Dubai Municipality has issued a circular permitting residents of buildings and villas across more than 44 areas of the city to legally share their housing units, setting out the practical rules for a law that has been in force since September 8.
Under the new circular, the designated areas are split into two categories: individual sharing and family sharing. Areas where individual shared housing is now permitted include Al Souq Al Kabeer, Al Ras, Al Warqa 1, Al Barsha 1, Al Muraqqabat and Al Rigga. By contrast, on corridors such as Bani Yas Road, Sheikh Zayed Road, Jumeirah Road and Al Wasl Road, only family-based shared housing is allowed, not individual sharing.
Each residential unit may only be designated for one category — either family or individual sharing — and the two cannot be mixed within the same unit. Among the technical conditions set out, each person is entitled to a minimum of 5 square metres of bedroom space; where units are designated for families, each family must have a separate bedroom with its own en-suite bathroom, while shared facilities such as kitchens, sanitary facilities, dining areas, recreational spaces and laundry rooms must remain accessible to all residents.
For landlords and tenants who had already been operating shared housing arrangements outside this framework, the municipality has set a one-year grace period to bring their arrangements into compliance with the new rules. Violations of the regulation can result in fines ranging from Dh500 to Dh500,000.
The move is part of a broader effort by Dubai Municipality to formalise the shared-housing rental market in the emirate, with authorities saying it is expected to bring greater transparency to rental agreements and reduce common violations in this segment of the housing market.