Can I turn my apartment into shared housing in Dubai?
You can turn your apartment into shared housing if the building is in an allowed area, with bedrooms of 5 m² per person, the facilities, DCD approval and the DM permit.
The short answer
An apartment can be used as shared housing only if the building is in one of the allowed areas (Dubai Municipality circular, reported by Khaleej Times on 8 October 2026). It must be set up as either individual or family housing, with bedrooms of at least 5 m² per person and a kitchen, bathroom, dining, recreation and laundry facilities. Civil Defence (DCD) approval and the DM shared accommodation permit are required. The owner applies, or a tenant with the owner NOC; the owner NOC is enough.
Official sources: Dubai Municipality · Dubai Civil Defence · Khaleej Times report on the DM circular
Turn my apartment into shared housing: what you need to know
- Allowed areas only: 28 fully and 11 partly allowed areas.
- 5 m² per person: Minimum bedroom area.
- One category: Individual or family, not mixed.
- DCD and DM: Both approvals are required.
What to send us
- Title deed (owner), or tenancy contract with owner NOC (tenant)
- Emirates ID or passport
- Affection plan or site plan
- Existing drawings, if available; we can survey
- Photos of the rooms and facilities
- Trade licence, if a company owns or operates the property
Who does what
From check to permit
The order of the DCD and DM steps can vary; we confirm it for your property.
| Step | Approval route | Guides |
|---|---|---|
| Check the area and category You and us | Confirm the property is in an allowed area, and choose individual or family housing. | Allowed areas |
| Owner NOC (tenants) Owner | A tenant applies with a NOC from the owner. The owner NOC is enough; no other NOC is needed. | Tenants |
| Survey and layout drawings Structural Solutions | Rooms of at least 5 m² per person, plus kitchen, bathroom, dining, recreation and laundry. | Layout drawings |
| Structural check Structural Solutions | Partitions and any added loads are checked by our engineers. | — |
| Civil Defence (DCD) Structural Solutions → DCD | Fire and life safety approval for the shared accommodation. | DCD approval |
| Shared accommodation permit Structural Solutions → Dubai Municipality | The permit to operate the property as shared accommodation. | The permit |
How it works
How it works
1. Check
Area, category and occupancy for your property.
2. Drawings
Survey and layout drawings to the DM rules.
3. Approvals
DCD approval and the DM shared accommodation permit.
4. Operate
Rent the property as permitted shared accommodation.
Questions
More questions about turn my apartment into shared housing
Is Dubai Marina allowed?
No, it is not on the list.
Can a tenant do it?
Yes, with the owner NOC.
Do I need building management approval?
The owner NOC is enough.
How many people can live in it?
Bedroom area divided by 5.
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