Administrative Resolution No. (253) of 2021

Approving the Technical Qualification Requirements and Criteria for

Engineers Working in Construction in the Emirate of Dubai^{^[1]}

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The Director General of the Dubai Municipality,

After perusal of:

The Order of 1961 Establishing the Dubai Municipality (the “DM”);

Executive Council Resolution No. (32) of 2018 Approving the Organisational Structure of the Dubai Municipality;

Local Order No. (89) of 1994 Regulating the Engineering Consultancy Profession in the Emirate of Dubai and its amendments;

Local Order No. (3) of 1999 Regulating Construction Works in the Emirate of Dubai and its amendments;

Administrative Resolution No. (51) of 1998 Issuing the Implementing Bylaw of Local Order No. (89) of 1994 Regulating the Engineering Consultancy Profession in the Emirate of Dubai and its amendments;

Administrative Resolution No. (32) of 2006 Forming the Committee for Registration and Licensing of Engineering Consultants and Contractors in the Emirate of Dubai (the “Committee”) and its amendments; and

Administrative Resolution No. (205) of 2017 Approving the Technical Qualification Criteria for Engineers Working in Construction in the Emirate of Dubai, and

With a view to regulating and controlling the quality of Construction Works in the Emirate of Dubai in accordance with the best international standards,

Does hereby issue this Resolution.

Scope of Application

Article (1)

a. The provisions of this Resolution apply to the Engineers working in Construction at the DM, or at the engineering consultancy firms and contracting companies licensed in the Emirate of Dubai, and specialising in engineering design, audit, control, or supervision of Building Construction projects.

b. The technical requirements and criteria attached to this Resolution apply to the Engineers working in Construction at the DM and at the contracting companies licensed in the Emirate of Dubai.

c. The technical requirements and criteria approved pursuant to the above-mentioned Administrative Resolution No. (51) of 1998 apply to the Engineers working at engineering consultancy firms.

Approval of Technical Requirements and Criteria

Article (2)

a. Pursuant to this Resolution, the technical qualification requirements and criteria for the Engineers working in Construction in the Emirate of Dubai, as stated in Schedules (1), (2), (3), and (4) attached hereto, are approved.

b. Notwithstanding the provisions of Schedules (1), (2), and (3) attached to this Resolution, UAE-national fresh graduate Engineers appointed at the DM are hereby exempt from the work experience requirements stated in these Schedules, provided that they work under the supervision of other Engineers who meet the said requirements until they complete the years of experience required.

Functions of the Committee

Article (3)

For the purposes of this Resolution, the Committee will have the duties and powers to:

1. develop the appropriate procedures for the optimal application of the technical requirements and criteria stated in the Schedules attached to this Resolution and to the above-mentioned Resolution No. (51) of 1998;

2. develop technical tests for the Engineers working in Construction in the Emirate of Dubai, whether at engineering consultancy firms or at contracting companies licensed in the Emirate of Dubai, using a central electronic system developed in coordination with the competent organisational unit in the DM; and issue the relevant attested certificates to these Engineers;

3. coordinate with the Human Resources Department of the DM when appointing Engineers to work in the speciality areas determined in accordance with the provisions of this Resolution; and ensure that their designations and job descriptions are consistent with the technical requirements and criteria set out in the Schedules attached hereto;

4. supervise the implementation of electronic connection between the engineering qualification system and the UAE Society of Engineers;

5. periodically review the technical requirements and criteria attached to this Resolution, in coordination with the concerned entities in the Emirate of Dubai; and propose the necessary amendments and updates thereto where required;

6. develop the conditions and requirements for registration of assistant Engineers and persons of equivalent status on the electronic system adopted by the concerned organisational unit of the DM; and

7. notify the engineering consultancy firms and contracting companies licensed to undertake Construction Works in the Emirate of Dubai that they are required to comply with the provisions of this Resolution.

Compliance

Article (4)

All engineering consultancy firms and contracting companies licensed to undertake Construction Works in the Emirate of Dubai must comply with the provisions of this Resolution within one (1) month from the effective date hereof. Where required, the Committee may extend this grace period for the same period.

Repeals

Article (5)

The above-mentioned Administrative Resolution No. (205) of 2017 is hereby repealed. Any provision in any other administrative resolution will also be repealed to the extent that it contradicts the provisions of this Resolution.

Publication and Commencement

Article (6)

This Resolution will be published in the Official Gazette and will come into force on the day on which it is published.

Dawood Abdul Rahman Al Hajiri

Director General

Dubai Municipality

Issued in Dubai on 19 September 2021

Corresponding to 12 Safar 1443 A.H.

Schedule (1)

Technical Criteria for the DM Design Audit Engineers Auditing Construction Drawings for Permit Issuance Purposes

Requirements

Specialisation Category

Architecture Audit

Construction Audit

Mechanical and Sewage Systems Audit

Building and Road Levels Audit

Architectural Engineer

Senior Architectural Engineer

Chief Architectural Engineer

Construction Engineer

Senior Construction Engineer

Chief Construction Engineer

Sewage and Thermal Insulation Engineer

Senior Sewage and Thermal Insulation Engineer

Chief Sewage and Thermal Insulation Engineer

Building and Road Surveying Engineer

Senior Building and Road Surveying Engineer

Chief Building and Road Surveying Engineer

Academic Qualification

Bachelor’s Degree

Academic Discipline

Architectural Engineering

Civil Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Civil Engineering

Minimum Years of Experience

Five (5) years

Seven (7) years

Ten (10) years

Five (5) years

Seven (7) years

Ten (10) years

Five (5) years

Seven (7) years

Ten (10) years

Five (5) years

Seven (7) years

Ten (10) years

Professional Membership

Membership of the Society of Engineers in the United Arab Emirates

Professional Competency Exams

Passing the competency exam prescribed by Building Permits Department for the relevant category

Minimum Passing GPA

75%

Continuing Improvement and Development

Minimum of seventy-two (72) hours per year of training accredited by the Building Permits Department

Schedule (2)

Technical Criteria for DM Building Construction Control Engineers

Requirements	Specialisation Category
	Decoration Works and Additions	Ground +1 Buildings	Industrial Buildings	Ground +4 Buildings		Ground +12 Buildings	Unlimited
	Building Control Engineer			Senior Building Control Engineer			Chief Building Control Engineer
Academic Qualification	Bachelor’s Degree
Academic Discipline	Civil Engineering/ Architectural Engineering	Civil Engineering
Minimum Years of Experience	Three (3) years	Four (4) years	Five (5) years	Six (6) years	Eight (8) years		Ten (10) years
Professional Membership	Membership of the Society of Engineers in the United Arab Emirates
Professional Competency Exams	Passing the competency exam prescribed by Building Permits Department for the relevant category
Minimum Passing GPA	75%
Continuing Improvement and Development	Minimum of seventy-two (72) hours per year of training accredited by the Building Control Department

Schedule (3)

Technical Criteria for DM Building Construction Audit Engineers

Requirements	Specialisation Category
	Ground +1 Buildings	Industrial Buildings	Ground +4 Buildings	Ground +12 Buildings	Unlimited
	Construction Audit Engineer		Senior Construction Audit Engineer		Chief Construction Audit Engineer
Academic Qualification	Bachelor’s Degree
Academic Discipline	Civil Engineering
Minimum Years of Experience	Four (4) years	Five (5) years	Six (6) years	Eight (8) years	Ten (10) years
Professional Membership	Membership of the Society of Engineers in the United Arab Emirates
Professional Competency Exams	Passing the competency exam prescribed by Building Control Department for the relevant category
Minimum Passing GPA	75%
Continuing Improvement and Development	Minimum of seventy-two (72) hours per year of training accredited by the Building Control Department

Schedule (4)

Technical Criteria for Principal Construction Engineers Working at Contracting Companies

Category	Permitted Projects and Works	Criteria for Engineering Staff
Category	Permitted Projects and Works	Number	Specialisation	Years of Experience	Maximum Area per Engineer (in square metres)
1st Category	Unlimited Number of Floors	3	Bachelor of Civil Engineering (site engineer)	(1) Engineer with (10) years of experience (1) Engineer with (7) years of experience (1) Engineer with (5) years of experience	18,000
2nd Category	Ground +12	2	Bachelor of Civil Engineering (site engineer)	(1) Engineer with (7) years of experience (1) Engineer with (5) years of experience	15,000
3rd Category	Ground +4 floors	1	Bachelor of Civil Engineering (site engineer)	Five (5)	12,000
4th Category	Ground +1 floor	1	Bachelor of Civil Engineering or Architectural Engineering (site engineer)/ Civil Engineering Diploma (site engineer)	Three (3) years for bachelor’s degree holders Five (5) years for diploma holders	6,000
Unclassified Activities		1	One (1) Engineer for each activity, based on the relevant discipline and prescribed years of experience.
Notes:		1. All Engineers must be members of the Society of Engineers in the United Arab Emirates. 2. All Engineers must have passed the technical competency exams prescribed in the Emirate of Dubai. 3. The number of Engineers stated in this schedule is the minimum number required to practise engineering. The number of required engineers is directly proportional to the total area of the project and is calculated based on the maximum area prescribed for each Engineer. 4. The term "Contracting Company" means any Establishment that works in building contracting or steel construction contracting in the Emirate of Dubai, whether it is in the form of a company of any type or a sole proprietorship. 5. The Committee may, where required, approve the assignment of one (1) Engineer to more than one (1) activity, based on the required specialisation and prescribed years of experience.

[1]Every effort has been made to produce an accurate and complete English version of this legislation. However, for the purpose of its interpretation and application, reference must be made to the original Arabic text. In case of conflict, the Arabic text will prevail.