Drawings prepared for the wrong authority are rejected and have to be redrawn. Emaar communities are a common example: Arabian Ranches and Dubai Hills are DDA, while The Meadows and The Springs in Emirates Living are Dubai Municipality.
Dubai Community Authority Directory: DM, DDA or Trakhees?
Which authority approves building works in your Dubai community? This directory lists 84 communities with their master developer and the authority that issues building permits — Dubai Municipality (DM), Dubai Development Authority (DDA) or Trakhees. In most communities the developer NOC comes first, then that authority’s permit.
Arabian Ranches
Palm Jumeirah
Dubai Hills Estate
The Meadows
The Springs
Jumeirah Islands
Emirates Hills
Mudon
The Villa
Arabian Ranches
Palm Jumeirah
Dubai Hills Estate
The Meadows
The Springs
Jumeirah Islands
Emirates Hills
Mudon
The Villa
Arabian Ranches
Palm Jumeirah
Dubai Hills Estate
The Meadows
The Springs
Jumeirah Islands
Emirates Hills
Mudon
The Villa
Arabian Ranches
Palm Jumeirah
Dubai Hills Estate
The Meadows
The Springs
Jumeirah Islands
Emirates Hills
Mudon
The Villa
Arabian Ranches
Palm Jumeirah
Dubai Hills Estate
The Meadows
The Springs
Jumeirah Islands
Emirates Hills
Mudon
The Villa
Arabian Ranches
Palm Jumeirah
Dubai Hills Estate
The Meadows
The Springs
Jumeirah Islands
Emirates Hills
Mudon
The Villa
Arabian Ranches
Palm Jumeirah
Dubai Hills Estate
The Meadows
The Springs
Jumeirah Islands
Emirates Hills
Mudon
The Villa
Arabian Ranches
Palm Jumeirah
Dubai Hills Estate
The Meadows
The Springs
Jumeirah Islands
Emirates Hills
Mudon
The Villa
Streamlined
Approval process
End-to-end
NOC to permit, managed
Direct access
To your project team
Always on
Client support
Find Your Community
Use the tables below to find your community. The building permit authority decides the drawing format (DM BPS, DDA format or Trakhees CED format) and where the permit application is submitted.
DDA (Dubai Development Authority) — 64 communities
Dubai Municipality (DM) — 10 communities
| Community / area | Master developer | Building permit authority |
|---|---|---|
| The Meadows | Emaar | Dubai Municipality |
| The Springs | Emaar | Dubai Municipality |
| The Lakes | Emaar | Dubai Municipality |
| Emirates Hills | Emaar | Dubai Municipality |
| The Greens | Emaar | Dubai Municipality |
| The Views | Emaar | Dubai Municipality |
| Al Barsha 1, 2 and 3 | No master developer | Dubai Municipality |
| Umm Suqeim | No master developer | Dubai Municipality |
| Green Community | Dubai Investments (PID) | Dubai Municipality |
| Dubai Investments Park (DIP) | Dubai Investments (PID) | Dubai Municipality |
Trakhees (PCFC) — 10 communities
| Community / area | Master developer | Building permit authority |
|---|---|---|
| Palm Jumeirah | Nakheel | Trakhees |
| Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) | Nakheel | Trakhees |
| Jumeirah Islands | Nakheel | Trakhees |
| Jumeirah Park | Nakheel | Trakhees |
| Al Furjan | Nakheel | Trakhees |
| Discovery Gardens | Nakheel | Trakhees |
| Palm Jebel Ali | Nakheel | Trakhees |
| Dubai Islands | Nakheel | Trakhees |
| Jebel Ali Village | Nakheel | Trakhees |
| JAFZA (Jebel Ali Free Zone) | DP World | Trakhees |
Always DM, whatever the area: the swimming pool environmental NOC is issued by Dubai Municipality’s Environment Department in every community, including DDA and Trakhees areas.
Official authority websites: Dubai Municipality · Dubai Development Authority · Trakhees
Community not listed? Send us the plot number or affection plan and we will confirm the authority.
How Approvals Work in Every Community
01
Find Your Community’s Authority
02
Check the Developer’s Guidelines
03
Prepare Drawings in That Authority’s Format
04
Developer NOC
05
Building Permit (DM, DDA or Trakhees)
06
Construction & Completion Certificate
How Our Approval Process Works
Our expert engineers handle the entire NOC process, ensuring faster approvals and full compliance with Dubai regulations.
Why the Authority Matters
Approvals We Handle in Every Community
Villa Extension
Villa Modification
Swimming Pool
Wall Removal
Pergola or Car Shade
Completion Certificate
Dubai Community Authority Directory at a Glance
| Step | Who | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Structural engineer | Prepares the drawings and calculations to the authority's format and handles the submissions. |
| 2 | Master developer (where the community has one) | Issues the community NOC against its design guidelines. |
| 3 | Building authority — Dubai Municipality, DDA or Trakhees — depending on the community | Building permit; work starts only after it is issued. |
| 4 | Developer and authority | Completion inspection and sign-off. |
Documents Required
- Title deed (or tenancy contract plus landlord NOC for tenants)
- Owner passport and Emirates ID copy
- Affection plan / site plan
- Existing approved drawings — or an as-built survey if you have none
- Proposed drawings and stamped structural calculations — prepared by us
Key Technical Rules
- One authority per area: each community has one building authority — DM, DDA or Trakhees.
- NOC before permit: in master-developer communities the developer NOC comes first.
- Authority format: drawings must follow that authority's submission format.
- Registered consultant: submissions are made by an authority-registered consultant.
- Completion certificate: issued after the final inspection.
Right Authority
DM, DDA, Trakhees
Developer NOC
Where required
Registered Consultant
Handles submission
Why Owners Choose Structural Solutions
All Three Authorities
We prepare submissions for DM, DDA and Trakhees in the correct format.
Developer NOC First
We handle the Emaar, Nakheel, DAMAC, Meraas and other developer NOCs before the permit.
Engineering In-House
Structural design, calculations and drawings by our own engineers.
Not Sure Which Authority Applies?
Send us your plot number or affection plan and we will confirm the authority and the approvals your works need.
Dubai Building Authorities — FAQs
Which authority approves villa modifications in Dubai?
It depends on the community: Dubai Municipality, DDA or Trakhees. The developer NOC usually comes first.
Is Arabian Ranches under DM or DDA?
Arabian Ranches is under DDA.
Are The Meadows and The Springs under DM or DDA?
They are under Dubai Municipality, like the rest of Emirates Living.
Which communities are under Trakhees?
Nakheel communities such as Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Islands, Jumeirah Park, Al Furjan and JVC, and JAFZA.
Who issues the swimming pool environmental NOC?
Dubai Municipality’s Environment Department, in every community.