minimum requirements for:
a) the health, safety, welfare and convenience of people in and around buildings;
b) the health, safety, welfare and convenience of people who might be affected by

buildings;

c)  building design to reduce the impact on the surrounding environment; and
d)  the sustainable development of buildings.
The content of the DBC is based on the following inputs:
1)  existing regulations and technical requirements produced by the various

Authorities and Service Providers;

2) interviews with Government Authorities, Service Providers, Master Developers,

Consultants and other stakeholders to understand gaps or inconsistencies

between existing regulations;

3) benchmarking to international and regional codes.
The DBC is arranged under themes to integrate all relevant elements of building

design.
The regulations stipulated in the DBC are the minimum requirements for building

design. Nothing in the DBC prevents a building design that achieves higher standards

than the minimum set out in the DBC.

Dubai Building Code

Part A: General

A 3

A.2

Definitions

A.2.1 Terms

Addition:

Increase to a building’s gross area or built-up area, and/or

height or depth.

Architect:

Physical or legal person in charge of designing or

supervising building works, or both, and licensed to practise the

architecture profession in Dubai in accordance with the applicable

legislation.

Authority:

Any ministry, department, entity, or federal or local

government institution in Dubai or any department in licensing

Authorities related to the implementation and the provisions of the

DBC.

Building lifecycle:

Series of stages through which a building passes

during its lifetime, from initial design, through construction,

commissioning, handover,

and operation, to final demolition and

recycling of

demolished materials/systems.

Built-up area:

Total constructed area in a building or structure

measured from the external walls of the building, inclusive of

balconies, terraces and other projections, as well as any other

covered spaces such as covered parking structures, circulation

corridors,

loading/unloading bays, basements, service floors,

indoor

swimming pools and any other permanent structures on the plot.

Building:

Structure for the use or occupancy of people or for shelter.

Change of use:

Alteration to the use of a building to accommodate an

alternative occupancy to that which it was originally designed.

Civil Engineer:

Physical or legal person in charge of designing or

supervising civil engineering works, or both, and licensed to practise

the engineering profession in Dubai in accordance with the applicable

legislation.

Consultant:

Physical or legal person in charge

of providing consulting advice during design or construction, or both

and licensed to practise consulting in Dubai in accordance with the

applicable legislation.

Contractor:

Physical or legal person in charge of carrying out

construction works and licensed to practise contracting activities in

Dubai in accordance with the applicable legislation.

Developer:

Person or entity who prepares land for building sites,

constructs buildings, creates residential subdivisions or private

enterprises, and rehabilitates existing buildings.

Development:

General term for the construction, erection or placing

of a building or structure; the making of an addition or alteration to a

building or

structure; a significant change in use or in intensity of

use

of any building or structure.

Development control regulations (DCR):

Document that shows

planning regulations (such as height, land use, area, setbacks,

building lines) for the full development, and each plot in a

subdivision plan, as issued by the relevant planning Authority or

master developer.

Engineer:

Physical or legal person in charge of designing or

supervising construction works, or both, and licensed to practise the

engineering profession in Dubai in accordance with the applicable

legislation.

Existing building:

Building that is completed, including commissioning

and handover. The DBC applies to

renovation, modification,

reconstruction, addition to, or

change of use of an existing building.

Floor area ratio (FAR):

Ratio of gross floor area (GFA)

to plot area.

Gross area (GA):

Floor area within the inside perimeter

of the exterior

walls of a building. The measurement excludes shafts and courtyards,

but includes corridors, stairways, ramps, closets, base of atria (or similar

voids) and the thickness of interior walls, columns or other features.

NOTE: This section gives common definitions that apply throughout the DBC. Each Part also has a section for terms specific to that Part.

Dubai Building Code

Part A: General

A 4

Gross oor area (GFA):

Measurement used by

Planning Authorities in

Dubai to define the floor area ratio (FAR), where FAR is the ratio of

GFA to plot area. The building GFA is the sum of the GFA of all floors,

measured to the exterior surface of the external wall thickness and

from the centrelines of the common walls joining two spaces. The

measurement excludes external wall features such as corniches,

brackets, and façade cladding materials.

Habitable space:

Space in a building for living, sleeping or eating

involving occupancy for continuous period of time. Bathrooms, toilet

rooms, closets, halls, storage or utility spaces and similar areas are not

habitable spaces.

Heritage building:

New or existing building in a heritage area. The

heritage department of the Authority controls the elevation

design and façade treatment of buildings in these areas.

Historical building:

Existing building of historical importance where the

original character of the building is to be retained.

Masterplan:

Comprehensive plan to guide the long-

term physical

development of a specific area based on identified objectives,

strategies, and timelines

for implementation. Includes plans for land

use, community facilities and utilities, transportation of goods and

people, and energy use and conservation. Zoning ordinances and

policies are developed for different areas or zoning districts based

on the masterplan.

Modi ication:

Fit-out of a space or unit, or change to a

service system

or building element.

Net area (NA):

Actual occupied area, not including unoccupied

accessory areas such as corridors, stairways, ramps, toilet rooms,

mechanical rooms and closets.

Occupiable space:

Room or enclosed space designed for human

occupancy in which individuals congregate for amusement, labour,

educational or similar purposes.

Owner:

Any person, entity, firm or corporation having

any legal or

equitable interest in the property in whose name the plot or building is

registered as Owner, including persons who have a long-term lease for a

specified period; the Main or Sub-Developer in relation

to unsold lands

and buildings.

Performance-based design:

Design that follows prescriptive

design requirements, but an aspect(s) of which is based on an

alternative solution that is equivalent to or better than the

prescriptive design requirements.

Plot:

Area of land that is:

clearly defined (by landmarks, coordinates, distinct

number, and the

lengths of its sides and location);

a) intended for construction under any approved plan

or division

project, or by any other method; and

a) legally authorized to be used for construction or

building as one

unit.

Plot area:

Total area of a plot between its boundary lines as

measured on a horizontal plane.

Prescriptive design:

Design that meets the

requirements entirely.

Project:

Construction of a permanent building, or any other civil work

on a leased property including any

modifications or installations in

pre-built facilities.

Reconstruction:

Modification that is not standalone. It

affects adjacent

egress routes or systems that are not part of the reconstructed area,

such that a larger part of the building might need to be closed down or

not occupied for a period of time.

Renovation:

Change to linings/finishes or

strengthening of

structure. It does not involve any

reconfiguration of internal

spaces.

Townhouse:

Multiple villas connected by one or more walls to a series

of similar villas.

Villa:

Separate building located on a separate plot

allocated with all its

floors for the dwelling of one

single family and an independent car

parking space in addition to independent external open space.

Dubai Building Code

Part A: General

A 5

A.3 References

NOTE: This section gives references that apply throughout the DBC. Each Part also

has a section for references specific to that Part.

Ref. A.1

UAE MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR GENERAL COMMAND OF CIVIL

DEFENCE, 2018. UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice (UAE FLSC). United Arab

Emirates: Ministry of the Interior General Command of Civil Defence.

Ref. A.2

GOVERNMENT OF DUBAI, 2017. Dubai universal design code. Dubai:

Government of Dubai.

Ref. A.3

DUBAI HEALTH AUTHORITY, 2012. Regulations (various). Dubai: Dubai

Health Authority. Available at:

www.dha.gov.ae/en/HealthRegulation/Pages/FacilityRelated.aspx.

Ref. A.4

DUBAI HEALTH AUTHORITY, 2019. DHA Health facility guidelines – Part A

to Part F. Dubai: Dubai Health Authority. Available at:

www.dubaitourism.gov.ae/en/services.

Ref. A.5

DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM AND COMMERCE MARKETING, 2019. DTCM

Hotel classification criteria for hotels, guest houses and hotel apartments. Dubai:

DTCM. Available at:

classification.dubaitourism.ae

Ref. A.6

DUBAI CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY Application for a no-objection

certificate to construct a building (above and below 300 m) in Aviation Easement

areas. Dubai: DCAA. Available at:

www.dcaa.gov.ae/services/building-constructions/construct-building

Ref. A.7

GREAT BRITAIN, 2015. The Construction (Design and Management)

Regulations. London: The Stationery Office.

Dubai Building Code

Part A: General

A 6

ASCE

American Society of Civil Engineers

BIM

building information modelling

BS EN

British Standard European Norm

Ch.

chapter

DTCM

Department of Tourism and Commerce

Marketing

DBC

Dubai Building Code

DCAA

Dubai Civil Aviation Authority

DCR

Development Control Regulations

DDA

Dubai Development Authority

DEWA

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority

DHA

Dubai Health Authority

Dubai Municipality

DLTM

Dubai Local Transverse Mercator

DSOA

Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority

Emicool

Emirates District Cooling LLC

Empower

Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation

FAR

floor area ratio

ground floor

gross area

GFA

gross floor area

IACAD

Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities

Department

KHDA

Knowledge and Human Development Authority

MEP

mechanical, electrical and plumbing

net area

A.3.1

Acronyms and abbreviations

A.3.2

Verbal forms used within the DBC

RTA

Roads and Transport Authority

International system of units

SIRA

Security Industry Regulatory Agency

TRA

Telecommunications Regulatory Authority

Trakhees

Department of Planning and Development –

Ports Customs and Freezone Corporation

UAE FLSC

UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice

May

The associated text is permitted

Shall

The associated text is mandatory

Should

The associated text is recommended

Dubai Building Code

Part A: General

A 7

A.4 Relationship of DBC to other local and international regulations

A.4.1 Local regulations

The DBC incorporates, unifies and replaces the

regulations

related to building design published by Dubai Municipality

(DM), Dubai Development Authority (DDA), Department of

Planning and

Development – Ports Customs and Freezone

Corporation (Trakhees) and Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority

(DSOA).

Regulations related to building design by Dubai Electricity and Water

Authority (DEWA) and Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities

Department (IACAD) are incorporated or cross-referenced by the

DBC.

Regulations related to building design by the Security Industry

Regulatory Agency (SIRA) are summarized and cross-referenced in

Part J

Federal regulations also remain in place. The DBC follows the Federal

regulations of Telecommunications

Regulatory Authority (TRA) and the

Ministry of Interior Civil Defence. The TRA regulations are given in

G.11

. The UAE Fire and Life Safety Code (UAE FLSC)

[Ref. A.1]

cross-referenced throughout the DBC.

Accessibility requirements of the Dubai Universal Design Code

[Ref.

A.2]

applicable to building design are incorporated in

Part C

and replace

these aspects of the Dubai Universal Design Code.

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) regulations

[Ref. A.3 and Ref. A.4]

, along with the relevant Federal

regulations,

shall be followed for the design of all healthcare facilities.

The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) sets

out the requirements to achieve star ratings for hotels, resorts, hotel

apartments and guest houses

[Ref. A.5]

. Achieving the minimum

requirements of the DBC does not guarantee a rating from DTCM.

DTCM should be consulted at the earliest stage of design.

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) and the

Ministry of Education both license

education facilities, but they do not

provide separate design requirements. Education facilities are

approved by the main Authorities in accordance with the DBC.

Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) regulations in relation to the

right of way are referenced by the DBC as appropriate.

Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) regulates

maximum

building heights within the flight path.

Regulations related to permitting, procedures, construction and design

of non-building elements such as infrastructure, transportation

systems, and the public realm remain, and can be obtained from, the

relevant Authority.

Planning development regulations published by Developers or

Planning Authorities are not replaced by the DBC. The DBC

contains planning regulations in

Part B

, but these shall be followed

only where

plot-specific planning development regulations are

unavailable.

A.4.2 International codes and standards

The DBC relies on international codes and standards, mainly BS EN

and American codes. These codes and standards shall be used in their

latest edition except where the DBC lists an edition.

NOTE: As an example, Part F (Structures) mandates

the 2016

edition of ASCE/SEI 7.

An edition is mandated in the DBC for one of two reasons.

The DBC refers to sections, tables and figures

within that version of the international code or standard and

therefore the cross-references might not apply to later editions.

b) The edition has been reviewed for its applicability

to Dubai.

Dubai Building Code

Part A: General

A 8

A.4.3

Hierarchy of codes and standards

The hierarchy of the adopted codes and standards is

defined as follows.

The DBC and UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of

Practice (UAE FLSC)

[Ref. A.1]

together form the

main regulations for building design in Dubai. The

UAE FLSC is referenced throughout the DBC.

b) The DBC follows the SIRA regulations for

the design of security. These regulations are

summarized and referenced in

Part J

The DBC follows the Federal regulations of TRA

for the design of telecommunications. These

regulations are documented in

G.11

d) The international codes and standards for design,

material and product specification listed under the

heading of “Essential references” in each Part, and

referenced in the relevant sections of each Part, are

also requirements of the DBC.

Documents listed under the heading of “Further

reading” in each Part are provided for information

as useful guides to building design.

Where there is conflict between the DBC and reference

model codes or standards, the most restrictive/highest

performance requirements shall be met.

Where there is a conflict between a general

requirement and a specific requirement of the DBC

or its referenced codes/standards then the specific

requirement applies.

A.4.4

Safe by design

The principle of “safe by design” requires the

Consultant to address the health and safety of all

occupants, Contractors and users of the building.

This includes Contractors, maintenance staff,

occupants, visitors and demolition teams throughout

the building lifecycle.
This process is documented in a risk register where

the Consultant acknowledges the risk, investigates

mitigation measures and provides a design solution

which reduces the risk to a practicable level, while also

taking account of cost, constructability, other project

goals, etc.
Safe by design principles are not mandated by the

first edition of the DBC, but are likely to be enforced

in future revisions. Consultants should familiarize

themselves with these principles by reference to the

Construction Design and Management Regulations

[Ref. A.7]

Dubai Building Code

Part A: General

A 9

A.5 Scope and application of the DBC

A.5.1

General

The DBC applies to new buildings and changes to existing buildings as described in

Table A.1, except where an alternative solution is permitted (see A.8).

Change to an

existing building

Description

Applicable codes

Renovation

Change to linings/finishes or

strengthening of structure. It does not

involve any reconfiguration of internal

spaces.

DBC and UAE FLSC

[Ref. A.1]

apply

to interior finish changes or building

envelope changes.

Modification

Fit-out of a space/unit, or change to a

service system or building element.

DBC and UAE FLSC

[Ref. A.1]

apply to

the fit-out or change.

Reconstruction

Modification that is not stand-alone.

It affects adjacent egress routes

or systems that are not part of the

reconstruction area such that a larger

part of the building might need to

be closed down or not occupied for a

period of time.

DBC and UAE FLSC

[Ref. A.1]

apply

to the reconstruction and any areas of

the building which are impacted by the

reconstruction.

Change of use

Change of use or occupancy of part or

all of the building.

DBC and UAE FLSC

[Ref. A.1]

apply

to the change of use and any areas of

the building which are impacted by the

change of use, e.g. existing exit stairs

and routes, vertical transport, quantity

and type of sanitary provisions.

Addition

An increase in the building’s gross area

or built-up area, and/or height or depth.

DBC and UAE FLSC

[Ref. A.1]

apply to

the addition.
If the addition relies on the remainder of

the existing building for escape, vertical

transport, etc., the existing building

shall also be assessed against the DBC

and UAE FLSC

[Ref. A.1]

Occupancy

Use

Assembly

Amusement park, theatre, cinema, restaurant, museum, art gallery, place of

worship, library, exhibition and conference centre, etc.

Business

Office, professional services, government centre, post office, bank, etc.

Educational

University, college, school, kindergarten, nursery, educational institute

Hotel establishment

Hotel, resort, guesthouse, hotel apartment

Residential

Apartment, studio, student accommodation, labour accommodation, staff

accommodation
Villas and townhouses

Parking

Open, enclosed, mechanical

Retail

Shopping centre, department store, shop, kiosk, showroom, stores

Mall

Open mall, enclosed mall

Industrial

Factory, workshop

Storage

Warehouse

Table A.1 Existing building and application of the DBC

Table A.2 Occupancies and use types

The DBC applies to the occupancies and use types described in Table A.2.

Dubai Building Code

Part A: General

A 10

The DBC does not apply to:
a) infrastructure such as road and rail bridges, tunnels, culverts, metro stations,

hydraulic structures, buried and overhead utilities, power stations, antennas and

masts, wind turbines and nuclear facilities;

b) marine structures such as canals, dams, dikes, levies, piers, jetties and wharves;
c)

oil and gas structures such as petrochemical facilities, oil refineries, liquefied

natural gas terminals, oil platforms and tanks;

d) structures such as tents, cranes, storage racks, scaffolding, formwork and

falsework;

structures subject to specific loading conditions such as stadia, grandstands, silos

and chimneys.

The DBC does not apply to historical buildings where the original character of the

building is to be retained. Buildings considered to be historical shall conform to the

guidelines of the relevant Authority as appropriate.
Buildings in heritage areas or considered to be heritage buildings shall follow the

DBC. The heritage department of the Authority controls the elevation design and

façade treatment.
Villas and townhouses are addressed in

Part K.

A.5.2

Floor area and building height de initions in DBC

A.5.2.1

Gross oor area (GFA)

Gross floor area (GFA) is used by Planning Authorities in Dubai to define the floor area ratio (FAR), where FAR

is the ratio of GFA to plot area. The building GFA is the sum of the GFA of all floors, measured to the exterior

surface of the external wall

thickness and from the centrelines of the common walls joining two spaces. The

measurement excludes external wall features such as corniches, brackets, and façade cladding materials.

GFA is calculated based on Table A.3.

GFA might be in development control regulations (DCR). Consultants shall calculate GFA using the DBC

definition and Table A.1 unless GFA is stated in the DCR.

Dubai Building Code

Part A: General

A 11

Space or area

Included or excluded in GFA

Habitable and occupiable spaces including

sanitary facilities

Included

Mezzanine floors

Included

Lobbies

Included

Corridors

Included

Stairs

Included

Basements in buildings other than villas

Habitable and occupiable spaces including

sanitary facilities to be included

Basements in villas

Excluded

Attic spaces

Attic spaces less than 2.15 m height and used for

services only to be excluded

Parking

Excluded

Parking lobbies

Excluded

Internal roads

Excluded

Loading areas

Excluded

Mechanical and service rooms

Excluded

Mechanical ducts

Excluded

Elevator shaft at elevator recall floor

Included

Elevator shafts at other floors

Excluded

Elevator machine rooms

Excluded

Mechanical, electrical and plumbing plant floors

Excluded

Shafts

Excluded

Refuse chutes

Excluded

Waste rooms

Excluded

Storage below ground

Excluded

Table A.3

Areas included in GFA

Space or area

Included or excluded in GFA

Storage on ground and above

Included

Prayer room and ablution area

Excluded

Gym with gross area ≤50% of roof area

Excluded

Gym with gross area >50% of roof area

The gross area of the gym exceeding 50% is

included*

Swimming pools (indoor and outdoor) including

services (showers, toilets, lockers, changing

rooms, etc.)

Excluded

Arcades (open, non-air conditioned)

Excluded

Base of double height volumes and atria

Included

Void of double height floors and atria

Excluded

Floor voids

Excluded

Terraces

Excluded

Balconies

Excluded

NOTE: * This rule is associated with the roof area but it applies to gyms located anywhere in the

building.

Dubai Building Code

Part A: General

A 12

A.5.2.2

Built-up area

Built-up area is used also by Planning Authorities. It

is defined as the total constructed area in a building

or structure measured from the external walls of the

building, inclusive of balconies, terraces and other

projections as well as any other covered spaces such

as covered parking structures, circulation corridors,

loading/unloading bays, basements, service floors,

indoor swimming pools and any other permanent

structures on the plot. Calculation of total built-up area

shall exclude the following:
a) shafts, courtyards and yards including mechanical,

electrical and plumbing (MEP) shafts, refuse chutes

and similar;

b) non-covered outdoor landscape and hardscape

surfaces and courtyards;

c) lightweight outdoor shading structures such as

pergolas and standalone canopies.

An example calculation using a sample plan is shown in

Figure A.1.

Figure A.1 Total built-up area (highlighted areas are included in area definition)

Key

01: Gym

02: Lobby

03: Ballroom

04: Prayer room

05: MEP

06: Corridor

07: Staff toilets

08: Staff

09: Meeting room

10: Service corridor

11: Electrical

12: Restaurant

13: Back-of-house

14: Kitchen

15: Service block

16: Pergolas

17: Parking canopy

18: Plot limit

Content .. 1 2 ..

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