Shared housing regularisation service in Dubai
Our shared housing regularisation service helps owners and tenants bring an existing shared flat, villa or building into line with the Dubai Municipality rules before the 8 September 2027 deadline.
What we do
If the property is already rented as shared housing, it must be regularised by 8 September 2027 under the DM circular; fines range from AED 500 to AED 500,000. We check the area, survey what is there, correct the layout and occupancy to 5 m² per person, check existing partitions, prepare the DCD fire safety drawings and obtain DCD approval and the DM permit.
Official sources: Dubai Municipality · Dubai Civil Defence · Khaleej Times report on the DM circular
Shared housing regularisation service: what is included
- Area check: confirm the property is in one of the 39 areas
- Survey: record the current rooms, occupancy and partitions
- Corrections: change rooms or occupancy to meet 5 m² per person
- Category: set the unit as individual or family housing, not both
- Fire safety: DCD drawings for the corrected layout
- Permit: DCD approval and the 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 regularisation service
Who needs to regularise shared housing?
Any property already used as shared accommodation in Dubai, by 8 September 2027 under the DM circular.
What if my property is not in an allowed area?
Shared use cannot be regularised there; the property should be rented as a single unit or to one family.
Do existing partitions need to be removed?
Not always. We check them; if they meet the rules they can stay on the approved layout.
Can a tenant regularise the property?
Yes, with a NOC from the owner.
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