Why this law matters to property owners
On 1 June 2026, a new public safety law came into force in Dubai. Law No. (2) of 2026 on Public Safety in the Emirate of Dubai replaces a framework that had been in place since 2003 and sets out, in one text, what must be provided in public places, entertainment venues, event sites, occupied buildings, homes and swimming pools, along with rules for maintenance work and for products and electrical appliances sold in the emirate.
Most coverage of the law has focused on events and venues. For villa owners, building owners, owners associations, facility managers and pool operators, however, several articles apply directly to the places they look after every day. This guide walks through the law article by article from the official Arabic text published on the Dubai Legislation Portal and the Government of Dubai Media Office announcement, and explains what each requirement means in practice for maintenance and safety.
The law leaves many details to decisions and guides issued later by the Director General of Dubai Municipality and the Chairman of the Executive Council. Where the law refers to such decisions, this guide says so rather than guessing their content.
The law at a glance
The law is titled the Public Safety Law in the Emirate of Dubai No. (2) of 2026. The official text shows it was issued in Dubai on 27 February 2026 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, and states that it applies from 1 June 2026 and is to be published in the Official Gazette. The Government of Dubai Media Office announced it on 6 March 2026.
It repeals Local Order No. (11) of 2003 on public health and community safety in Dubai, and any provision in other legislation that conflicts with it. Regulations, decisions and guides issued under the 2003 order continue to apply to the extent they do not conflict with the new law, until replacements are issued. Those affected must bring their situation into line with the law within two years of its commencement, a period that can be extended once for the same length.
Who regulates public safety under the law
The law gives the Environment, Health and Safety Agency of Dubai Municipality, in coordination with the relevant authorities, responsibility for supervising and monitoring public safety in the emirate. Its listed powers include setting conditions to reduce accidents, checking that public protection plans exist and are applied, reviewing the designs of equipment used in public places including cranes and loading equipment, setting technical conditions for permanent and temporary swimming pools, and checking that services and products in the market meet safety requirements.
The agency also issues permits for entertainment venues and public event sites, prepares and issues public safety systems, guides and instructions, receives reports of violations and investigates them, investigates the causes of accidents, maintains a database of accident causes, runs training and awareness programmes and supervises specialised public safety training. The law states that it does not affect the public safety powers that other authorities hold under their own legislation.
Where the law applies, and where it does not
The law applies to public places, entertainment venues, public event sites and buildings in Dubai, including special development zones and free zones, and including the Dubai International Financial Centre. Buildings are defined broadly as any structure built and prepared for housing, trade, industry or any other purpose, and public places include parks, squares, playgrounds, complexes, markets, restaurants, cafes, hotels, shopping venues, beaches and shared-use swimming pools, together with the services, equipment and tools in them.
The law does not apply to airports and their buildings and infrastructure, military and security facilities, waterways, seaports, berthing areas, harbours, marinas, dry docks and ship repair yards, land, sea and air transport, industrial, professional and craft facilities and buildings, or buildings still under construction, except for parts and facilities the public is allowed to enter or pass through.
Definitions that matter for owners
The law defines the owner as the person who owns an establishment or building, or holds the right to use, exploit or invest in it, and it expressly includes the service provider and the operator. In practice, this means obligations can fall on landlords, management companies, operators and service providers depending on who controls the place or the equipment.
It defines a public safety supervisor as a qualified person approved by the agency and appointed by the owner to supervise the implementation of the obligations in the law and the decisions and guides issued under it, and a permit as the document the agency issues to the owner after the public safety requirements are met. Public safety requirements are defined as the systems, means, specifications, standards and conformity assessment systems that must be provided to ensure public safety.
Homes: fire detectors and the electronic linking system
Article (9) lists the public safety requirements for homes. The first is installing fire detectors and subscribing to the electronic linking system dedicated to protecting homes, in accordance with the requirements and controls approved by the relevant authorities. The law's preamble refers to federal Cabinet Resolution No. (61) of 2020 regulating the installation of fire detectors in residential homes and Cabinet Resolution No. (90) of 2020 on their requirements and controls.
For villa owners and landlords, this makes working smoke and fire detection a legal requirement under Dubai's own public safety law, not only a good practice. Detectors should be installed and maintained according to the controls of the relevant authority, tested regularly and replaced when they reach the end of their life. Where a home is connected to an electronic monitoring system, the connection and subscription should be kept active.
Homes: fire equipment, falls and electrical systems
Article (9) also requires homes to have all firefighting equipment and systems specified by the relevant authorities, and to take the necessary measures to protect against falls and against hazards arising from electrical installations, solar energy systems, and other technical and smart systems. These requirements bring several common maintenance topics into the law directly.
Fall protection covers stairs, roofs, balconies and similar areas, especially in homes with children. Electrical hazards include old or overloaded installations, damaged sockets and cables, missing earth-leakage protection and unsafe additions. Solar systems on villa roofs need safe installation and maintenance, and smart home and technical systems must be installed so they do not create new risks. A periodic inspection of these items by a competent contractor is the practical way to show the home meets the requirement.
Homes: pools, noise, cooking gas and first aid
The remaining items in Article (9) require homes to provide all public safety measures for swimming pools specified by the agency, to respect the noise limits permitted under the legislation in force in the emirate, to provide the measures and procedures needed for the safe use of household cooking gas as approved by the relevant authorities, and to provide first aid requirements and access to them in coordination with the relevant authorities.
The article ends with any other requirements set by the legislation in force or by a decision of the Director General. For owners, the most practical steps are pool safety measures for children, safe gas installations with regular checks, a first aid kit that is stocked and easy to reach, and awareness of noise from equipment such as pumps, generators and outdoor units.
Occupied buildings: lifts, railings and safety supervisors
Article (8) sets the requirements for occupied buildings. They must provide lifts or escalators in accordance with the technical specifications and conditions in the legislation in force; fall-protection railings on all stairs, roofs and balconies in accordance with approved standards; and a public safety supervisor in buildings that meet criteria to be set by a decision of the Director General.
Buildings must also provide firefighting equipment and systems and emergency evacuation requirements as approved by the relevant authorities, first aid requirements with easy access, and any other requirements in the legislation in force or set by a Director General decision. For building owners and owners associations, this places lift maintenance, railing condition, fire system readiness and first aid provision at the centre of public safety compliance.
Maintenance work in public places
Article (7) applies specifically to maintenance work in public places, entertainment venues and public event sites. When maintenance is carried out there, the law requires guidance and warning signs relating to the safety of the public and the workers, and inspection certificates, issued by the relevant authorities, for emptying vehicles and for lifting, loading and unloading equipment and devices. It also refers to any other requirements in the legislation in force or set by a Director General decision.
For contractors and facility managers, this means every maintenance job in a place used by the public should start with signs and barriers that protect both people passing by and the workers, and that cranes, lifts, hoists, platforms and tanker or suction vehicles brought onto site should carry valid inspection certificates. Article (14) separately requires owners of public places to prevent public entry, fully or partly, during construction or maintenance work.
New swimming pools need approval, including villa pools
Article (11) states that no swimming pool may be built in the emirate without the agency's approval of the pool's plans and design, and it expressly includes swimming pools in private residential villas. Pools are defined broadly to include public and private, indoor and outdoor, permanent and temporary pools, and jacuzzis.
For villa owners planning a new pool or a major redesign, this means design approval must be part of the plan before construction starts. Contractors should be asked how they will obtain and document the approval, and owners should keep the approved plans with the villa's records.
Shared pools in buildings, complexes, clubs and hotels
For permanent shared pools in residential buildings and complexes, clubs, hotels and public parks, Article (11) requires a completion certificate confirming the pool is fit for swimming; compliance with the agency's technical conditions and specifications for filtering, disinfecting and recirculating the water, heating and cooling it, lighting the pool and carrying out periodic maintenance; and the equipment needed to keep users safe, with periodic maintenance of that equipment.
Shared pools must also have a qualified lifeguard appointed according to the agency's conditions and standards, a barrier between the adult pool and the children's pool, and, in public pools, guidance signs in Arabic and English and clear depth markings. Pool operators and building managers should treat these as an operating checklist and keep records of water treatment, equipment checks and maintenance.
Temporary pools
Temporary pools open to the public need the agency's prior approval under Article (12). They must be manufactured to approved specifications with the required conformity certificate, installed properly on suitable ground according to the agency's requirements, used with the preventive measures in the manufacturer's instruction booklet, protected so children cannot reach them, and kept within their permitted capacity.
This matters for hotels, event organisers and communities that set up seasonal or event pools. The approval, the conformity certificate and the installation should be planned before the pool arrives on site, not after.
Public places, venues and events: the core requirements
Article (6) lists the requirements for public places, entertainment venues and public event sites, according to their nature, activities and equipment. They include equipment designs conforming to approved standards, adequate lighting and ventilation especially in enclosed areas, safe entry and exit arrangements, respecting the permitted capacity, and respecting permitted noise levels.
They also include firefighting equipment and systems and emergency evacuation requirements as approved by the relevant authorities, first aid requirements with easy access, trained public safety supervisors for rescue, first aid and evacuation, alarm systems, guidance and warning signs and a public safety management plan, emergency and rescue services, services and facilities for older people, people with disabilities and children, and paths for small electric scooters and bicycles as approved by the relevant authorities.
Owners of public places: the full list of duties
Article (14) sets twenty-one obligations for owners of public places, entertainment venues and event sites. They include complying with the law, decisions and guides; obtaining the permit before operating an entertainment site and before any change that may affect safety; access for people with disabilities; safe operation of equipment; public awareness; an emergency plan covering overcrowding, evacuation, access to safe areas and first aid; and notifying the agency of accidents and injuries within the periods set in the municipality's guides.
Owners must also give the agency a report on their risk assessment, which may be prepared with a specialised company, and prepare a detailed risk assessment study including the actions to take if an accident occurs. They must carry out periodic technical inspection of equipment, tools and devices by companies approved by the municipality and the relevant authorities and keep the inspection certificates on site, carry out periodic maintenance of all equipment, provide approved firefighting equipment and test it periodically, prevent public entry during construction or maintenance, display usage instructions clearly, appoint and train public safety supervisors, and cooperate fully with municipal inspectors.
Electrical appliances sold in Dubai
Article (10) requires electrical appliances and equipment sold in the local market to have a conformity certificate proving they meet approved specifications and standards, and to come with the instruction guides needed for safe use, including the conditions and timing of their periodic maintenance.
For owners and contractors, this is a reason to buy appliances, pumps, heaters, chargers and similar equipment from suppliers who can show conformity, and to keep the manuals and maintenance schedules. Article (16) adds that products intended for people's use, entertainment or education may not be sold if they do not meet the safety requirements, pose a risk, or lack safe-use instructions in Arabic and English.
Prohibited acts that affect buildings and maintenance
Article (16) prohibits handling or using explosives, fireworks, toxic products, dangerous gases or highly flammable liquids and other unsafe products without authorisation from the relevant authorities. It also prohibits storing waste in a way that endangers public safety, especially where the public can easily reach it, and placing materials that may damage waste containers or collection vehicles or endanger the workers who collect, transport and dispose of waste.
Two prohibitions are especially relevant to maintenance teams: moving or changing the location of a waste container without the municipality's approval, or tampering with its contents; and tampering with inspection chambers, sewage outlets and stormwater outlets, except by authorised parties. Drain and manhole work should therefore be done by, or with the authorisation required for, the right parties, and contractors should not open public chambers or outlets without it.
Inspections, testing and drones
Under Article (18), municipal staff may carry out all monitoring and inspection to check compliance, including entering public places, entertainment venues, event sites and the buildings and establishments covered by the law, and using devices, equipment and smart applications, including drones, under the legislation in force. The article states this is without prejudice to legislation protecting private places and individual freedom.
Article (17) allows the municipality, in coordination with the relevant authorities, to test products in circulation at the owner's expense and to request information about their components and safe use. For owners, organised records, certificates and maintenance reports make inspections faster and simpler.
Fines, measures and the cost of fixing violations
Article (19) sets fines of not less than AED 500 and not more than AED 1,000,000 for violations of the law and the decisions and guides issued under it, without prejudice to any harsher penalty in other legislation. The specific violations and their fines are to be set by a decision of the Chairman of the Executive Council, and the fine is doubled for a repeat violation within one year, up to AED 2,000,000.
Under Article (20), the municipality may also seize or destroy unsafe products, withdraw them pending a court ruling, or close public places, venues and event sites partly or fully until the violation is removed. Article (21) requires the violator to remove the causes and effects of the violation at their own expense within the period set; otherwise the municipality may do so and charge the costs plus 25 percent as administrative fees.
Appeals and owner liability
Any affected person may file a written grievance against decisions, actions or measures taken under the law within ten working days of being notified, under Article (23). It is decided within 30 days by a committee formed by the Director General, the relevant authority or an entity authorised by the municipality, and the committee's decision is final.
Article (25) states that the municipality and the relevant authorities are not responsible to third parties for damage resulting from an owner's failure to meet public safety requirements, and that the owner alone is responsible for that damage. For owners, this is a strong reason to document maintenance, inspections and safety measures, because the responsibility sits with them.
The two-year deadline to comply
Article (30) requires those addressed by the law to bring their situation into line with it and with the decisions and guides issued under it within a period of no more than two years from its commencement. Since the law applies from 1 June 2026, the deadline runs to 1 June 2028, and it may be extended once for a similar period by a decision of the Chairman of the Executive Council on the recommendation of the Director General, where circumstances require.
Two years can pass quickly in a building with many systems. Owners who start with a gap review now can spread work and costs over the period, rather than facing urgent works near the deadline or after an inspection.
How the law fits with Civil Defence and other authorities
The law's preamble refers to Law No. (4) of 2025 establishing the General Command of Dubai Civil Defence, Law No. (5) of 2025 on public health in Dubai, the 2020 federal Cabinet resolutions on home fire detectors and other legislation. Article (29) states that the law does not affect the public safety powers of the relevant authorities under the legislation in force, the conditions for licences, permits and approvals required by government entities, consumer protection rules, or rules on product recalls.
In practice, fire protection systems are still required according to what the relevant authorities approve, and the public safety law references those requirements rather than replacing them. Owners should therefore treat the law as an additional layer: Civil Defence and other authorities' rules continue to apply, and the public safety law adds owner duties, inspection powers, fines and deadlines around them.
Public safety supervisors: what the law says so far
The public safety supervisor appears in several articles. The supervisor is a qualified person approved by the agency and appointed by the owner to supervise the implementation of the law's obligations. Occupied buildings must appoint one where they meet criteria to be set by a Director General decision, and owners of public places, venues and event sites must appoint supervisors according to the agency's requirements and train them periodically on the equipment used on site.
Article (6) adds that supervisors in public places, venues and event sites must be qualified in rescue, first aid and evacuation and in taking measures to prevent, remove or reduce risks and accidents. Building owners should watch for the Director General's criteria, and in the meantime identify who on their team would be best placed to take on the role and what training they would need.
Risk assessment: what the law expects
The law defines risk assessment as a system for identifying risks and determining the actions needed to prevent injury to people or damage to property. For public places, venues and event sites, Article (14) requires the owner to give the agency a report on the risk assessment measures taken, allows the owner to use a specialised company for this, and requires a detailed risk assessment study that includes the actions to take if an accident occurs.
Even where a building or home is not formally required to submit a risk assessment, the same approach is a useful way to organise maintenance priorities: list the hazards, such as falls, electrical faults, pool risks, gas and fire, decide what controls are in place and what is missing, and record the actions and dates. That record also supports the owner if responsibility for an incident is later questioned.
Emergency plans and accident reporting
Owners of public places, venues and event sites must prepare an emergency plan for dealing with accidents, as specified by the agency and the relevant authorities and in the decisions and guides issued under the law. The plan must include measures to prevent overcrowding, evacuate the public, reach safe places and provide first aid.
Owners must also notify the agency of any accidents or injuries in the places under their supervision, within the periods and in the cases set out in the municipality's guides, and the agency builds a database of accident causes and investigates them to prevent repetition. For managers, this means incident logs, first aid records and maintenance histories are no longer only internal documents; they may be needed for official reporting.
Electrical, solar and smart systems in villas: a closer look
By naming electrical installations, solar energy systems and technical and smart systems in the home safety article, the law reflects how villas in Dubai have changed. Many now have rooftop solar, battery storage, electric vehicle chargers, smart lighting and automation added over time, often by different contractors. Each addition can introduce risks if wiring, protection, ventilation or installation quality is poor.
A practical approach is an electrical safety inspection that covers the main board and earth-leakage protection, cable condition and loading, wet-area circuits, outdoor sockets and lighting, solar and battery installations, chargers and smart system power supplies. Findings should be recorded and fixed in order of risk, with the report kept as evidence of the measures taken.
Landlords, tenants and management companies
Because the law defines the owner to include the person with the right to use, exploit or invest in a building or establishment, as well as the service provider and the operator, responsibility for a specific requirement can depend on who controls the place or the equipment. In a rented villa, the landlord and tenant may share duties according to the lease; in a building, the owners association, the management company and individual owners may each hold part of the responsibility.
The law does not divide these duties in detail between landlords and tenants, so leases and management agreements should be reviewed to make clear who maintains fire detectors, pools, railings, gas installations and electrical systems, and who keeps the records. Clarity now prevents disputes after an inspection or an incident.
Duties of the public and residents
Article (15) sets duties for the public in public places, venues and event sites: following all public safety procedures, instructions and guidance; following the guides on using devices, machines, equipment and tools; following evacuation procedures and cooperating with public safety supervisors, the owner and the relevant authorities in an accident or emergency; acting carefully and supervising children; respecting permitted swimming times on public beaches; and not entering areas reserved for staff or other unauthorised areas.
For building managers, these duties support house rules in shared facilities such as pools, gyms and roofs. Clear signs, rules and briefings for residents and visitors help them meet their own obligations and reduce risk for everyone.
Beaches and waterfront properties
Article (13) sets requirements for beaches, defined as natural or artificial, public or private areas next to the sea, the creek, canals, lakes, waterfronts or waterways. They include obtaining permits and approvals for activities and events on the beach, including water sports; equipping the beach with rescue and safety equipment including watch towers, lifeguards and guidance and warning signs in Arabic and at least one other language; setting permitted swimming times; separating activity areas from swimming areas with buoys; and keeping the beach clean and free of hazards such as broken glass and sharp objects.
The establishment or entity managing the beach or the events on it must provide these requirements. Residential communities and hotels with private beaches should review their arrangements against this list.
Outsourcing of inspection and supervision
Article (26) allows the municipality, under the legislation in force and in coordination with the Department of Finance, to outsource any of its or the agency's tasks and powers under the law to a public or private entity, including the authorities supervising special development zones and free zones, under an agreement setting the rights and duties of both sides.
Entities contracted in this way must apply the municipality's public safety legislation, requirements and standards, work under the municipality's supervision and within their mandate, provide data on time, meet the conditions for public safety supervisors and inspectors, and have the necessary technical and administrative resources. In free zones and master communities, owners may therefore find that inspection and supervision are carried out by a contracted or zone authority acting under the municipality's framework.
Gaps commonly found in older villas and buildings
When older properties are reviewed against the law's lists, the same gaps tend to appear. Homes may have no fire detectors, detectors without batteries or detectors past their service life. Railings on roofs and balconies may be loose, too low or missing where terraces were added. Electrical boards may lack earth-leakage protection, and additions such as outdoor kitchens, chargers or solar systems may have been wired without proper protection.
In buildings, typical gaps include lift records that are incomplete, firefighting equipment that has not been tested on schedule, first aid kits that are empty or locked away, pool areas without clear depth signs or separation between adult and children's pools, and maintenance contractors working in common areas without signs or barriers. Each of these can be found in a structured walk-through and corrected in order of risk.
Documenting compliance: a simple record set
Because the owner alone is responsible for damage caused by failing to meet the requirements, good records are part of good safety. A practical record set includes fire detector installation and test records, fire system and extinguisher service reports, lift and escalator maintenance records and certificates, railing inspection notes, electrical inspection reports, gas installation checks, pool approvals, completion certificates and maintenance logs, and first aid kit checks.
For public places and shared facilities, add the risk assessment, the emergency plan, accident and injury notifications, public safety supervisor appointments and training records, inspection certificates for equipment, and contractor certificates for lifting equipment and emptying vehicles. Keeping these in one organised file, digital or paper, makes inspections, handovers and insurance claims far easier.
Planning works across the two-year window
With up to two years from 1 June 2026 to comply, owners can plan works in phases rather than all at once. A sensible order is to start with items that protect life directly and are quick to fix, such as fire detectors, first aid provision, obvious fall hazards and urgent electrical faults, then move to larger items such as railing upgrades, fire system improvements, pool modifications and electrical rewiring.
Throughout the period, owners should watch for the implementing decisions and guides from Dubai Municipality and the relevant authorities, since they may add specific requirements or clarify which buildings need public safety supervisors. Building those decisions into the plan as they appear keeps the work aligned with the final requirements and avoids paying twice for the same item.
Cooking gas safety in homes
Article (9) requires homes to provide the measures and procedures needed for the safe use of household cooking gas, as approved by the relevant authorities. In villas and apartments, this typically means gas installations and cylinders set up by authorised parties, hoses and regulators in good condition and replaced when they age, cylinders stored and connected as the authorities require, and adequate ventilation where gas appliances are used.
Residents should know where to shut off the gas supply and what to do if they smell gas: avoid flames and electrical switches, ventilate if safe, leave the area and call the relevant emergency service. Building managers can support this with clear instructions in common areas and by keeping records of gas installation checks.
Noise from equipment and maintenance
The law requires homes, public places, venues and event sites to respect the noise limits permitted under the legislation in force in the emirate. In homes and buildings, common noise sources include pumps, generators, outdoor AC units, pool equipment and maintenance work itself. Worn bearings, loose mountings and poorly placed equipment often make noise worse than it needs to be.
Regular maintenance that addresses vibration and wear, sensible scheduling of noisy works, and equipment placement that considers neighbours all help keep noise within acceptable limits. Where noise complaints arise, a technical check of the equipment is usually the fastest route to a solution.
What is still to come
Several parts of the law depend on later decisions. The Chairman of the Executive Council is to set the list of violations and fines and the fees for permits and services. The Director General of Dubai Municipality is to issue the decisions needed to implement the law, the public safety guides and instructions, the criteria for buildings that must appoint a public safety supervisor, and any additional requirements.
Until those are issued, the law keeps regulations, decisions and guides issued under the 2003 local order in force where they do not conflict with it. Owners should follow announcements from Dubai Municipality and the relevant authorities, and update their plans as each decision appears.
Salons, spas, gyms and cafes: covered as public places or venues
The law's definitions reach well beyond malls and theme parks. Public places expressly include restaurants, cafes, hotels and shopping venues, and entertainment venues are defined as places the public visits for amusement, relaxation, recreation, sport or personal care, including sports and games halls. Salons, spas, gyms and similar businesses should therefore read Articles (6) and (14) as applying to them.
For these businesses, the most relevant duties are usually safe equipment and its periodic inspection and maintenance, fire equipment and evacuation, first aid, capacity and ventilation, signs and instructions, and, for entertainment venues, the permit requirement before operating and before changes that may affect safety. Owners should confirm with Dubai Municipality how the permit and supervisor requirements apply to their specific activity.
Checklist for villa owners
Check that fire detectors are installed, working and maintained according to the relevant authority's controls, and that any connection to the electronic home protection system is active. Confirm that firefighting equipment required by the authorities is present and serviced, that railings on stairs, roofs and balconies are secure, and that electrical installations, solar systems and smart systems have been inspected by a competent contractor.
If there is a pool, review its safety measures, especially for children, and keep its approval and design documents if it was built recently or is planned. Check the safety of the cooking gas installation, keep a first aid kit stocked and accessible, and consider noise from pumps, generators and outdoor units. Keep all reports and certificates in one file.
Checklist for building owners and associations
Review lift and escalator maintenance records and certificates, inspect railings on all stairs, roofs and balconies, and confirm that fire alarm, firefighting and evacuation systems are maintained and tested as the relevant authorities require. Check first aid provision and access, and watch for the Director General's decision setting which buildings must appoint a public safety supervisor.
For shared pools, confirm the completion certificate, water treatment and maintenance records, safety equipment, lifeguard arrangements, adult and children's pool separation and signage. For maintenance in common areas, require contractors to use signs and barriers, to bring certified lifting equipment, and to avoid tampering with inspection chambers or drainage outlets without authorisation.
Checklist for pool operators
Keep the completion certificate and design approval on file. Follow the agency's specifications for filtration, disinfection, recirculation, heating, cooling and lighting, and record each periodic maintenance visit. Maintain safety equipment and record its checks, confirm the lifeguard meets the agency's conditions, keep the barrier between adult and children's pools in good condition, and display bilingual signs and clear depth markings in public pools.
For temporary pools, obtain prior approval, keep the conformity certificate, install on suitable ground as required, follow the manufacturer's preventive measures, protect children from access and respect the permitted capacity.
Working with maintenance contractors under the new law
The law makes good contractor practice part of compliance. Before work starts in a place used by the public, agree how the area will be closed or protected, what signs will be used and how workers and passers-by will be kept safe. Ask for inspection certificates for any lifting equipment or emptying vehicles brought to site, and keep copies.
Ask contractors to report what they inspected, what they found and what they fixed, especially for fire systems, electrical installations, pools, lifts and railings. Those reports become the evidence that the owner has met the requirements and are the first thing to show an inspector.
Working with Power Zone
Power Zone carries out maintenance across Dubai for villas, residential buildings, offices and commercial properties, including fire safety maintenance, electrical work, pool maintenance and building services. A site review can check the items this law lists for homes and buildings, document their condition and plan corrections within the two-year period.
For related guidance, see Power Zone's fire safety maintenance guide for Dubai and the pool maintenance guide. Where a specific approval, certificate or authorised party is required by the law or by the relevant authority, owners should confirm it for the specific work with any contractor, including Power Zone.
Frequently asked questions
When did Dubai's public safety law take effect?
Law No. (2) of 2026 on Public Safety in the Emirate of Dubai applies from 1 June 2026. The official text shows it was issued on 27 February 2026, and the Government of Dubai Media Office announced it on 6 March 2026.
Do villa owners need fire detectors under the new law?
Yes. Article (9) requires homes to install fire detectors and subscribe to the electronic linking system for home protection, according to the requirements and controls approved by the relevant authorities.
Do private villa pools need approval in Dubai?
Yes. Article (11) states that no swimming pool may be built in the emirate without the agency's approval of its plans and design, including pools in private residential villas.
What are the fines under the Dubai public safety law?
From AED 500 to AED 1,000,000 per violation, doubled for a repeat within one year up to AED 2,000,000. The specific violations and fines are set by a decision of the Chairman of the Executive Council.
How long do owners have to comply?
Up to two years from 1 June 2026, extendable once for the same period by the Chairman of the Executive Council on the Director General's recommendation.
Who enforces the law?
Dubai Municipality's Environment, Health and Safety Agency, in coordination with the relevant authorities, supervises public safety. Municipal staff and designated employees of relevant authorities have judicial enforcement powers.
Does the law apply in free zones and DIFC?
Yes. It applies to public places, entertainment venues, event sites and buildings in Dubai, including special development zones and free zones such as the Dubai International Financial Centre, with listed exceptions such as airports and industrial facilities.
What does the law require for maintenance work in public places?
Guidance and warning signs for the safety of the public and workers, and inspection certificates from the relevant authorities for emptying vehicles and lifting, loading and unloading equipment, plus any other requirements set by legislation or Director General decisions.
Reference sources
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