Sources reviewed: 29 October 2026
Dubai Law No. 3 of 2026: a practical guide for building owners
This guide helps building owners and managers organise the questions to ask before commissioning work connected with Dubai Law No. 3 of 2026. Use the official sources and confirm the requirements that apply to your building with the responsible professionals.
The short answer
Dubai Law No. 3 of 2026 concerns the quality and safety of buildings in Dubai. It sets out a process in which an assessment is carried out and reported by an engineering consultancy, and a certificate is issued by the competent authority. What applies to a particular building, and when, should be confirmed from the official text and with the responsible professionals.
Key points from the official text
- Article 9 links the certificate obligation to the passage of 20 years from the building’s Completion Certificate. Younger buildings are also subject to maintenance obligations.
- Articles 6–8: the competent authority issues the certificate; an engineering consultancy carries out the assessment and prepares the report. The classification required of the consultancy depends on factors including the building’s height.
- Article 7 covers the structure, façades, common installations and external elements, together with Civil Defence and SIRA requirements. Tests are selected according to the scope; there is no automatic identical testing package for every building.
- Article 16: fines range from AED 100 to AED 1,000,000. Repeating the same violation within two years may double the fine, up to AED 2,000,000. Additional measures are not an automatic result of every report.
- Articles 22 and 25: a period of one year to regularise status from the date the law comes into force, with the possibility of extension. The law comes into force 60 days after publication. The exact dates require checking the publication and any later decisions.
- Territorial scope: Dubai. For interpretation, the Arabic text prevails.
A short summary, not a substitute for the official text or professional interpretation. Where versions differ, the Arabic text prevails.
Who does what
| Role | Typical responsibility |
|---|---|
| Owner | Commissions the assessment, provides records and access, and acts on the agreed next steps. |
| Engineering provider | Carries out the assessment within its approved classification and prepares the report. |
| Contractor, if needed | Carries out any remedial work defined and authorised separately. |
| Competent authority | Issues the certificate and sets the applicable procedures. |
What to confirm for your building
- Records: the completion record and other documents you can access.
- Jurisdiction: that the building is in Dubai and which authority is responsible.
- Scope: the areas, tests and specialist input proposed for this building.
- Current requirements: implementing decisions, procedures and fees in force at the time.
- Dates: any date stated in correspondence, and the deadlines that apply to you.
Official sources
- Law No. (3) of 2026 Concerning the Quality and Safety of Buildings — official PDF
- Law No. (3) of 2026 — official HTML version
Our review did not establish a complete current set of checklists, fees, violation schedules, portal procedures or extensions. This does not mean such documents do not exist.
Updates
This page is reviewed against official publications. A named reviewer and review date will be shown once appointed.
Frequently asked questions
No. It organises your information and suggests a next step. It does not inspect the building or determine its legal or technical status.
Yes. Choose “Not sure” and include the date in your list of items to confirm. Do not guess from the age of a neighbouring building.
No. Tell us which records you have and which are missing. The next conversation can clarify what is needed for the proposed work.