The law seeks to enhance occupant comfort, reduce accidents, protect lives and property, and preserve the emirate’s urban identity
Sheikh Mohammed, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, in his capacity as the Ruler of Dubai, has issued a new law on the quality and safety of buildings in the emirate.
The law aims to ensure the quality, safety and sustainability of buildings in the emirate by maintaining structural integrity, ensuring regular maintenance and supporting the safe operation of all systems.
It also seeks to enhance occupant comfort, reduce accidents, protect lives and property, and preserve the emirate’s urban identity.
Dubai Media Office made the announcement on Tuesday morning, listing the objectives of the law:
- Ensure high-quality, safe, and sustainable buildings by protecting structural integrity
- Mandate regular maintenance to support the safe operation of all building systems
- Enhance occupant comfort while reducing accidents and safeguarding lives and property
- Preserve Dubai’s urban identity and architectural character
Provisions of the law apply to all buildings across Dubai, including those in private development zones and free zones such as the Dubai International Financial Centre, whether built before or after its enactment.
Dubai Municipality is responsible for ensuring building safety and quality by developing a digital management system, maintaining a unified building database, conducting periodic assessments, setting standards for sustainability, and implementing measures and procedures to safeguard buildings, lives, and property.
It also oversees maintenance, investigates incidents, applies corrective actions, promotes modern technologies, regulates materials, and manages the digital building portal.
It also requires that a Quality and Safety Certificate be issued only after a licensed engineering office or firm conducts a comprehensive inspection and assessment of the building’s structural and technical condition, following the Law’s provisions and related procedures.
What this means for owners
According to the Law, the owner of a building, including unit owners under Law No. (6) of 2019 on Joint Property Ownership in Dubai, must obtain a Quality and Safety Certificate after the building’s completion, ensure any defects identified in inspections are corrected, and follow the procedures set by the relevant authority.
The validity of the Quality and Safety Certificate is 10 years for buildings less than 40 years old from the date of their completion certificate, and five years for buildings 40 years or older. The certificate can be renewed for similar periods, with the conditions and procedures for renewal determined by a decision issued by the Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai (TEC).
Violators of the law or its decisions face fines from Dh100 to Dh1,000,000, with repeat offences within two years subject to doubled fines up to Dh2,000,000.
The new law has been announced at a time when the UAE continues to battle Iranian aggressions, intercept drones, some of which have caused damage in residential areas as well.
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