The 5 m² per person rule for shared housing in Dubai
Under the 5 m² per person rule, every bedroom in Dubai shared housing must give each occupant at least five square metres.
The short answer
The DM circular (reported by Khaleej Times on 8 October 2026) sets a minimum bedroom area of 5 m² per person. A 10 m² bedroom can therefore hold at most two people, and a 15 m² bedroom at most three, before considering the other rules. The property must also have a kitchen, bathroom, dining, recreation and laundry facilities. Our layout drawings measure each bedroom and show the occupancy, which is what the DM permit reviews.
Official sources: Dubai Municipality · Dubai Civil Defence · Khaleej Times report on the DM circular
5 m² per person: what you need to know
- Simple maths: Bedroom area divided by 5 = maximum occupants.
- Measured area: We measure each room on site.
- Facilities too: Kitchen, bathroom, dining, recreation, laundry.
- Overcrowding: Exceeding occupancy risks fines.
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
More questions about 5 m² per person
How many people in a 12 m² room?
Two, since three would need 15 m².
Does the hall count?
The rule is for bedrooms.
Do partitions change the area?
Yes, each partitioned room must meet the rule and be approved.
Who measures the rooms?
We survey and draw them.
Related guides