Call Anytime 24/7
Mail Us For Support
Office Address
Ras Al Khor, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai Civil Defense attaches great importance to fire safety requirements and ensuring the safety of citizens. Therefore, approval requirements are very strict and precise, requiring experts to ensure that mistakes are avoided.
Therefore, the process of obtaining civil defense approvals can sometimes be confusing and require many steps and conditions.
In this article, we explain step by step the DCD approval process and the required documents before and after the construction process.
The DCD certification process in the UAE starts with understanding the required documents, preparing those documents and submitting the application via the DCD online portal.
After submitting the documents and inspecting the site, you will obtain the completion certificate and the building will meet the safety requirements.
Here’s a step by step guide for the DCD submission process to follow:
Project type, project scope and industry type are necessary requirements that we should identify in order to know the required documents. Those elements are part of obtaining a DCD approval.
It means the project type based on construction whether it was infrastructure, commercial or residential and identifying it ensures the compliance with the fire and life safety code.
For example:
Infrastructure projects are more complex and require attention to details, while residential buildings focus on providing comfortable space and require less effort.
DCD approvals require well-designed fire safety equipment and plans, and an exact number of emergency exits and sprinklers that suit the project scope (small-medium large project) and that is what the project scope provides.
For example:
A small project require a minimum of two emergency exits and a basic fire safety equipment such as smoke detector.
The difference in the type of industry plays a role in civil defense approvals, as each industry requires specific requirements and different approvals.
For example:
Healthcare projects require more attention to hazardous materials, while marketing projects require more attention to stores.
It’s important to prepare your documents well and ensure they comply with the safety standards and filing requirements set forth by the Civil defence on the DCD online portal, such as proper formatting, appropriate file size, and adherence to specific codes.
Check this article for more information: Complete Document Checklist for All DCD Services in Dubai
After preparing the required documents for DCD, you need to register on the Civil Defense platform.
Registration requires an Emirati phone number, passport, or ID to prove your identity, or you can hire a trusted DCD company to prepare the documents.
After choosing the service, DCD provides a brief about the service and the cost of the service.
Key takeaways for submitting a DCD application:
After submitting the files, Civil Defense engineers review the application to ensure compliance with safety requirements and regulations.
A preliminary site inspection is then conducted to ensure the following requirements are met:
1- UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice
2- International standards (NFPA, BS, etc., as applicable)
3- DCD-specific regulations and guidelines They check things like:
4- Adequate fire exits and access
5- Fire detection and suppression systems
6- Emergency lighting and signage
7- Ventilation for smoke control
8- Fire compartmentation (walls, doors, etc.)
If all the past criteria are met, you will obtain a no-objection certificate from the Dubai Civil Defense and If there are any comments, the DCD will require from the owner to make adjustments accordingly. This approval is the first approval obtained before construction work begins.
This approval is temporary (typically 6 months), and it needs to be renewed if construction has not commenced and Dubai Municipality (DM) and other government authorities usually ask for this Initial NOC as part of the approval.
If there are any modifications to the design, the DCD needs to reassess them and might demand a new NOC.
The inspection process takes place after obtaining initial approval and after the construction process, where the DCD confirms that the engineer implements the submitted drawings and plans correctly.
During the inspection process, the DCD inspection officer examines the documents and check if the installations are correct and match the submitted drawings.
The documents for the site inspection include:
1- DCD approved drawings (stamped by DCD)
2- Initial NOC copy
3- Product approvals (DCD-certification for equipment)
4- Test reports (pump test, alarm test, etc.)
5- Maintenance manuals or as-built drawings (for larger projects)
The inspector notes any incomplete work or equipment that does not meet requirements. He then provides the Civil Defense with a comprehensive report detailing all errors and necessary repairs.
The owner must then make adjustments and reapply for a second inspection. There is no set time limit for making adjustments, but the timeline lengthens with each delay.
For this reason, it is important to do a pre-inspection to check all the equipments and the drawings.
After the inspection process is completed and all fire safety equipment and compliance with all requirements are verified, the DCD issues a fire safety certificate, proving compliance with all standards before residents move in.
This is a guarantee document that protects buildings and their occupants, and it can be obtained electronically via the Civil Defense website.
Application fees differ depending on the size of the building. It costs 0.5 AED for Inspection Fee (Building per sq.mtr).
The time required for DCD approval depends on the quality of the application and whether all requirements are met the first time.
Any errors will result in a resubmission, which will take longer but in ideal cases, the application process takes 10 days and large projects may take longer (+15 days).
Key takeaways for DCD cost and time:
Obtaining Civil Defense approval requires preparing and submitting documents and preparing for inspection in advance.
It can sometimes be confusing and require expert assistance. Therefore, you should contact a DCD consultant or DCD approved companies in dubai and brief them on the project, and they will take care of the rest of the details.
+971 4 347 5555 is the DCD contact number for emergencies and inquiries or you can visit the online DCD portal for any information.
They are companies licensed by Dubai Civil Defense to install and inspect fire safety devices.
It is a type of door that is specially designed to resist fire and is manufactured according to DCD fire code.
The UAE fire code is a set of regulations that ensure the safety of the buildings and the residents.
