Are partition rooms allowed in Dubai?
Only as part of approved shared housing: partition rooms must be designed, checked and approved with the DM permit and DCD.
The short answer
Partition rooms built to squeeze in more people are a common violation. Under the DM rules (Dubai Municipality circular, reported by Khaleej Times on 8 October 2026), every bedroom in shared housing needs at least 5 m² per person, and the layout needs DCD approval for fire safety. A partition can be part of an approved layout, if designed, structurally checked and approved. Unapproved partitions and overcrowding risk fines from AED 500 to AED 500,000.
Official sources: Dubai Municipality · Dubai Civil Defence · Khaleej Times report on the DM circular
Partition rooms: 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 partition rooms
Can I add partitions to my apartment?
Only within an approved shared housing layout.
Do partitions need DCD?
Yes, they change the fire safety layout.
Do partitions need a structural check?
We check them.
What if partitions already exist?
Regularise them by 8 September 2027.
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