Getting A Helping Hand For Setting Up Your Restaurant Business In Dubai

Since Dubai is a fast-growing Emirate in the UAE through its stable and rising economy. Many investors and developers are getting involved with different kinds of businesses here. In order to start up a business here in Dubai, there are many kinds of approvals a business owner needs to process. And there are specific government departments for each kind of Dubai approvals. 

Understanding the Dubai Development Authority (DDA) Approval Process

DDA which stands for Dubai Development Authorities is responsible for the establishment and registration of companies situated in the Free Zone Business Communities and Dubai Design District. The Authority’s focal points are Real estate planning and development control, Regulatory and licensing services governing all strategic projects and industries within its jurisdiction, and Industry development. Therefore, in getting business permits, building permits, and other necessary permits to start up a business in Dubai, DDA is one of the government departments you should visit.

Documents for a Smooth DDA Approval

Some documents will need to be prepared beforehand like:

• Trade of License
• Title Deed
• Ejari or Tenancy Contract
• Copy of Owner’s Passport, Emirates ID and Visa
• Site Plan
• Copy of drawings
• Building management

These are the basic documents that should be completed for the DDA Approval application. 
To avoid problems with the documents and processing, there are companies in Dubai that are offering services for consultancies and approvals. Dubai Approvals Team is a one-stop solution for clients who need DDA approval for their building projects. Together with the partnership of DAT Architecture & Engineering Consultants, we can provide a complete set of quality services to our clients. 
Below is the process for DDA Approval.

Tips to Get DDA Approval in Dubai

• Submission of application to a trained DDA representative, who checks and discusses the application before putting it into their system. This helps with the submission as all documents and drawings are checked carefully for explication. After submitting the application, progress and comments can be accessed online.
• The approval process usually takes three to four working days. Once the permit is released, we then start deploying our teams into their respective work areas.
• If the project requires remodeling, DDA may request a first fix inspection to pinpoint any issues and be resolve them quickly.
• A final inspection will take place after completing all the work. If final approval is acquired, then the business can immediately start.

Why Choose Dubai Approvals Team for Your DDA Approval Needs

Dubai Approvals Team pledge for every project’s successful completion and to maintain the best relationship with our respected clients who wholly give their trust unto us. We are committed to every project we deal with to make sure that we can provide a solid solution to every client’s needs.
 

Driven by a growing population, the United Arab Emirates has experienced an unparalleled hike in the food industry. As per the facts and figures suggested by Business Registration and Licensing (BRL), Dubai witnessed a total number of 11,813 restaurants and cafes in the year 2018.
This has made it quite easy for business holders to do business in the city with their favorite cuisines and business strategies influenced by the taste, population, interests, infrastructure, or anything else. Opening a restaurant in Dubai isn’t as easy as it seems this is why the Dubai Approvals Team is there to make the approval process easy for you.

How to open a restaurant business in Dubai?

For a rookie, setting up a restaurant business in Dubai may seem to be a quite daunting task. This is why you need professional assistance to strategize each and everything accordingly. If you don’t want to be in any legal trouble with the authorities, you should always follow the rules. Here are the steps involved in opening a restaurant in Dubai. Have a look!

1. Drafting a business plan 

A professional business plan is indispensable to make your business successful in the latter days. Along with that, you need to do the SWOT analysis, prepare a contingency plan for adverse situations and a finance plan, target marketing, market survey, break-even analysis, cash flow projections, and a lot more. Every factor can be a vital force to determine the success of your business, so keep these in mind before opening a restaurant in Dubai.

2. Food and Trading License

You need to acquire the food and trading license first, and for this, you need to approach the Department of Food and Safety whereas for the trade license, you need to go to the Department of Economic Development (DED) which may cost you around ED10,000 to AED12,000. Along with this, you also need to get approval from the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM Dubai) as well.

3. Location preferences

The next vital step in Opening a restaurant in Dubai is to find the ideal location for your business. If you are planning to open a restaurant in the mainland area, then the approval of the DED authorities is inevitable. In this case, the owner will have 49% of the shares, while the sponsors will hold 51% of the shares. For free zones the consent of the free zone authority is necessary. Though you may gain authority over 100% of the shares, your trade will be restricted. 

4. Getting the right documents

The documents required for starting a business in Dubai include a trading license, NOC from a local municipality, Food and safety license, Liquor, Ramadan, Pork and permit, and common professional licenses, as well as certifications for the trained staff, which can be a cherry on the top. Once all these documents are obtained, every business can function without any interference.
But all this isn’t as easy as it appears on the surface. Get in touch with the professionals of the Dubai Approvals Team and start your business within no time as you get the approvals in the minimal possible time.

5. Food Control Department

Before opening a restaurant in Dubai, it is extremely crucial to take into consideration the exact role that the Food Control Department would play. This department is mainly responsible for making sure that the restaurants and food outlets offer safe and hygienic cuisines to the customers. 
Thus its guidelines must be strictly adhered to by the new restaurant. From the very start of food production to it is presented to the customers at their table, the focus must be paid to the hygiene factor. Following the proper food code would play a vital role and help the business to have strong and long-lasting goodwill in the market.  

In case you think that the rules and guidelines of the Food Control Department would restrict the restaurant business in Dubai, you are mistaken. The specifications that have been presented by the department would guide the new restaurant to focus on the quality of the wide variety of food. 

The food code would provide updated guidelines relating to the food safety standards and regulations so that a win-win situation could arise for the business as well as the customers. The focal points would include the protection of the health of the consumers and obtaining a safe environment. Thus some of the main areas of business processes that would have to be designed to meet the food safety requirements include the availability of adequate space for making food and the sanity of the spaces including the kitchen and restroom. 

Similarly, the exact location of the kitchen equipment would play a key role in making sure that healthy food items are prepared. The entry and exit passages must be used systematically so that no unauthorized individual or party can enter the kitchen premises. Hence the Food Control Department Dubai would play a key role in influencing the new restaurant business.

How to Start a Beauty Salon in Dubai: A Comprehensive Guide

Every person wants to look their best at all times with perfect grooming. Therefore, people want to get haircuts, manicures, pedicures, and other types of grooming services from time to time to look beautiful. This is one of the reasons why beauty salons are presently in high demand. You can find many beauty salons in urban areas for this reason. Surely seems like a good chance to open a beauty salon, doesn’t it? 

Dubai is known for its high standards of living and disposable income per capita. So, people in Dubai spend considerable amounts of money on maintaining their looks. These factors clearly show that a salon business would provide better returns on your investment! However, many people are not aware of how to open gents or ladies' salons in Dubai. This discussion would aim at providing details about the requirements for starting a salon in Dubai. 

Choosing the Right Type of Salon for Your Business

First things first, you need to get the basics in place before getting a ladies' or gents salon approvals in Dubai. The foremost aspect that you should decide on is the type of salon and the business options that you prefer for the salon. Regarding the type of salon, you need to verify the different types of services that you will provide in the salon. Also, you have to specify whether you want a men-only salon, a lady's salon, or a unisex salon. 

You should also decide clearly whether you need to start a salon business on your own, or you want to buy an existing salon franchise. Apart from these two options, you could also choose to purchase a functioning salon. Most important of all, it is essential to decide the type of involvement in the business, i.e., as an owner or as a partner. 

Key Financial Planning for Salon Owners in Dubai

The next important basic that you should focus on before the salon approval is the estimation of preliminary costs to start the salon business. This estimate could help you in planning the approach to obtain the money needed for the initial stages of a salon business. Furthermore, a clear and comprehensive plan to obtain the required finances for your salon business in Dubai could also help in the expansion of the business in the long term. 

The other essential factors that you should emphasize before obtaining a salon or even spa approval in Dubai include the location and awareness of legal implications. The awareness of legal precedents regarding a salon business in Dubai could help in refraining from unnecessary worries. In addition to the need for legal compliance, you should also focus on finding the perfect location for the salon. 

Mandatory Requirements for Salon Approvals in Dubai

Till now, we have taken note of the basic aspects required for starting a salon business in Dubai. Let us look at the mandatory requirements from a salon to get approval. 

Step-by-Step Process to Get Salon Approvals in Dubai,

• You need to get approval for the location of your salon from the planning department of Dubai Municipality.
• The salon should have sufficient lighting alongside appropriate and clean furniture in place. 
• The minimum dimensions of the dressing chairs in the salon should be 3.5m in length and 3.0m in width. 
• The minimum distance between the floor and the ceiling for a beauty salon should be 2.30m.
• The essential facilities that should be included in the salon include the use of fireproofing materials for the preparation area for the hair removal materials. A water heater, as well as cupboards and drawers for storing cosmetics and towels, are also mandatory requirements. You also need to have a washbasin near the facial treatment area.  
• You need to have a separate area for different beauty treatments such as hair removal, manicures, and pedicures. The minimum dimensions of this area should be 2.50m x 1.50m along with a proper partition in place.

With all the information presented above in this discussion, it could be a simple task to start your salon business in Dubai! Let Dubai Approvals Team handle all the legal and approval processes for you! Contact us today

The option for purchasing or renting a property in Dubai could be simple now with the assistance of Emaar's approval. A few years back, if you were a foreigner in Dubai, then it could have been difficult to get ownership of a property. However, times have changed, and foreigners could easily buy property in Dubai. On the other hand, there are certain concerns that you should focus on to get the job done simply.

You should have a comprehensive awareness of the mandatory factors needed to apply for an Emaar approval as well as the guidelines related to it. The following discussion will illustrate information such as reasons to choose Emaar and the requirements to get approval for Emaar properties.

Dubai is gradually gaining recognition for its world-class infrastructure. Starting from skyscrapers to luxury residential properties as well as business establishments, Dubai has it all! The industrial revolution in Dubai has been a formidable driver for increasing the number of visitors.

Job seekers, tourists, and aspiring business ventures are finding their way to Dubai in large numbers. Therefore, it is most likely that the demand for real estate would increase gradually. As a foreigner, individuals should know how to apply for real estate approval with Emaar properties.

Reasons to Choose Emaar

Now, you would be thinking about the exact reasons for which Emaar approval is essential for owning a property in Dubai. Emaar has been a prominent player in guiding the development of Dubai since 1997 and has been involved with various notable projects.

Some of the projects of Emaar that you could find attractive are the Dubai Mall and best of all, the Burj Khalifa! Most important of all, an understanding of the guidelines to obtain Emaar approval is crucial. After all, Emaar is the one company that has helped foreign investors to purchase or invest in properties in Dubai.

One of the prominent factors for which you would need Emaar's approval is the provision of sophisticated properties for clients. You can get some of the best properties in Dubai with the help of Emaar and that too at reasonable prices! Furthermore, the easy payment plans of Emaar can also be taken into account for choosing Emaar.

Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for Emaar Approval

The process to apply for Emaar approval is quite simple, and it starts with accessing the Emaar online portal. You need to create an account first on the online portal and then register your account with all the necessary credentials. The online portal is your one-stop solution to gain Emaar approvals. The Emaar online portal can be used to apply for the Title Deed through the online application, request for NOC as well as applications for approvals to modify villas or any properties of Emaar.

Mandatory Requirements for Emaar Approval

It is also essential to observe the basic requirements needed for getting Emaar approval. Just to make the process easy, you can use this information to prepare to get an Emaar approval. Foreigners have to submit a copy of their passport and locals are required to submit a copy of their passport as well as copies of their Emirates ID and visa. In addition to this, investors would have to give almost 10% of the property’s value as a down payment. During the registration process, investors would have to pay four percent of the property’s value as well as 3000 AED to the Dubai Land Department (DLD).

Guidelines for Hassle-Free Emaar Approval
The basic guideline to apply for Emaar approval is to follow the steps mentioned above for application carefully. Also, you need to have the right documents with you along with their copies to prevent any sort of confusion. The other guidelines that can help you get through the Emaar approval process easily can be presented as follows.

After understanding the basic requirements to apply for Emaar approval, it is reasonable to focus on the necessity of choosing an agency that could get you the approval easily. Professional agencies dealing with services for approvals from notable government authorities in Dubai can be helpful support. Their experience in real estate, as well as the activities of Emaar, could be a source of advantage for investors.

Also, the agencies could provide clear details about the essential requirements to obtain Emaar approval. It is highly important to adhere strictly to the regulations established by the Emaar Alterations Department to get the approval. Furthermore, investors could be able to get insights into the suitable property options in different areas of Dubai. This surely seems like a way to get the best out of your investment in real estate in Dubai, doesn’t it?

On a closing note, you could be able to get an Emaar approval easily by following the information mentioned above. However, don’t forget to get the services of an expert approval agency.

Let Dubai Approvals Team handle it for you. Contact us today for a seamless and stress-free experience! Get expert assistance for Emaar approvals. Call us now!
 

Also, read How to Get Approval from Trakhees

Before commencing any work related to the planning and construction of a project under the Dubai Municipality or DM jurisdiction, it is important to first acquire approvals from the Dubai Municipality. DM Dubai provides various approvals for individual, commercial, and Government services, i.e., individuals, businesses, as well as Government bodies need to acquire a permit or approval before commencing any project work in Dubai.

Comprehensive Guide to Dubai Municipality (DM) Approvals 

let’s discuss some of the approvals provided by DM and what procedure it requires for you to get a DM approval.

New Building Permit from DM:

The building department of DM provides approvals for new buildings. Any individual, business, or Government body with a proposed building plan can avail of this service and get DM approvals for their project. The approval can be acquired for either a Structural plan, or Architectural Plan, or both. The various types of projects that are covered under this service include single and multi-story buildings, industrial structures, villas, and floor ratio areas. Before commencing any physical on-site, it is important to get the primary DM approval to make sure the project work is as per the standards and guidelines of Dubai Municipality, otherwise, no physical work should be started. However, Dubai Municipality does not require you to get primary approval, instead, you can directly apply for final approval.

Process to Get a New Building Permit from the Dubai Municipality Department:

To make sure you get the approval easily, you must follow the given procedure:

• Following the approval from DM, you will get your permit from the DM website.
• When all the documents are successfully submitted, you will be required to pay certain fees. In the case of villas and multi-story buildings (up to 7 floors), an amount of 100 AED is to be paid. 150 AED is to be paid for multi-story buildings with more than 7 floors and 250 AED is to be paid for floor ratio area buildings. Once the payment is done, you will receive a payment voucher.
• Visit the DM website and apply for the New Building permit. You will be required to submit the structural and architectural drawing as per the type of service you are applying for.
• From the date of submission, within 3-5 working days, you will receive a reply from DM regarding the approval or rejection of your application.
• If the application is rejected, you should then check for the amendments in your application and then re-submit your application on the DM website. The entire process of approval or rejection takes up to 5 working days.

Approval for the issue or renewal of DM Plans

This service is provided by the Survey Department of DM and provides various sub-services like Land Boundary information, zoning regulations, approved number of floors, use of land, land area, setback area, owner of the title, etc. The most important benefit of this service is that it does not take any long duration of time, i.e., in case of renewal of villas, you can get the approval within 15 minutes, and the rest of the services take only 1 working day.

The process to get Dubai Municipality Approval for new or renewal of DM plans:

To ensure a smooth procedure for this approval, follow the given instructions:

• Once your application is reviewed, you will receive notifications regarding the approval or rejection from DM via SMS.
• Visit the Dubai Municipality website, call the customer care center of DM, visit Al Manara Center on Sheikh Zayed Road, or visit the Al Tawar Center in Deira, or Hatta Center, and submit the application form. You will have to submit your UAE identity proof.
• Once you apply, a DM plan to register land will be issued to you. For this step, you will be required to submit a copy of the Land Department plan not more than 2 years old, and a delegation letter, if your land is within government projects.
• Now you will be required to pay the fees of 200 AED. You will receive a payment voucher that may be helpful for future queries.
• Apart from villas, all other services take 1 working day to complete.

There are several other approvals provided by the Dubai Municipality authority which can be availed from the official website of DM or various DM-approved offline centers. The Dubai Municipality approvals process can be very easy but understanding the nature of your project and then submitting the application for the service can be very complex. If you are also looking forward to getting DM Approval, then do not worry and leave all the difficulties and complexities to us. Our experts at Dubai Approvals Team will help you step by step so that you can get your Dubai Approvals on time without any hassle.

We also help you get approvals from various other authorities like Trakhees, DEWA, NAKHEEL, DSO, JAFZA, Food Control Department, EMAAR, RTA, TECOM and DCCA, and Warehouse approvals. So, Contact Us, save your precious time, and start working on your dreams right away.

Warehouses are required to abide by certain Building Regulations and Design Guidelines to get warehouse approval for both establishments and any subsequent Fit-out modifications done to them. The approvals are demarcated between 2 jurisdictions. Warehouses located in Al Quoz, Dubai Investment Parks, and Ras Al Khor come under the jurisdiction of the “Dubai Municipality and Civil Defense” whereas, the Jebel Ali Free Economic Zone (JAFZA) is required to get a Trakhees Approval for Warehouse.

General Guidelines for Warehouse Approval

• The locations for warehouses are required to be chosen as special areas usually set aside for industrial types of work. This is as per the Land Use and Classification and Regulations in the Emirates.
• Unless considered otherwise by the authority, warehouses are required to provide skylight openings of at least 5% of the floor area in order to provide natural ventilation and lighting.
• The net internal height of any storage area such as a depot or a workshop must be between 4 and 9 meters in height unless indicated otherwise by the authority.
• A maximum limit of 20% of the industrial area can be set aside to set up commercial activity. Outside of this area, commercial activity or goods display for trading cannot be carried out.
• Provisions for canteen, pantry, and changing rooms with lockers are required to be provided for employees. People with disabilities may be employed only when special provisions for them are incorporated into the design of the space.
• Kitchens and related cooking activities are not allowed on site.

Sanitary Provisions:

• Wash closets (WC) and Basins (WB) are required to be provided for male and female staff at the rate of 1 per 25 staff. If the staff number exceeds 100 then W’s and WB’s are to be provided at the rate of 1 per 40 urinals.
• Toilet corridors need to have a minimum width of 1.2 meters with stall dimensions of 0.9 X 1.25 meters.
• Vending equipment, waste receptacles, and dispensers need to be 1 meter above the floor level with the waste receptacles embedded into the walls out of the way of people.
• Common toilets for both sexes are prohibited and doors to male and female washrooms are to be separated well. Self-closing doors are to be provided wherever possible.

Parking provisions:

• 1 parking space per 50 square meters of office space to be provided. For vehicles such as buses, parking space provided depends on the operations carried out and the number of workers. Parking provision for visitors is 10% of the space provided for the staff.
• Construction of perimeter fencing must be on the property and must not exceed 2.4 meters in height.
• The minimum width of all warehouse doors is 3 meters.

Mezzanine floor constraints:

• A mezzanine floor is simply an intermediate floor space provided above the warehouse floor. Its function may pertain to the space below or above it.
• 100% of the mezzanine floor can be used for car parking or as an extension of the building’s usage purpose.
• Balconies or terraces are not permitted to be built on mezzanine floors and second mezzanines are not permitted when the first one is being detached and used independently.
• The internal height of the ground floor has to be a minimum of 3 meters. With the addition of a half mezzanine floor, it has to be between 2.4 – 4 meters. Finally, with the addition of a full mezzanine, the permitted internal height is between 2.6 and 3 meters.
• Mezzanine floors installed must be done so without disturbing the existing warehouse structures.

Fire safety provisions:

• Smoke detectors are required to be fitted in every partitioned area within the building and tested by an EHS (Environment, Health, and Safety home)-Approved Fire contractor.
• Fire extinguishers of 9-pound water type and 5-pound capacity carbon dioxide type must be provided at strategic locations on site.
• Sprinkler systems are to be provided where there is storage of fire-hazardous material and sprinkler piping systems are to be tested and approved by the concerned Fire department.

Any Fit-out / Modifications that are made to existing warehouse structures require an inspection by the Trakhees authorities to obtain a Fit-out/Modification completion certificate. We can help you in getting a Trakhees approval as well apart from the Warehouse Approval.

Dubai is one of the countries that has been recording immense development over the years. Many industries have been coming up yearly creating a big job market for many Dubai people thus the growth of the economy of Dubai. With this immense economic growth, there arose a need to have a body that would oversee the management of infrastructure. The rapid growth of buildings and other infrastructure requires strict guidelines to ensure that quality is not compromised. For this reason, Trakhees regulations and standards were then created, in 2009, with the main intent of guaranteeing the development of very sustainable and environmentally friendly structures.

Trakhees is in charge of various entities such as lands, port areas, Dubai World, and other areas within its mandate. Additionally, Trakhees is also responsible for the issuance of business licenses and approvals in the development of certain areas in Dubai. Trakhees is comprised of four sections that all ensure quality and efficiency are maintained in infrastructural development. These sections include the Environment, Health and Safety Department, Commercial Licensing Department, Civil Engineering Department, and Corporate Excellence Department.

If you wish to get Trakhees Approval, you have to follow a few guidelines listed below:

Regulatory Requirements:

• No construction work should start without approval from the Civil Engineering Department of Trakhees,
• Approval from Nakheel Asset Management.
• Adherence to rules of Dubai World Community Regulations.
• Day-care and nursery amenities should comply with guidelines for Children's Care

General Guidelines:

• The owner of any premises is solely responsible for all waste management and disposal.
• The unleased area can never be used by the owner.
• Services offered should be in line with those detailed in the license given.
• Any modification work should not compromise the quality of the building.
• Salon facilities should adhere to the rules and guidelines of Beauty Salons Cosmetics as per EHS.

Facility Requirements:

• Workers should be provided with adequate lockers and changing rooms within the premises.
• Washroom facilities on the premises should be up to standard and both men and women should have separate washroom amenities.
• According to the type of business, there should be adequate space.
• Lightning standards should be adhered to as set by the authority.
• The premises should have well-structured means of ventilation both artificial and natural such that fresh air is never contaminated.
• Water is supplied by a supplier who is approved by the necessary body. Water is treated by a body approved by the Environment, Health and Safety Department.
• There must be adequate handwashing sites for workers on that premises.

Adherence to these rules is a must if you are looking forward to getting Trakhees approval. Other than the mentioned rules, you must also observe the space area, various business facilities are accorded different floor covers. Even after getting Trakhees approval for your business, that’s not all, you still need to ensure that you continue complying with these rules day in and day out. Trakhees online will help you understand these rules and regulations in a better way.

Dubai Approvals Team can help you get Trakhees approval easily without any hassle. Contact us today to know more.

Trakhees: The Backbone of Dubai’s Infrastructural Progress and EHS Approvals

Since the year 2009, the Trakhees Department of Planning and Development was introduced as an authority to oversee the infrastructural progress in Dubai. It hosts 4 key departments:

• Environment, Health and Safety Department (EHS)
• Department of Civil Engineering
• Department of Commercial Licensing (CLD)
• Department of Business Excellence

With the aid of these departments, Trakhees supervises all approvals related to land, complexes, port areas, and Free and Custom zone corporations, and even provides business licenses to certain development zones. Whatever your business, be it restaurant or healthcare-related, chances are you are after a Trakhees Approval. Now let us look specifically at the role of the EHS approval in Dubai.

The EHS, formerly known as the “Free Zone Industrial Operations and Control Department”, was established as a business unit to aid expansions by other units such as Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA). The main objective of the EHS Trakhees Dubai was to set the industry standards for Occupational Health, Safety, and Environmental protection for businesses. Since its establishment, the EHS has sought to increase compliance, and ease of administration, improve communication, forge collaborations, and improve client satisfaction. It conducts training programs and provides accreditation and awareness programs to this end.

As a part of the Trakhees EHS monitoring, documentation is divided into 9 key parts namely:

• Environmental Regulations
• Design and Development Regulations
• Construction Safety Regulations
• Industrial Operations Regulations
• Ports Operations Regulations
• Green Building Regulations
• Commercial and Retail Operations Regulations
• Food and Health Regulations and
• Fire Protection, Fire Prevention & Fire/Emergency Control Regulations

These regulations apply to all Business Units of Dubai World, their clients, and stakeholders operating within the jurisdiction of Trakhees-Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation. EHS works under a system of continuous approvals which means regular checks and certifications. Facilities cannot resume operations until the authority issues an Operation Fitness Certificate. The licensee is also responsible by law under Ministerial Decision N. (32) – 1982 and federal/state regulations, for the protection of their staff from work hazards, diseases, accidents, etc. that may result, with appropriate precautions in place.

Some General Conditions for Compliance of Trakhees EHS Approvals

If you are busy setting up a food or health-related service/outlet, then the EHS guidelines are a compulsory read as you can't proceed without their approval. The conditions are divided into regulatory and design/construction requirements.

Regulatory requirements encompass compliance with Dubai World Community regulations, UAE laws, EHS guidelines, Children Day Care Standards if you have a Day Care/Nursery, and other relevant licenses from Trakhees. Prior to EHS certification, there are some compliance procedures involving the Ministry of Health, Dubai Municipality, Police, and customs that require to be completed.

Design and Construction requirements include Waste disposal system, operating hour limitations, Parking space, electrical/construction work elements, and other licenses related to the type of trade or business being undertaken.

EHS-appointed inspectors are authorized to visit the facilities to ensure quality. Any non-conformities found are then brought to the attention of the concerned licensee and if no corrective action is taken, then sanctions are placed to maintain standards.

For complete information on these requirements visit this blog: Requirements to Obtain Trakhees Approval

The Dubai Municipality has come a long way since its establishment on February 28^th, 1957 by the first decree. It provides Dubai Municipal Approval and other services to the population of Dubai and its work includes urban planning, construction supervision, environmental protection and improvement, public parks conservation, regulating and ensuring international quality standards compliance in aspects such as

• construction and building materials
• food & consumable items
• professional services in laboratory certification and accreditation.

Having begun with just 3 operating employees, it has grown into an organization having more than 15,000 staff working in 32 organizational units, making it a major driving force in the development of Dubai City. With a vision of “Developing a happy and sustainable city,” the DM Approval is also instrumental in maintaining the architectural heritage of the emirate through the revival and maintenance of many cultural landmarks.

The Dubai Municipality is currently composed of 34 departments under six sectors, namely:

• Communication & Community Sector
• Corporate Support Sector
• General Support Sector
• Environmental Health & Safety Control Sector
• Environment & Public Health Services Sector
• Engineering & Planning Sector

The services offered by these sectors are segregated into individual, government, and business-centric, with the focus of DM Approval quality control on areas such as Environment and waste, Financial and business, building and land planning, lab testing and accreditation, Public health and consumer safety, drainage and irrigation, veterinary, agriculture and public markets services.

An example of planning assistance by DM

The Dubai Municipality or DM has a planning division that allows streamlined submissions to be made from the user end and a legislative system in place to demarcate its jurisdiction. One example of planning assistance is guidelines for submission of Masterplan for building plan proposals. Here, the applicant submits a draft proposal for preliminary assessment that covers ownership, on-site, and surrounding region description. Following this, a final assessment submission requires Non-Objection Certificates from the concerned local authorities (Dubai Police, Civil Aviation, Road Transport Authority, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, etc.) Finally, the DM Approval provides a “sign-off sheet” to all service authorities for their approval of the master plan.

After completing all these procedures, a follow-up application needs to be filed online at www.dm.gov.ae which consists of paying the application fee as well. A tutorial for filing this online application is available here. 

Non-Compliance crackdowns – Serious Quality Assurance

The year 2011 was a dramatic one for the DM. This was primarily due to the disconnection of utility services to many residential, industrial, and commercial buildings as a result of illegal modifications, partitions, and additions that were made. Warning notices were first sent following which heavy fines were levied to discourage non-compliance. Repeated offenses meant that utility services to the offenders were cut through the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA). Sometimes unauthorized changes to buildings also run the risk of a lack of fire exits or basic health requirements and ambiance quality like lighting and ventilation. Once the corrective action was taken, the services were restored to these locations.

If you are looking for Dubai Municipality Approvals, you can Contact Us.

Also, read Dubai Municipality (DM) approval in Dubai.

Warehouses are required to abide by certain Building Regulations and Design Guidelines to get a license and Dubai Approvals for both establishments and any subsequent Fit-out modifications done to them. The relevant Dubai Approvals for warehouse mezzanines are demarcated by various jurisdictions under different Dubai authorities. Warehouses located in Al Quoz, Dubai Investment Parks, and Ras Al Khor come under the jurisdiction of the Dubai Municipality and Dubai Civil Defence whereas, the Jebel Ali Free Economic Zone - JAFZA is required to get a Trakhees Approval.

How to get warehouse mezzanine approval in Dubai?

Let’s have a look at the general guidelines:

• The locations for warehouses are required to be chosen as special areas usually set aside for industrial types of work. This is as per the Land Use and Classification and Regulations in the Emirates.
• Unless considered otherwise by the authority, warehouses are required to provide skylight openings of at least 5% of the floor area in order to provide natural ventilation and lighting.
• The net internal height of any storage area such as a depot or a workshop must be between 4 and 9 meters in height unless indicated otherwise by the authority.
• A maximum limit of 20% of the industrial area can be set aside to set up commercial activity. Outside of this area, commercial activity or goods display for trading cannot be carried out.
• Provisions for canteen, pantry, and changing rooms with lockers are required to be provided for employees. People with disabilities may be employed only when special provisions for them are incorporated into the design of the space.
• Kitchens and related cooking activities are not allowed on site.

Sanitary Provisions

•  Wash closets (WC) and Basins (WB) are required to be provided for male and female staff at the rate of 1 per 25 staff. If the staff number exceeds 100 then W’s and WB’s are to be provided at the rate of 1 per 40 urinals.
• Toilet corridors need to have a minimum width of 1.2 meters with stall dimensions of 0.9X 1.25 meters.
• Vending equipment, waste receptacles, and dispensers need to be 1 meter above the floor level with the waste receptacles embedded into the walls out of the way of people.
• Common toilets for both sexes are prohibited and doors to male and female washrooms are to be separated well. Self-closing doors are to be provided wherever possible.

Parking provisions

1 parking space per 50 square meters of office space to be provided. For vehicles such as buses, parking space provided depends on the operations carried out and the number of workers. Parking provision for visitors is 10% of the space provided for the staff.

• Construction of perimeter fencing must be on the property and must not exceed 2.4 meters in height.
• The minimum width of all warehouse doors is 3 meters.

Mezzanine floor constraints

A mezzanine floor is simply an intermediate floor space provided above the warehouse floor. Its function may pertain to the space below or above it.

• 100% of the mezzanine floor can be used if for the purpose of car parking or as an extension of the building’s usage purpose.
• Balconies or terraces are not permitted to be built on mezzanine floors and second mezzanines are not permitted when the first one is being detached and used independently.
• The internal height of the ground floor has to be a minimum of 3 meters. With the addition of a half mezzanine floor, it has to be between 2.4 – 4 meters. Finally, with the addition of a full mezzanine, the permitted internal height is between 2.6 – 3 meters.
• Mezzanine floors installed must be done so without disturbing the existing warehouse structures.

Fire safety provisions

• Smoke detectors are required to be fitted in every partitioned area within the building and tested by an EHS (Environment, Health, and Safety home)-Approved Fire contractor.
• Fire extinguishers of 9-pound water type and 5-pound capacity carbon dioxide type must be provided at strategic locations on site.
• Sprinkler systems are to be provided where there is storage of fire-hazardous material and the sprinkler piping system is to be tested and approved by the concerned Fire department.

Any Fit-out / Modifications that are made to existing warehouse structures require an inspection by the Trakhees authorities to obtain a Fit-out/Modification completion certificate.

Also, read Trakhees EHS approval in Dubai