/her card individually in addition to the licence of the agency itself. Ask your provider whether the officers assigned to you have the relevant cards and whose responsibility it is to arrange for them.
How much do bodyguards charge per hour?
Hourly charges are used where you need a protection service for a short period of time like an event or an appearance. In any case, the minimum period will be charged, and the rate per hour is higher compared to the day rate. [CONFIRM: insert Landmark hourly charge and minimum booking period]
Is a secure vehicle included in the price?
Not necessarily. A security driver and a vehicle are usually quoted separately. Let your provider know if you already have a driver because that brings the quote down.
How much notice do I need to give?
Two weeks will allow adequate briefing of the assignment, advance preparation of venues and routes, and selection of officers to the brief. Short notice bookings can still be made.
Get a firm figure
Give us your dates, hours of operation and your movements, and we will provide you with a definitive quotation. You can start by choosing our bodyguard services in Dubai, find out how to get a bodyguard in Dubai, or ask for a quote.
