Municipality stresses self-verification for building permits in Dubai

BY PMA RASHEED

14 May 2010, The Gulf Today

The buildings department of Dubai Municipality (DM) has issued a circular to all building consultancy offices operating in the emirate, to submit special forms for self-verification to obtain permit for building villas in the emirate.

All engineers and designers assigned for the villa projects have been asked to abide by the mentioned features, according to a senior DM official.

Khalid Mohammed Saleh, Director of Buildings Department at the DM, said that building consultancy offices have to do their own review of the plans submitted for building permits before submission at the municipality and comply with the conditions stated in the forms.

“The civic body has prepared a list of conditions and basic observations which must be fulfilled in the transactions regarding the villas when applying for building permits,” he added.

“The verification forms should include the architectural, structural, thermal insulation, and sewage features. The circular will give more powers to the consulting firms,” said Saleh.

“The circular has been issued aimed at developing procedures for building permits in full partnership from all those are involved in the licensing process,Ó he added.

“The procedures will be implemented by identifying the tasks and responsibilities and standards that are clear and precise for all bodies, and activate the self-performance as they can submit and complete in accordance with best international standards,” explained Saleh.

He said, “The special forms will popularise the laws and regulations through the application of a direct process, and activating the role of the consulting offices in the process of facilitating and simplifying the licensing procedures.”

“It will also reduce the time necessary to complete transactions through the powers granted to them, and raise the quality of work through the direct verification by the engineer and designer and take up responsibility for the verification process,” he noted.

The Circular No. 179 regarding forms for self-verification for the villas is addressed to all consulting offices operating in the emirate of Dubai.

An electronic copy of the forms can be downloaded from www.dubaibuildings.dm.ae, the web portal of the municipality’s buildings department, or obtained from the DM customer service centre.