Shared housing approval for building owners in Dubai
Shared housing approval for building owners: if you own a whole building in an allowed Dubai area and want to run it as shared accommodation, we take it from survey to DCD approval and the DM permit.
What we do
For a whole building we confirm the area and category, survey every unit and common area, set legal occupancy per unit at 5 m² per person, check partitions structurally, and prepare the layout and fire safety drawings for the building. Then we obtain DCD approval and the Dubai Municipality shared accommodation permit. Each unit is either individual or family housing.
Official sources: Dubai Municipality · Dubai Civil Defence · Khaleej Times report on the DM circular
Shared housing approval for building owners: what is included
- Area and roads: 39 areas; family only on the four main roads
- Unit survey: every apartment measured and recorded
- Common areas: escape routes and shared facilities
- Structure: partitions and changes checked
- Fire safety: building-wide DCD drawings
- Permit: DM shared accommodation permit
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
Questions about shared housing approval for building owners
Can a whole building be shared accommodation?
Yes, in the allowed areas, with DCD approval and the DM permit and each unit set as individual or family housing.
Can some units be family and others individual?
Each unit is one category. We confirm with you how the building is arranged.
Do you check the building structure?
Our engineers check partitions and any changes before approval.
What if the building is on Sheikh Zayed Road?
Properties on Bani Yas, Sheikh Zayed, Jumeirah and Al Wasl roads are family housing only.
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