Can I Open Up Walls Inside My Emirates Hills Villa?
Can I Open Up Walls Inside My Emirates Hills Villa? Often, yes, including the wall between living and dining or the kitchen, after a structural check. Load-bearing walls need a new beam, an Emaar NOC and a Dubai Municipality permit.
The short answer
Many owners want an open-plan living, dining and kitchen area. Some internal walls are partitions and can be removed with an Emaar NOC; others carry the floor or roof above and need a beam designed by an engineer, stamped calculations and a Dubai Municipality permit. We check which walls are load-bearing from the as-built plans and on site before anything is removed. If a column is in the way, it can sometimes be removed too, with an alternative structural design.
What we check first
- Plot and setbacks: where an extension, pergola or pool can go on your plot.
- Structure: walls, slabs, columns and foundations before any opening or new load.
- Existing floor area: measured from the approved plans and on site.
- Unapproved works: older changes are surveyed and approved before new works.
Documents you will need
- Photos of the villa and the area you want to change
- Villa and plot number in Emirates Hills
- Title deed and owner ID
- A sketch or short description of the idea
- Approved villa plans, if you have them
Who does what
The approval route in Emirates Hills
Emirates Hills is part of Emirates Living: Emaar first, then Dubai Municipality. We confirm the exact route for your villa.
| Step | Approval route | Guides |
|---|---|---|
| Design Structural Solutions | Site check, drawings and stamped structural calculations, using the approved plans or a site survey. | — |
| Emaar NOC Emaar Community Management | NOC through the Emaar Community Portal. Emaar reviews the design and confirms its fees. | Emaar extension fees |
| Permit Dubai Municipality | Building permit for structural works and added floor area, submitted by an approved consultant. | — |
| Inspections Emaar and Dubai Municipality | Inspections during and after the works; the order can vary. | — |
| Completion Dubai Municipality | Completion certificate that closes the permit; Emaar then closes its file. | — |
How it works
How it works in Emirates Hills
Tell us the idea
Villa number, photos and what you want to change.
We check and design
Approved plans or a survey, a site check, drawings and stamped calculations where needed.
We get it approved
Emaar NOC, then the Dubai Municipality permit where the works are structural.
Guides for works in Emirates Hills
What each work needs in Emirates Hills
- Extension: Emaar NOC, Dubai Municipality permit and stamped calculations
- Wall removal: structural check, Emaar NOC and Dubai Municipality permit
- Balcony closure: Emaar NOC and Dubai Municipality permit; it adds floor area
- Pergola or car shade: Emaar NOC, stamped calculations and a steel contractor stamp for steel
- Pool: Emaar NOC, Dubai Municipality permit and the DM environmental NOC
- External colour or façade: Emaar NOC
- Internal finishes only: usually no permit; check with Emaar first
Questions
Questions owners ask in Emirates Hills
Can I remove the wall between living and dining?
Often, yes. If it is load-bearing, a new beam carries the load, designed with stamped calculations.
How do I know if a wall is load-bearing?
From the as-built plans and a site check by an engineer. Don’t rely on knocking on the wall or guessing.
Can I open the kitchen to the living area?
Often, yes, with the same check and approvals.
What size beam do I need?
It depends on the span and the loads. An engineer calculates it; there is no standard size.
Can I remove a column too?
Sometimes, with an alternative structural design that carries the loads, plus the approvals. We study the structure first.
What approvals are needed?
An Emaar NOC, and a Dubai Municipality permit where structural walls change.
Last checked: October 2026. Official sources: Emaar · Dubai Municipality · DEWA
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