Shared housing eligibility checker for Dubai
Use this shared housing eligibility checker to see if your Dubai area is on the Dubai Municipality list, how many people your bedrooms can take, and your route to DCD approval and the DM permit.
Free area check
Check your shared housing eligibility
Answer five quick questions. The result and your approval route update as you go. Nothing is sent until you choose to message us.
Use the community name on your affection plan or DEWA bill.
Each unit is one category only. Individuals and families cannot be mixed.
Minimum 5 m² per person under the Dubai Municipality rule. Use the floor area of each bedroom only.
The short answer
Shared housing is allowed only in 39 Dubai areas: 28 fully and 11 partly. Each unit is either individual or family housing, bedrooms need at least 5 m² per person, and the four main roads are family only. Every property needs DCD approval and the Dubai Municipality permit; tenants apply with the owner NOC.
Official sources: Dubai Municipality · Dubai Civil Defence · Khaleej Times report on the DM circular
Shared housing eligibility: what you need to know
- Area: only the 39 areas on the Dubai Municipality list
- Category: individual or family housing, one per unit, never mixed
- Main roads: Bani Yas, Sheikh Zayed, Jumeirah and Al Wasl roads are family housing only
- Rooms: at least 5 m² per person, plus kitchen, bathroom, dining, recreation and laundry
- Approvals: Civil Defence (DCD) approval and the DM shared accommodation permit
- Tenants: apply with the owner NOC; that is enough
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
The full list
Shared housing eligibility by area
Source: Dubai Municipality circular, reported by Khaleej Times on 8 October 2026. Family housing only on Bani Yas, Sheikh Zayed, Jumeirah and Al Wasl roads.
| Area | Approval route | Guides |
|---|---|---|
| Al Ras Fully allowed | Shared housing allowed in all parts of the area. | — |
| Al Dhagaya (Deira) Fully allowed | Shared housing allowed in all parts of the area. | — |
| Al Bateen Fully allowed | Shared housing allowed in all parts of the area. | — |
| Al Sabkha Fully allowed | Shared housing allowed in all parts of the area. | — |
| Eyal Nasser Fully allowed | Shared housing allowed in all parts of the area. | — |
| Al Murar Fully allowed | Shared housing allowed in all parts of the area. | — |
| Naif Fully allowed | Shared housing allowed in all parts of the area. | — |
| Al Rigga Fully allowed | Shared housing allowed in all parts of the area. | Al Rigga guide |
| Al Muteena Fully allowed | Shared housing allowed in all parts of the area. | — |
| Al Muraqqabat Fully allowed | Shared housing allowed in all parts of the area. | — |
| Rigga Al Buteen Fully allowed | Shared housing allowed in all parts of the area. | — |
| Hor Al Anz Fully allowed | Shared housing allowed in all parts of the area. | Hor Al Anz guide |
| Al Waheda Fully allowed | Shared housing allowed in all parts of the area. | — |
| Al Rashidiya Fully allowed | Shared housing allowed in all parts of the area. | — |
| Al Nahda 1 Fully allowed | Shared housing allowed in all parts of the area. | Al Nahda 1 guide |
| Al Nahda 2 Fully allowed | Shared housing allowed in all parts of the area. | Al Nahda 2 guide |
| Al Qusais Fully allowed | Shared housing allowed in all parts of the area. | Al Qusais guide |
| Al Twar 5 Fully allowed | Shared housing allowed in all parts of the area. | — |
| Muhaisnah 4 Fully allowed | Shared housing allowed in all parts of the area. | — |
| Souq Al Kabeer Fully allowed | Shared housing allowed in all parts of the area. | — |
| Umm Hurair 1 and 2 Fully allowed | Shared housing allowed in all parts of the area. | — |
| Al Raffa Fully allowed | Shared housing allowed in all parts of the area. | — |
| Karama Fully allowed | Shared housing allowed in all parts of the area. | Karama guide |
| Oud Metha Fully allowed | Shared housing allowed in all parts of the area. | Oud Metha guide |
| Jumeirah 1 Fully allowed | Shared housing allowed in all parts of the area. | Jumeirah 1 guide |
| Al Bada'a Fully allowed | Shared housing allowed in all parts of the area. | — |
| Al Barsha 1 Fully allowed | Shared housing allowed in all parts of the area. | Al Barsha 1 guide |
| Al Warqa 1 Fully allowed | Shared housing allowed in all parts of the area. | Al Warqa 1 guide |
| Abu Hail Partly allowed | Allowed only in designated parts; we check your plot. | — |
| Al Baraha Partly allowed | Allowed only in designated parts; we check your plot. | — |
| Al Hamriya Partly allowed | Allowed only in designated parts; we check your plot. | — |
| Mankhool Partly allowed | Allowed only in designated parts; we check your plot. | — |
| Al Jafiliya Partly allowed | Allowed only in designated parts; we check your plot. | — |
| Al Hudaiba Partly allowed | Allowed only in designated parts; we check your plot. | — |
| Al Satwa Partly allowed | Allowed only in designated parts; we check your plot. | Al Satwa guide |
| Port Saeed Partly allowed | Allowed only in designated parts; we check your plot. | — |
| Hor Al Anz East Partly allowed | Allowed only in designated parts; we check your plot. | Hor Al Anz East guide |
| Al Mamzar Partly allowed | Allowed only in designated parts; we check your plot. | — |
| Al Qusais Industrial 1 to 5 Partly allowed | Allowed only in designated parts; we check your plot. | Al Qusais Industrial 1 to 5 guide |
How it works
From check to permit
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.
Our services
Shared housing services we provide
Survey, layout and fire safety drawings, structural check, DCD approval and the DM permit, for owners, tenants and companies.
Questions
More questions about shared housing eligibility
How do I check shared housing eligibility for my property?
Pick your area in the checker above. If it is one of the 28 fully allowed areas, the property is eligible subject to the layout rules, DCD approval and the DM permit. In the 11 partly allowed areas we check your plot from the affection plan.
What does partly allowed mean?
Shared housing is permitted only in designated parts of the area. We confirm from the affection plan whether your plot is inside the allowed part.
My area is not on the list. Can I still apply?
No. Under the Dubai Municipality circular, shared housing is allowed only in the 39 listed areas, such as Karama, Al Qusais and Al Barsha 1. Areas like Dubai Marina, JLT and Downtown are not on the list.
Can a tenant check shared housing eligibility and apply?
Yes. A tenant applies with a NOC from the owner, and the owner NOC is enough.
Does the checker give me a permit?
No. It is a first check based on the published rules. Eligibility is confirmed by Dubai Municipality and Civil Defence on the approved layout, which we prepare and submit for you.
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