Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has issued Law No. (4) of 2026 to regulate the management and occupancy of shared housing in Dubai.

The new law applies across Dubai’s private development zones and free zones and sets clear rules for property owners, authorised operators, and tenants involved in shared housing arrangements.

What the law aims to do

The legislation is designed to organise shared housing in the emirate and address issues such as overcrowding and informal accommodation. The law aims to:

• Protect the rights of property owners and residents
• Ensure safe and healthy living conditions
• Prevent overcrowding and illegal housing practices
• Address building and land-use violations
• Promote fair rental practices
• Support the stability and appearance of Dubai’s real estate market

Permit required for shared housing

Under the law, no individual or entity may allocate a property unit for shared housing without obtaining an official permit.

Permits will be issued and renewed according to rules set by Dubai Municipality, in coordination with Dubai Land Department and other authorities.

Properties must meet specific technical and safety requirements, including:

• Maximum occupancy limits
• Minimum space per resident
• Adequate shared facilities
• Compliance with building, health, fire, sanitation, security, and electrical standards

Permit validity and renewal

• Permits are valid for one year and may be renewed for similar periods.
• At the owner’s request, a two-year permit may be issued.
• Renewal applications must be submitted at least 30 days before expiry.

Leasing rules

The law states that only the property owner or an authorised establishment can lease a shared housing unit.

Tenants or other parties are not allowed to sublease any part of the unit, ensuring better oversight and compliance with regulations.

Heavy fines for violations

Violating the law can result in fines ranging from Dh500 to Dh500,000.

If the same violation is repeated within one year, the penalty will be doubled, up to a maximum of AED1 million.

Authorities may also impose additional measures, including:

• Suspension of activity for up to six months
• Cancellation of the permit
• Revocation of the commercial licence
• Disconnection of public utilities
• Eviction orders for non-compliant units

Oversight and implementation

Dubai Municipality will set detailed conditions for shared housing, including maximum occupancy levels, required space per resident, and necessary facilities. The authority will also determine which areas in Dubai are permitted for shared housing, based on urban planning, population density, infrastructure capacity, and neighbourhood characteristics.

The law applies to companies licensed to manage or lease properties on behalf of owners, including those operating in special development zones and free zones. However, collective labour accommodation is excluded from its scope.

When the law takes effect

The law will come into force 180 days after its publication in the Official Gazette, and any conflicting provisions in other legislation will be annulled.

Abu Dhabi Customs has issued a warning to the public about fraudulent SMS and iMessage messages circulating that impersonate the authority and well-known shipping companies in an attempt to steal personal information.

According to the authority, scammers are sending messages that appear legitimate, often claiming there is a shipment issue, customs fee, or a request to update delivery details. These messages usually include malicious links designed to trick recipients into providing sensitive information such as personal data, banking details, or login credentials.

Abu Dhabi Customs urged the public not to interact with these messages or open any links, stressing that fraudsters sometimes use phone numbers or names that falsely suggest they are associated with official entities to gain people’s trust.

The authority advised customers to avoid sharing personal information with unknown parties and to rely only on official channels to access services, track shipments, or obtain customs-related information.

Abu Dhabi Customs also reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining high cybersecurity standards and protecting customer data, noting that it works with relevant authorities to monitor and address digital fraud attempts.

Members of the public are encouraged to report any suspicious messages impersonating Abu Dhabi Customs through official channels, helping authorities raise community awareness and reduce phishing attempts.

The UAE is expected to experience relatively unstable weather conditions from Wednesday until March 15, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).

The forecast indicates chances of rainfall over some areas at the start of the period, particularly in western and coastal regions. The conditions will also be accompanied by active winds that may raise dust and sand, along with a gradual drop in temperatures.

The weather is expected to stabilise towards the end of the week, with a slight rise in temperatures.

Wednesday

The NCM said Wednesday’s weather will be partly cloudy to cloudy and dusty at times, with chances of rainfall over some western and coastal areas. Temperatures are expected to gradually decrease.

Winds will be northeasterly, fresh to strong at times, causing blowing dust and sand. Wind speeds will range between 15 and 30 km/h, reaching up to 50 km/h at times before becoming moderate to light by the afternoon.

The sea will be rough, becoming moderate to slight by the afternoon in both the Arabian Gulf and the Oman Sea.

Thursday

On Thursday, humid conditions are expected in the morning over some internal areas, with a probability of light fog formation westward.

The weather will become partly cloudy to cloudy at times, with continued chances of rainfall across scattered areas.

Winds will be northeasterly, light to moderate and freshening at times, with speeds between 15 and 25 km/h and reaching up to 35 km/h. The sea will be moderate to slight in the Arabian Gulf and slight in the Oman Sea.

Friday

Humid conditions are expected to continue on Friday, with a probability of light fog formation during the morning over some western areas.

The weather will be partly cloudy to cloudy at times, with chances of light rainfall over some western, coastal and island areas during the daytime. Temperatures are expected to rise slightly.

Winds will be northeasterly, light to moderate and freshening at times, with speeds ranging from 15 to 25 km/h and reaching up to 35 km/h.

Weekend outlook

On Saturday, humid conditions will persist with a probability of fog or mist formation in the morning over some coastal areas. The weather will become fair to partly cloudy during the day.

On Sunday, humid conditions will continue with a chance of mist formation in the morning over some coastal areas, while the weather will remain fair to partly cloudy with a rise in temperatures.

Winds on both days will be northeasterly, light to moderate, ranging from 10 to 20 km/h and reaching up to 30 km/h. The sea will remain slight in the Arabian Gulf and the Oman Sea.