Dubai Building Code (2021)

Dubai Building Code

Part A: General

A 13

A.5.2.3

Gross area and net area

The terms “gross area” (GA) and “net area” (NA) are

used by the DBC to calculate occupant load in a floor

or space. They are defined in A.2 and further described

and illustrated in

Part B

A.5.2.4

Building height

Building height is a key variable that is checked by

the Authorities for compliance with the DBC, DCR/

affection plans, UAE FLSC

[Ref. A.1]

and, where

applicable, DCAA restrictions on building heights

located in Aviation easement areas due to overhead

flight paths.
Each definition of building height is slightly different

as they are used to regulate different issues. For this

reason, Consultants shall check building height against

the DBC, DCR/affection plans, UAE FLSC

[Ref. A.1]

and, where applicable, DCAA regulations

[Ref. A.6]

Dubai Building Code

Part A: General

A 14

A.6 Navigating the DBC

A.6.1

Division into Parts

The DBC is divided into Parts as described in Figure A.2.

Each Part is subdivided into sections by topic.
Minimum requirements for sustainability are embedded

within the relevant Parts of the DBC. Developers and

Consultants are encouraged to apply the rating system

adopted by the relevant Authority to assess their

projects and exceed these minimum requirements.

Fire safety requirements are given in the relevant

Parts of the DBC and cross referenced to UAE FLSC

[Ref. A.1]

. The aim of this cross-referencing is to help

Consultants navigate and coordinate the requirements

of the two documents. Where an element of UAE FLSC

is not applicable in Dubai, or the DBC contains additional

information not in UAE FLSC, this is indicated in the

text.

Figure A.2 How to use and navigate the DBC

Part H

Indoor environment

Part E

Building envelope

Part J

Security

Part B

Architecture

Part C

Accessibility

Part K

Villas

Part F

Structure

Part D

Vertical transportation

Part G

Incoming utilities

Dubai Building Code

Part A: General

A 15

A.6.2

Performance statements

The overarching objectives of the DBC, its intention

and regulatory scope, are set out in A.1.
Each Part of the DBC starts with a set of performance

statements. These set out the broad outcomes that

the completed building is expected to achieve, and

are provided to explain the intent of the prescriptive

design requirements within the Part. If the prescriptive

design requirements of the Part are followed, then the

performance statements of the Part are deemed to be

met and will be accepted by the Authority.

A.6.3

References

Each Part has a section for essential references and

further reading. The requirements of the DBC and

the essential references form the prescriptive design

requirements of the DBC and will be enforced by the

Authority. Websites and webpages shall be checked

regularly for updates.

NOTE: Where websites and webpages have been cited

throughout the DBC, they are provided for ease of

reference and are correct at the time of publication.

Changes to the location of a webpage or website, or its

contents, cannot be guaranteed.

A.6.4

Definitions

In addition to the common definitions in A.2, each Part

has a section for definitions.

A.6.5

Annexes

Any annex material is included at the end of the Part

to which it relates. Annex material contains further

explanatory material.

Dubai Building Code

Part A: General

A 16

A.7 Adoption of DBC

Projects in design or construction that have a final

approved design from the Authority do not need to

conform to the DBC.

Projects in design without a final approved design shall

conform to the DBC. The requirements of the DBC are

based on regulations enforced prior to its publication

and in many instances the DBC is less stringent. For

example, requirements unrelated to health, safety,

welfare and environment have generally been removed

from the regulations. Therefore, it is expected that

there will be benefits to Developers and Owners in

adopting the DBC.

A.8 Alternative solutions

The DBC is intended to be a prescriptive design code.

Performance statements are provided at the start of

each Part to describe the outcomes that the completed

building is expected to achieve.
The performance statements form a set of overarching

regulations that convey the requirements of the

DBC (see A.6.2).
The preferred method of meeting the performance

statements of the DBC is to follow the prescriptive

design requirements in each Part.
The inclusion of performance statements sets out the

intent of the DBC and future-proofs it, supporting

a possible transition to a more performance-based

regulatory system in the future.
Alternative solutions which meet the performance

statements of the DBC are permitted:
a) for projects that cannot reasonably meet the

prescribed requirements; and

b) for changes to existing buildings where the

requirements of the DBC would result in a

disproportionate cost to the Owner/Developer.

The Authority will decide if an alternative solution is

permitted.
An alternative solution shall meet the intent of

the performance statements and provide at least

an equivalent level of performance to all of the

prescriptive design requirements.

Alternative solutions shall be applied to a performance-

based design holistically such that a change from

one Part of the DBC does not reduce the building’s

performance in other aspects.
Alternative solutions for changes to existing buildings

shall demonstrate that the existing conditions are

maintained to the current level of compliance or

improved to meet the safety levels of the DBC and

UAE FLSC

[Ref. A.1]

The Authority will decide whether or not a

performance-based design is equivalent to the

prescriptive design requirements. The responsibility

is on the Consultant to demonstrate that the

performance-based design is required and that

it is at least equivalent to the prescriptive design

requirements.
The DBC lists preferred international codes and

standards in each Part (see A.4.2). Where permitted

by the Authority, alternative standards can be used

provided that the comparable standard meets the

intent of the DBC.

Dubai Building Code

Part A: General

A 17

A.9 Maintenance of DBC

A.9.1

General

The DBC is an interactive document available

electronically.
The DBC will typically be maintained and updated on a

two- to three-year cycle. If necessary, addendums will

be issued between cycles. It is therefore important that

Consultants, Contractors and Engineers check back

regularly to ensure that they are following the latest

version of the DBC.

A.9.2

Latest changes to DBC

This edition is the first edition of the DBC.

Amended content in future editions will be clearly

indicated. For example, new content will be side lined in

the first edition in which it is published.

No content of the DBC, in part or whole, shall be

copied, printed, sold or reproduced in any format.

A.11 Coordinate system

The coordinate system used by the Authority is Dubai

Local Transverse Mercator (DLTM). The reference

point for levelling is Port Rashid.

Dubai Building Code

Part A: General

A 18

A.12.1 Dimensions

All dimensions in the figures and diagrams of the

DBC are given in millimetres without units, unless the

distance exceeds 1,000 mm, and then it is given in

metres with units (m). Dimensions that are not stated

as “maximum” or “minimum” are absolute.
All dimensions are subject to conventional industry

tolerances, except where the requirement is stated as a

range with specific minimum and maximum end points.

A.12.2 Units

All quantities shall be in metric units with the units

defined.

All engineering shall be performed in dynamically

consistent units. One of the two systems shown in

Table A.4 should be used. Use of dimensions between

analysis models, drawings and/or building information

modelling (BIM) models shall be fully coordinated and

consistent.

A.12.3 Calculations

Where the required number of elements (e.g. parking

or sanitary provisions) to be provided is determined by

calculations of ratios or percentages, and this results in

remainders or fractions, the next greater whole number

of such elements shall be provided.

Unit

SI-system symbol

(preferred units)

System mm-t-s

System mm-kg-ms

Symbol

Conversion from SI

units

Symbol

Conversion from SI

units

Length

Mass

−3

Time

Temperature

Energy

Acceleration

m/s

mm/s

mm/ms

−3

Area

Frequency

ms−

−3

Velocity

m/s

mm/s

mm/ms

Volume

Density

kg/m

t/mm

−12

kg/mm

−9

Stress

N/m

N/mm

−6

kN/mm

−9

Force

−3

Moment

Nmm

kNmm

Stiffness

N/m

N/mm

−3

kN/mm

−6

Table A.4 Preferred units

A.12 Dimensions, units and calculations

Dubai Building Code

Part B: Architecture

B 2

B.1 Performance statements

Performance statement

The performance statement will be met

by following the requirements of:

The building shall be appropriately

integrated with the surrounding natural

and built environment.

B.4, B.9 and B.10

The building shall facilitate the safety,

convenience and welfare of building

occupants as they move in and around

the building, including access and

egress.

B.4, B.5, B.6, B.9 and B.11

The building shall provide appropriate

access and safe circulation for vehicles

within the site and building.

B.7 and B.9

The building shall provide minimum

communal provisions and facilities for

the welfare of occupants.

B.8 and B.9

The building shall be provided with

adequate and accessible solid waste and

recycling storage to safeguard people

from injury or illness caused by infection

or contamination.

B.8.5 and B.9

Dubai Building Code

Part B: Architecture

B 3

B.2

Definitions

B.2.1

Terms

Accessibility:

Ease of independent approach, entry,

evacuation and/or use of a building and its services

and facilities by all of the building’s potential users,

regardless of disability, age or gender, and with an

assurance of individual health, safety and welfare.

Accessible:

Site, building, facility or portion thereof

that conforms to

Part C

Advertising:

Any identification or description or

drawing or any other means to be fitted or erected or

printed or written or drawn, either directly or indirectly,

or any building or structure or plot, whose purpose is

to draw attention to any business, product, service, etc.

Affection plan:

Plan of the plot or site issued by the

Authority, showing information that includes (but is

not limited to) the plot boundaries, plot dimensions,

plot areas, setbacks and surroundings as well as the

land uses. Also called site plan.

Amenity space:

Public or private area within the

boundaries of a plot or a development site for the

building occupant’s recreation or convenience (such as

landscaped areas, patios, swimming pools, play areas,

prayer rooms, exercise areas and similar uses).

Annex:

Building or installation, attached to or

independent from the main building, the use of which

is secondary or complementary to the function of the

main building.

Arcade:

Roofed corridor that leads to any building,

faces a street or open courtyard, or links more than

one building. Usually formed through a series of arches

supported on columns or piers (see Figure B.1).

Figure B.1

Arcade

Authorized use:

Plot use or building occupancy

authorized according to the classification of lands

in Dubai noted in the official affection plan or

development regulation.

Balcony:

Covered or uncovered occupied projection or

partial projection outside the external walls, attached

to the building and accessed from the building's

interior spaces (see Figure B.2).

Assembly:

Occupancy classification associated with

the gathering of people for deliberation, worship,

entertainment, eating, drinking, amusement, awaiting

transportation, or similar uses.

Atrium:

Large-volume space created by a floor opening

or series of floor openings, connecting two or more

storeys or exceeding 15 m in height from finished floor.

The space is covered at the top of the opening(s) and

used for purposes other than an enclosed stairway,

an elevator hoistway, an escalator opening or a utility

shaft.

Figure B.2

Balcony

Basement floor:

Storey of a building wholly or partly

below the gate level that is not the first storey above

gate level. A basement slab soffit level is not higher

than 1,200 mm above the building gate level.

Dubai Building Code

Part B: Architecture

B 4

Bathroom:

Room containing a water closet, a

washbasin, and either a bathtub, a shower, or both.

Bi-separator:

Piece of equipment fitted to the end of a

refuse chute which allows the user to deposit multiple

waste streams, such as recycling and residual waste,

into a single refuse chute.

Boundary wall/fence:

Free-standing structure

constructed from approved materials surrounding a

plot, resting on the ground and rising above ground

level and used for confinement and/or screening for

safety or security or division purposes.

Building:

Structure for the use or occupancy of people

or for shelter.

Building element:

Component of a building, which

might or might not be of fire resistance rated

construction and is constructed of approved materials.

Building envelope:

Physical barrier between the

exterior and the conditioned environment of a building

to resist air, water, moisture, heat, cold, light, and noise

transfer. For an air-conditioned building, the building

envelope comprises the elements of a building that

separate conditioned spaces from the exterior. Crown

extensions to the façade to cover plant screen cladding

are part of the building envelope. The building envelope

does not include the physical barrier below ground.

Building height, total:

Vertical distance measured from

the approved road edge level at the plot main access to

the highest roof surface or element.

Building height:

Vertical distance measured from the

approved road edge level at the plot main access to the

mean finished level of the building roof.

Building occupants:

Persons using the building.

Building projection:

Projection or protrusion that

extends outside the vertical external wall of the floor

below, such as balconies.

Building setback:

Horizontal distance between the

nearest part of any building or structure on the plot

above ground and the plot boundary, measured

perpendicular to the plot boundary.

Built environment:

External and internal environments

and any element, component or fitting that is

commissioned, designed, constructed and managed for

use by people.

Bulky waste:

Waste, such as furniture, which is usually

too large for regular waste collections.

Business:

Occupancy used for the transaction of

business other than retail, usually used for office,

professional or service-type transactions, including

storage of records and accounts.

Canopy:

Building projection that provides weather

protection, identity or decoration and is partially

or wholly supported by the building to which it is

attached.

Carpool vehicle:

Shared vehicle used by people who

each have a car but travel together to save cost, to

reduce driving stress and to promote other socio

environmental benefits.

Chimney:

Primarily vertical structure containing one

or more flues, for the purpose of carrying gaseous

products of combustion and air from a fuel-burning

appliance to the outdoor atmosphere.

Chute:

Vertical shaft or sloping channel provided for

building utilities and services.

Circulation:

Means of passage for pedestrians in and

around the built environment, including (but not

limited to) corridors, hallways, courtyards, stairways

and stair landings.

Clear width:

Free unobstructed space for access.

Clinic:

Buildings (or portions thereof) used to provide

medical care on less than a 24 h basis.

Corridor:

Enclosed component that defines and

provides a path of travel.

Dubai Building Code

Part B: Architecture

B 5

Courtyard:

Open, uncovered space, unobstructed to

the sky, bounded on three or more sides by exterior

building walls or other enclosing devices as shown in

Figure B.3.

Curb:

Raised edge on a roadway, concrete floor slab

or around roof plant.

Daylighting:

Illumination of interior spaces using

natural light.

Department store:

Store, exhibition, building, or part

of a building used for the retail sale of a broad variety

of items.

Designated preferred parking spaces:

Parking spaces

that are closest to the main entrance of a building,

excluding accessible spaces, or parking spaces closest

to the pedestrian exit from the parking area.

Figure B.3

Courtyard

Entrance:

Access point to a building, portion of a

building or facility. An entrance includes the approach

walk, the vertical access leading to the entrance

platform, the entrance platform itself and the entry

door(s) or gate(s).

Environmental impact assessment (EIA):

Process

of predicting, identifying and evaluating the likely

impacts (initial and cumulative), both beneficial and

adverse, of a project on the environment including the

potential effects of the environment on the project.

Exhibition:

Space or structure used for the display

of products or services.

Exit access:

Portion of a means of egress that leads to

an exit.

Exit discharge:

Portion of a means of egress between

the termination of an exit and a public way.

Exit passageway:

Exit component that is separated

from other spaces of a building or structure by fire

resistance rated construction and opening protectives,

providing a protected path of egress travel in a

horizontal direction to exit discharge or public way

or outside building. Additional uses for the exit

passageway include stair transfer in upper floors

as well as to reduce travel distance to an exit by having

an exit passageway lead to a stair of exit discharge.

(a) all sides bounded courtyard

(b) 3 sides bounded courtyard

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.

Door:

Combination of a door leaf or leaves, frame,

hardware, and other accessories, positioned in an

opening in a wall and intended primarily for access

and egress.

Driveway:

Access to a required off-street parking

and loading facility area.

Education:

Occupancy used for educational purposes,

including training centres and universities.

Element:

Component or space of a building,

facility or site.

Elevator lobby:

Landing from which occupants directly

enter an elevator car(s) and into which occupants

directly enter upon leaving an elevator car(s).

Enclosed parking:

Parking occupancy that is partially

or wholly enclosed on all sides, and that does not

qualify as open parking.

Dubai Building Code

Part B: Architecture

B 6

Exterior stairway:

Stairway that is open on at least one

side, except for required structural columns, beams,

handrails and guardrails. The adjoining open area can

be either yards, courtyards or public ways.

The other sides of the exterior stairway can be closed.

External wall:

Wall, load bearing or non-load bearing,

that is used as an enclosing wall for a building and

might form part of the building envelope.

Facility:

All or any portion of the buildings, structures,

site improvements, equipment, roads, walks,

passageways, parking lots or other property located

at the site.

Feeding room or lactation room:

Private space where a

nursing mother can nurse a child or lactate.

Fixed seating:

Furniture or fixture designed and

installed for the use of sitting, and secured in place.

Includes bench-type seats and seats with or without

backs or arm rests.

Flight:

Continuous run of stair treads from one landing

to another.

Flood or flooding:

General and temporary condition

of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land

from:
a)

the overflow of inland or tidal waters;

b) the unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff

of surface waters from any source.

Floor finish:

Exposed floor surfaces of buildings

including coverings applied over a floor or stair,

including risers.

Floor height:

Vertical distance from top to top of two

successive finished floor surfaces. For the topmost

storey, from the top of the floor finish to the top of the

ceiling joists or, where there is no ceiling, to the top of

the roof surface.

Floor or storey:

Portion of a building located between

the upper surface of a floor and the upper surface of

the floor or roof next above.

Fuel dispensing facilities:

Facility where motor fuels

are stored and dispensed from fixed equipment into

the fuel tanks of motor vehicles or marine craft or into

approved containers, including all equipment used in

connection therewith.

Gate level:

Defined height on the plot boundary at the

vehicular or pedestrian access point to the plot. It is an

elevation difference between the road level (existing or

future) and the level of the plot’s access point.
The gate level of a plot shall be a minimum height

of +300 mm from the edge of the road or a slope of

between 2-5% from the edge of the road to the plot’s

access point.

Glazed element:

Individual element within a building

envelope that lets in light, including windows, plastic

panels, clerestories, skylights, doors that are more than

one half glass, and glass block walls.

Glazing:

Glass that is installed as one of the

components of a wall, floor, ceiling or roofing system.

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.

Ground floor:

First floor in the building above the gate

level.

Guard room:

Room, unit, or residential space on the

same plot of land as the main building, or located

within the main building, designated for the occupancy

of the guard.

Guardrail:

Vertical protective barrier erected along

elevated walking surfaces, exposed edges of stairways,

balconies and similar areas that minimizes the

possibility of fall from elevated surfaces to lower level.

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.

Handrail:

Horizontal or sloping rail intended for

handhold and grasping by hand for guidance or

support (see Figure B.4).

Dubai Building Code

Part B: Architecture

B 7

Hardscape:

Area of a project site, excluding buildings,

made with hard materials, including roads, car parks,

patios, courtyards and walkways.

Hazardous waste:

Waste material that can cause

substantial harm to humans, properties and/

or the environment due to its inherent hazardous

characteristics. Hazardous waste takes the form of

solid, liquid, sludge, gas or any combination thereof.

Healthcare:

Occupancy used to provide medical,

psychiatric, surgical, therapeutic treatment for people.

Helipad:

Dedicated structural surface used for the

landing, taking off, taxiing and parking of helicopters.

High-rise building:

Building height greater than or

equal to 23 m and up to 90 m, measured in accordance

with the UAE FLSC

[Ref. B.1]

. A more detailed

definition is given in UAE FLSC.

Hospital:

Building or portion thereof used on a 24 h

basis for the medical, psychiatric, obstetrical or surgical

care of four or more inpatients.

Hotel:

Building or groups of buildings under the

same management in which there are sleeping

accommodations for lodging with or without meals for

people on a transient basis.

Hotel apartments:

Collection of apartments or studios

that are rented to guests by the day, the week, the

month or the year.

Hotel establishment:

Hotels, guest houses, hotel

apartments or resorts.

Hotel suite:

Separate guest unit in a hotel that

contains one or more bedrooms with a living room and

other services.

Housekeeper’s room:

Attached or separate room or

unit on the same plot of land as the main building,

designated for the residence of housekeepers or other

maintenance staff such as gardeners, guards and

drivers.

Hybrid vehicle:

Vehicle using two different forms

of power, such as an electric motor and an internal

combustion engine, or an electric motor with a battery

and fuel cells for energy storage.

Illuminance:

Amount of light falling onto a surface area.

Industrial/factory/workshop:

Occupancy in which

products are manufactured or in which processing,

assembling, mixing, packaging, finishing, decorating, or

repair operations are conducted.

Figure B.4

Stair components

Key

01: Handrail

02: Tactile surface

03: Tread

04: Riser

Dubai Building Code

Part B: Architecture

B 8

Intersection:

Crossing of two or more roads.

Kiosk:

Temporary or permanent structure of

lightweight construction occupied as a retail outlet,

food outlet or service outlet. Kiosks are generally

located at malls, shopping centres, assembly areas and

exhibition centres.

Kitchen:

Place for the preparation of meals and

beverages.

Labour accommodation:

Building used for group

accommodation for workers of a company or a firm,

for which the sanitary facilities and other services are

common.

Landing:

Floor area at the top of a flight of stairs or

between two flights of stairs, or a platform or part of a

floor structure at the end of a ramp or at the entrance

to an elevator car.

Land use:

Activities, operations, or purposes that are

employed in a particular geographic area; the specific

manner in which a plot of land is utilized. Land use

is usually regulated through zoning and planning

regulations.

Level:

Ground or floor surface, or part of a surface,

having a slope of not more than 2% at any point and in

any direction.

Line of sight:

Imaginary line from the eye to a

perceived object or view.

Loading area:

Area used for loading or unloading

of vehicles, located entirely on private property and

provided with permanent independent access.

Lobby:

Entrance or foyer to a space or building which

acts as a transition area.

Local road:

A roadway with the primary function

of providing access to adjacent properties and to

roadways of a higher functional classification.

Local species:

Local plants and plants adapted to the

local environment.

Low-rise building:

Building height less than or up to

15 m, measured in accordance with the UAE FLSC

[Ref. B.1]

. A more detailed definition is given in

UAE FLSC.

Low-depth underground building:

Building up to 7 m

below or having up to two basements below the level of

exit discharge, measured in accordance with the UAE

FLSC

[Ref. B.1]

. A more detailed definition is given in

UAE FLSC.

Main building:

Building used for the main or prime

functional use within the plot.

Mall:

Pedestrian area within a building that serves as

access for multiple tenants with levels that are open to

each other. A covered mall has an enclosed or roofed

common pedestrian way. An open mall has an unroofed

common pedestrian way.

Massing:

Overall mass or size of a building or project,

its physical volume or magnitude.

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.

Means of egress:

Continuous and unobstructed route

from any point in a building or structure to a public

way.

Mechanical parking:

Parking areas employing parking

machines, lifts, elevators or other mechanical devices

for vehicles moving from and to street level. Public

occupancy is prohibited above street level.

Mezzanine floor:

Intermediate level or levels between

the floor and ceiling of any storey equal to or less than

one-third of the floor it is contained in. A partial floor

greater than one-third of the floor it is contained in is a

floor, not a mezzanine.

Mid-rise building:

Building height greater than 15 m

but less than 23 m, measured in accordance with the

UAE FLSC

[Ref. B.1]

. A more detailed definition is

given in UAE FLSC.

Mixed use building:

Building or structure containing

two or more occupancies.

Dubai Building Code

Part B: Architecture

B 9

Mosque, Awqat mosque:

Mosque building dedicated

for the daily five prayers, usually located in the

surrounding area of residential neighbourhoods.

Mosque, Eid Musalla:

Non-roofed open Musalla used

for Eid prayer congregation.

Mosque, Jumaa mosque:

Mosque building dedicated

for the daily five prayers and the Friday prayer

attended by a large number of worshippers.

Neighbour:

Any adjacent plot excluding roads and

sikkas.

Net area (NA):

Actual occupied area, not including

unoccupied accessory areas such as corridors,

stairways, ramps, toilet rooms, mechanical rooms and

closets.

Net floor height:

Net distance between the finished

floor level (FFL) of a floor and the exposed surface of

the floor celling.

Nosing:

Projecting front edge of a stair tread or

landing that can be rounded, chamfered or otherwise

shaped.

Occupancy:

Purpose for which a building or portion

thereof is used or intended to be used.

Occupant load:

Total number of persons that might

occupy a building or portion thereof.

Occupiable space:

Room or enclosed space designed

for human occupancy in which individuals congregate

for amusement, labour, educational or similar purposes.

Office:

Building or space within a building in which

business, clerical, or professional activities are

conducted.

Open parking:

Parking occupancy where each parking

level has permanent wall openings for natural

ventilation purposes. The exterior sides of the

structure have uniformly distributed openings on two

or more sides. The area of such openings in external

walls on a level is not less than 20% of the total

perimeter wall area of each level. The total width of

all of the openings considered to be providing natural

ventilation is not less than 40% of the perimeter of the

level.

Open space:

Portion of a plot or a building level that

is set aside for public or private use and that is not

occupied by rooms or equipment. The space may

be used for passive or active recreation or may be

reserved to protect or buffer natural areas.

Ornamental elements:

Elements that are added to the

building for purpose of beautification or for expressing

a certain message or a symbol.

Pantry:

Place for food preparation process or storage.

Parking:

Building, structure, or portion thereof used for

the parking, storage, or both, of motor vehicles.

Parking bay:

Area occupied by a single vehicle

depending on the position in which the vehicle is

parked.

Parapet wall:

Part of a wall entirely above the roof line.

Paved:

Use of blacktop, asphalt, concrete or other

similar substance to create a smooth surface, including

bituminous penetration, but not the use of dirt, clay,

slag or stone.

People of determination:

People with specific needs

or disabilities, who are suffering from a temporary or

permanent, full or partial deficiency or infirmity in their

physical, sensory, mental, communication, educational

or psychological abilities.

Pergola:

Shading device using solid material normally

used for ornamentation or for shading (see Figure B.5).

Figure B.5

Pergola

Key

01: Pergola

Dubai Building Code

Part B: Architecture

B 10

Planning regulations:

Control by planning Authorities

for the use of land and buildings, the height and

massing of buildings, the density of population, and

the relation of a plot’s building coverage to open space,

the size and location of yards and setbacks, and the

provision of any ancillary facilities such as parking.

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.

Plot boundary:

Boundary dividing one plot from

another, or from a street or any public place.

Plot coverage:

Horizontal area occupied by all main

and annex buildings on the same plot, calculated from

the external surfaces of external walls or useful roofed

balconies in the ground or upper floors, whichever have

more floor projections.

Podium (tower base):

Lower group of floors of a tower

which might or might not include the ground floor, and

have different planning requirements from the typical

floors of the tower.

Post-consumer recycled content:

Waste material

generated by households or any other public or private

facilities in their role as end-users of the product,

which can no longer be used for its original intended

purpose.

Prayer room:

Dedicated room or space in buildings

used to perform Islamic prayers which might or might

not be used for group prayers.

Pre-consumer recycled content:

Material diverted from

the waste stream during the manufacturing process.

Reutilization of materials (i.e. rework, regrind or scrap

generated in a process and capable of being reclaimed

within the same process that generated it) is excluded.

Project:

Construction of a permanent building, or any

other civil work on a leased property including any

modifications or installations in pre-built facilities.

Public use:

Availability of interior or exterior rooms,

spaces or elements for use by the public. Public use can

be provided at a building or facility that is privately or

publicly owned.

Public way:

Street, alley, or other plot of land open

to the outside air, leading to a street, that has

been deeded, dedicated or otherwise permanently

appropriated for public use, and has a clear width and

height of not less than 3 m.

Ramp:

Inclined solid flat plane that is steeper than 5%

from the horizontal.

Recovery:

Processing waste to serve a useful purpose

by replacing other materials which would otherwise

have been used to fulfil that function. Examples include

using waste to generate energy, or converting organic

waste into compost.

Recycling:

Processing used materials into new products

in order to prolong the life of useful material, reduce

the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy

usage, and reduce air and water pollution by reducing

the need for “conventional” waste disposal.

Reflectance:

Measure of light reflected in a given

direction by a surface and which is expressed in a unit

term from 0 to 100 scale, respectively, that represents

a grey scale progression from the notional extremes of

total light absorption (black) to total light reflection

(white).

Refuse chute:

Passage, commonly used in high-rise

buildings, through which waste is carried by means of

gravity to a waste container at the lower end.

Regulations:

Rules and statutes set by permitting or

other governmental Authorities.

Residential:

Occupancy that provides sleeping

accommodation with independent cooking and

bathroom facilities where people live on a permanent

basis.

Dubai Building Code

Part B: Architecture

B 11

Residential unit:

Single unit providing complete,

independent living facilities for one or more persons,

including permanent provisions for living, sleeping,

eating, cooking and sanitation. An apartment can be a

type of residential unit.

Retail:

Occupancy used for the stocking, display and

sale of goods, wares or merchandise.

Reuse:

Activity that lengthens the life of an item,

typically consisting of returning the item to active use

in the same or related capacity.

Right of way (ROW):

Strip of land occupied or intended

to be occupied by a road, sidewalk, crosswalk, railroad,

electric transmission line, oil or gas pipeline, water line,

sanitary storm sewer, and other similar uses; the right

of one to pass over the property of another.

Riser:

Near-vertical element in a set of stairs, forming

the space between one step and the next (see Figure

B.4).

Road or street:

Public or private road allocated for

vehicles or pedestrian use or both, except for sikka as

defined in land use classification and regulations in

Dubai.

Roof:

Floor or part of, located at the top level of the

building and usually used for machinery and services

equipment and/or providing building amenities and

open spaces.

Roof deck:

Flat or sloped surface not including its

supporting members or vertical supports.

Self-closing (of a door or other opening protective

device):

Equipped with a device that enables closure

from any position, and against any latch fitted, after

having been opened.

Service corridor:

Fully enclosed passage used for

transporting of goods and services.

Service entrance:

Entrance intended primarily for

delivery of goods or services.

Shading device:

Projecting fixture that extends outside

the external wall of any building, or a cover (such as

a louver), to protect any door or window from rain or

solar effect.

Shaft:

Enclosed unoccupied space extending through

one or more stories of a building, connecting vertical

openings in successive floors, or floors and roof.

Showroom:

Space allocated for conducting a trading

business, such as displaying commodities for purpose

of wholesale or retail sale.

Sidewalk:

Hard-surfaced walk or raised path along and

parallel to the side of the street for pedestrians.

Signage:

Displayed verbal, symbolic and pictorial

information.

Sikka:

Public or private path separating two adjacent

plots or a group of adjacent plots, that can be used by

pedestrians as a primary or secondary access to any

plot.

Site:

Plot of land bounded by a plot line or a designated

portion of a public right-of-way. A site can be a single

plot or multiple plots together.

Skylight or overhead glazing:

Glass or other

transparent or translucent glazing material installed at

a slope of 15° or more from vertical.

Solar reflectance index (SRI):

Index that combines

reflectivity and emissivity, measuring a material’s

ability to reject solar heat. SRI is defined such that a

standard black (reflectance 0.05 and emittance 0.90) is

0 and a standard white (reflectance 0.80 and emittance

0.90) is 100. Materials with higher SRI absorb less heat

and can reduce heat island effect.

Space:

Identifiable area including room, toilet, hall,

assembly area, entrance, storage room, alcove,

courtyard or lobby.

Staff accommodation:

Building or part thereof in

which sleeping units are provided and/or rented, and

with private toilets and shared cooking facilities, for

joint occupancy by staff members affiliated with a

university, hospital, school or similar institutions.

Stage:

Raised area within a building used for the

presentation of music, plays or other entertainment;

the head table for special guests; the raised area for

lecturers and speakers; boxing and wrestling rings;

theatre stages; and similar purposes.

Dubai Building Code

Part B: Architecture

B 12

Stair:

Change in elevation, consisting of one or more

risers.

Staircase:

Space inside the building within which the

stairs are erected.

Stairway:

One or more flights of stairs, either

exterior or interior, with necessary landings and

platforms connecting them to form a continuous and

uninterrupted passage from one level to another.

Structure:

Constructed, erected material or

combination of materials which requires being located

on the ground or attached to something located on the

ground.

Student accommodation:

Building or part thereof

in which sleeping units are provided for occupancy

by university, school or other educational institute’s

students and which is regulated by such institution.

Studio:

Independent residential unit with combined

living room and bedroom and space provision for food

preparation and sanitation.

Super high-rise building:

Building height greater than

90 m, measured in accordance with the UAE FLSC

[Ref. B.1]

. A more detailed definition is given in

UAE FLSC.

Swimming pool:

Constructed pool for swimming,

bathing or wading whether above or below the ground

surface regardless of depth or water surface area.

Tandem parking:

Two or more parking bays with one of

the spaces placed behind the other.

Terrace:

Covered or uncovered platform or roof,

protected by a guardrail or parapet wall and supported

by the structure of the floor below.

Toilet stall:

Cubicle within a public toilet constructed

with demountable partitions or walls surrounding a

water closet.

Tread:

Stepping space in a stair flight to set the foot

(see Figure B.4).

Vehicle access:

Roadway, usually paved, intended to

provide ingress and egress of vehicular traffic from a

public right-of-way to a building entrance or parking

area.

Vehicle barrier:

Component or system of components,

near open sides of a parking floor or ramp or building

walls that act as restraints for vehicles.

Warehouse:

Occupancy used primarily for the storage

or sheltering of goods, merchandise, products, or

vehicles.

Waste:

Unwanted or unusable materials which are

discarded after their primary use.

Waste room:

Room dedicated for the purpose of

holding, prior to disposal, waste generated in the

building. This room can be located within the plot limits

or within building enclosure, subject to the approval of

Authorities.

Waste segregation:

Separation or sorting of waste

materials into their respective fractions, such as the

separation of recyclables.

Water closet:

Toilet bowl and its attached accessories.

Wayfinding:

System of providing appropriate

information to assist a person to pass through the built

environment towards a specific destination. Wayfinding

includes orienting oneself, knowing one’s destination,

following the best route, recognizing one’s destination

and finding one’s way back out.

Wind towers:

Shelter with 50% of its area open to the

sky usually constructed to enhance the architectural

beauty of a building or to suit a certain climate need.

Dubai Building Code

Part B: Architecture

B 13

B.2.2

Acronyms and abbreviations

Ch.

Chapter

DCR

Development Control Regulations

DBC

Dubai Building Code

DCAA

Dubai Civil Aviation Authority

DHA

Dubai Health Authority

DHCA

Dubai Healthcare City Authority

DCD

Dubai Civil Defence

DEWA

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority

Dubai Municipality

DM PH&SD

Dubai Municipality, health and safety

department

DTCM

Department of Tourism and Commerce

Marketing

EIA

environment impact assessment

EIAR

environment impact assessment report

EIAS

environment impact assessment summary

EMC

electromagnetic compatibility

FFL

finished floor level

FGI

Facility Guidelines Institute

ground floor

gross area

IBC

International Building Code

LPG

liquefied petroleum gas

MEP

mechanical, electrical and plumbing

net area

RCC

reinforced concrete

RMU

ring main unit

RTA

Roads and Transport Authority

SRI

solar reflectance index

TIA

traffic impact assessment

TIS

traffic impact study

UAE FLSC

United Arab Emirates Fire and Life Safety Code

of Practice

Dubai Building Code

Part B: Architecture

B 14

BS EN 14010:2003+A1:2009, Safety of machinery

– Equipment for power driven parking of motor

vehicles – Safety and EMC requirements for design,

manufacturing, erection and commissioning stages
DIN 30722-1, Roller contact tipper vehicles, roller

containers – Part 1:Roller contact tipper vehicles up to

26 t, roller containers type 1570 made from steel
DIN 30722-2, Roller contact tipper vehicles, roller

containers – Part 2: Roller contact tipper vehicles up to

32 t, roller containers type 1570 made from steel.
DIN 30722-3, Roller contact tipper vehicles, roller

containers – Part 3: Roller contact tipper vehicles up to

12 t, roller containers type 900 made from steel
ISO 14021, Environmental labels and declarations

– Self-declared environmental claims (Type II

environmental labelling)
PD ISO/TS 22002-2, Prerequisite programmes on

food safety – Catering

Ref. B.1

UAE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR GENERAL

COMMAND OF CIVIL DEFENCE, 2018. UAE Fire and

Life Safety Code of Practice (UAE FLSC). United Arab

Emirates: Ministry of Interior General Command of

Civil Defence.

Ref. B.2

ROADS AND TRANSPORT AUTHORITY,

2017. RTA Railway Protection Code for the Emirate of

Dubai, Seventh Edition. Dubai: Roads and Transport

Authority.

Ref. B.3

DUBAI HEALTH AUTHORITY, 2012. Hospital

regulation. Dubai: Dubai Health Authority.

Ref. B.4

DUBAI HEALTH AUTHORITY, 2012.

Standards for day surgery centers. Dubai: Dubai

Health Authority.

Ref. B.5

DUBAI HEALTH AUTHORITY, 2012.

Outpatient care facilities regulation. Dubai: Dubai

Health Authority.

Ref. B.6

DUBAI HEALTH AUTHORITY, 2012. Clinical

laboratory regulation. Dubai: Dubai Health Authority.

Ref. B.7

DUBAI HEALTH AUTHORITY, 2012.

Diagnostic imaging services regulation. Dubai: Dubai

Health Authority.

Ref. B.8

DUBAI HEALTH AUTHORITY, 2013. Dental

laboratory regulation. Dubai: Dubai Health Authority.

Ref. B.9

DUBAI HEALTH AUTHORITY, 2014. School

clinic regulation. Dubai: Dubai Health Authority.

Ref. B.10

DUBAI HEALTH AUTHORITY, 2016.

Regulation for oncology services. Dubai: Dubai Health

Authority.

Ref. B.11

DUBAI HEALTH AUTHORITY, 2016. Optical

center and optometry services. Dubai: Dubai Health

Authority.

B.3.1

Essential references

ASCE/SEI 7-16, Minimum design loads and associated

criteria for buildings and other structures

ASTM F1346-91, Standard performance specification

for safety covers and labelling requirements for all

covers for swimming pools, spas and hot tubs

BS 1703, Refuse chutes and hoppers – Specification

BS EN 840-1, Mobile waste and recycling containers

– Containers with 2 wheels with a capacity up to 400 l

for comb listing devices – Dimensions and design
BS EN 840-2, Mobile waste and recycling containers –

Containers with 4 wheels with a capacity up to 1,300 l

with flat lid(s), for trunnion and/or comb lifting devices

– Dimensions and design
BS EN 840-3, Mobile waste and recycling containers –

Containers with 4 wheels with a capacity up to

1,300 l with dome lid(s), for trunnion and/or comb

lifting devices – Dimensions and design
BS EN 840-4, Mobile waste and recycling containers –

Containers with 4 wheels with a capacity up to

1,700 l with flat lid(s), for wide trunnion or BG- and/or

wide comb lifting devices – Dimensions and design
BS EN 12574-1, Stationary waste containers –

Containers with a capacity up to 10,000 l with flat or

dome lid(s), for trunnion, double trunnion or pocket

lifting devices – Dimensions and design

B.3 References

Dubai Building Code (2021) - page 2