Dubai Municipality has issued Circular No. 1-3-1 of 2026, setting out 10 obligations for building and villa owners, engineering consultancy offices and contracting companies under Law No. 4 of 2026, which regulates the occupancy and management of shared housing across the emirate. The law took effect in August 2026, and owners have been given a one-year grace period to bring existing shared-housing properties into compliance.
The circular applies to anyone who owns or operates shared accommodation in Dubai. Each residential unit must now be allocated exclusively to one category — either families or individuals — with the two categories prohibited from sharing the same unit. Individual shared housing is banned on Baniyas, Sheikh Zayed, Jumeirah and Al Wasl streets, where shared accommodation will be limited to families only. The rules also set minimum standards: at least five square metres of bedroom space per occupant, one full bathroom for every four occupants, and bicycle parking equal to at least 10 per cent of a building’s total occupants. Licence and permit applications must go through the Dubai Buildings Platform via an appointed engineering consultancy, and shared-housing permits are issued once a completion certificate is granted, with the details passed to the Dubai Land Department for tenancy contracts.
Law No. 4 of 2026 is intended to regulate the management and occupancy of shared housing, protect the rights of owners and residents, curb overcrowding and unregulated occupancy, and preserve the appearance of Dubai’s residential areas, according to Dubai Municipality.
Dubai Municipality said the one-year grace period does not cover existing building violations or unauthorised changes of use, which must be removed immediately regardless of the compliance timeline, “to prevent risks to lives and property.”
References
Emirates 24|7 – Dubai shared housing rules 2026: New law, one-year deadline and what owners must do to comply / Gulf News – Dubai bans mixing families and individuals in shared housing units
