Concerning

Safety in Construction Works in the Emirate of Dubai^{^[1]}

ـــــــــــــــــــــ

We, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai,

After perusal of:

Law No. (7) of 2015 Concerning Airspace Safety and Security in the Emirate of Dubai;

Law No. (32) of 2015 Concerning the Official Gazette of the Government of Dubai;

Law No. (5) of 2021 Concerning the Dubai International Financial Centre;

Law No. (26) of 2023 Concerning the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai;

Law No. (11) of 2024 Establishing the Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority;

Decree No. (22) of 2009 Concerning Special Development Zones in the Emirate of Dubai;

Decree No. (30) of 2017 Extending the Application of the Dubai Development Authority Planning and Construction Legislation to Certain Land Plots in the Emirate of Dubai;

Decree No. (45) of 2021 Concerning the Dubai Building Code;

Decree No. (34) of 2022 Establishing the Agencies Affiliated to the Dubai Municipality and Determining their Functions;

The Order of 1961 Establishing the Dubai Municipality;

Executive Council Resolution No. (28) of 2022 Concerning the Insurance Policy Required for Licensing Construction Works in the Emirate of Dubai;

Local Order No. (61) of 1991 Concerning Environmental Protection Systems in the Emirate of Dubai;

Local Order No. (89) of 1994 Regulating the Practice of 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;

Local Order No. (11) of 2003 Concerning Public Health and Community Safety in the Emirate of Dubai, its Implementing Bylaw, and their amendments;

Administrative Resolution No. (125) of 2001 Approving the Bylaw Concerning Building Requirements and Specifications and its amendments;

Administrative Resolution No. (51) of 2008 Approving the Code of Construction Safety Practice; and

The Legislation establishing and regulating free zones in the Emirate of Dubai,

Do hereby issue this Decree.

Definitions

Article (1)

The following words and expressions, wherever mentioned in this Decree, have the meaning indicated opposite each of them unless the context implies otherwise:

Emirate:	The Emirate of Dubai.
Executive Council:	The Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai.
DM:	The Dubai Municipality.
Director General:	The Director General of the DM.
Competent Entity:	Any entity mandated, under the Legislation in force in the Emirate, to license, monitor, and supervise Construction Works in any zone within the Emirate.
Safety Code:	The Code of Construction Safety Practice prepared by the DM and approved in accordance with the provisions of this Decree, which sets out the rules, standards, guidelines, and obligations that must be observed to ensure the safety of workers inside and outside construction sites in the Emirate; to protect lives, property, and equipment; and to reduce the risks of accidents, injuries, and occupational diseases.

Preparation and Approval of the Safety Code

Article (2)

a. Safety in Construction Works in the Emirate will be practised in accordance with the rules, standards, guidelines, and obligations set out in the “Code of Construction Safety Practice in the Emirate of Dubai”, prepared by the DM in coordination with the Competent Entity.

b. The Safety Code will be approved pursuant to a resolution issued by the Director General. The Safety Code must be published on the official websites of the DM and the Competent Entity within three (3) months from the date on which this Decree comes into force.

Scope of Application

Article (3)

The Safety Code applies to all zones across the Emirate, including Special Development Zones and free zones, such as the Dubai International Financial Centre.

Binding Force of the Safety Code

Article (4)

All Contractors and engineering consultancy firms must comply with all the safety rules, standards, guidelines, and obligations set out in the Safety Code when carrying out Construction Works at construction sites within the Emirate.

Legal Effect of Publication

Article (5)

The Safety Code approved under this Decree will be deemed publicly proclaimed, binding, and enforceable on all persons upon its publication on the official websites of the DM and the Competent Entity. The Safety Code will have the same binding force as the Legislation published in the Official Gazette of the Government of Dubai pursuant to the above-mentioned Law No. (32) of 2015.

Enforcement and Update of the Safety Code

Article (6)

a. The DM and the Competent Entity will take the necessary action to enforce the Safety Code.

b. The DM will, in coordination with the Competent Entity, regularly review and update the Safety Code. Any updates must be approved by a resolution of the Director General and published on the official websites of the DM and the Competent Entity.

Violations and Administrative Penalties

Article (7)

The Chairman of the Executive Council will issue a resolution specifying the acts that constitute violations of this Decree or the Safety Code, and the corresponding administrative penalties and measures to be imposed on violators.

Law Enforcement

Article (8)

The DM and the Competent Entity employees nominated pursuant to resolutions issued by the officials in charge of these entities will have the capacity of law enforcement officers to record the acts committed in breach of the provisions of this Decree and the resolutions issued in pursuance hereof. For this purpose, they may inspect construction sites and Construction Works in the Emirate; issue the necessary violation reports; and, where necessary, seek the assistance of police personnel.

Issuing Implementing Resolutions

Article (9)

The Director General will issue the resolutions required for the implementation of the provisions of this Decree.

Repeals

Article (10)

The above-mentioned Administrative Resolution No. (51) of 2008 is hereby repealed. Any provision in any other Legislation is also hereby repealed to the extent that it contradicts the provisions of this Decree.

Publication and Commencement

Article (11)

This Decree will be published in the Official Gazette and will come into force three (3) months after the date on which it is published.

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Ruler of Dubai

Issued in Dubai on 7 April 2025

Corresponding to 9 Shawwal 1446 A.H.

[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.