Dubai Municipality has introduced stricter standards for shared housing in the emirate. The rules set a minimum amount of bedroom space for each resident and require every shared building to fall under a single accommodation type. For thousands of expats in bedspaces, partitioned rooms, and shared flats, the changes could affect how many people share a room and what facilities they can expect.
The standards appear in the newly issued Planning and Building Requirements Guide for Shared Housing and Permitted Areas. The guide puts Law No. (4) of 2026 into practice. The law governs how shared housing is occupied and managed in Dubai.
What the New Standards Require
Minimum Space per Person
Each resident must have at least 5 square meters of bedroom space. In practice, a 10-square-meter room can house no more than two people.
One Category per Building
Every existing shared housing building must be classified under one of two categories:
- Individual accommodation: generally for single residents sharing a unit
- Family accommodation: each family must have its own bedroom with an en-suite bathroom
Buildings that currently mix single residents and families may need to be reorganized.
Shared Facilities
Buildings must provide shared facilities suited to the accommodation type and the number of residents. These include kitchens, bathrooms, and spaces for dining, recreation, laundry, and clothes drying. All facilities must meet public health and safety requirements and the Dubai Building Code. Collective labor accommodation is excluded because separate legislation covers it.
Deadlines, Permits, and Approved Areas
One-Year Compliance Window
Landlords, management companies, and leasing firms have one year from the law’s effective date of September 8, 2026, to bring existing shared housing into compliance. That means the deadline falls in September 2027. The grace period does not cover building violations, unauthorized changes of use, or conditions that endanger public safety. These must still be fixed under existing rules.
Permits Through Build in Dubai
A building can be used for shared housing only after it receives a permit. Before a permit is issued, operators must meet Dubai Civil Defence fire safety requirements and SIRA requirements for CCTV. Permits are issued and renewed through the Build in Dubai platform. The platform links with the Dubai Land Department to make registering tenancy contracts easier.
More Than 44 Approved Areas
The Municipality has approved more than 44 areas for shared housing so far. These include Al Souq Al Kabeer, Al Ras, Al Warqa 1, Al Barsha 1, Al Muraqqabat, and Al Rigga. More areas will be announced as they are approved.
What Officials Say
Maryam Al Muhairi, CEO of the Building Regulation and Permits Agency at Dubai Municipality, said the guide will help provide “a safe, healthy and well-regulated residential environment for different segments of the community.” She added that the aim is “to raise awareness, strengthen oversight and promote compliance.”
Before signing or renewing a lease, tenants should ask whether the building holds a shared housing permit, whether it is in an approved area, and whether the contract can be formally registered.