Building permits · NOCs · Drawings · Dubai
Authority approvals in Dubai, prepared properly
We help property owners, tenants, contractors and businesses get building permits, fit-out approvals and NOCs from Dubai's authorities and master developers. We prepare compliant drawings, assemble the documents and follow each application through to the permit or certificate.
What are you planning?
- Extending or renovating a villaDeveloper NOC + building permit
- Fitting out an office, shop or restaurantFit-out, Civil Defence & sector approvals
- Building on a plot in mainland DubaiDubai Municipality building permit
- Warehouse, mezzanine or rackingIndustrial and free zone approvals
- Finishing a projectInspections & completion certificate
Three ways we help your project get approved
Most projects need more than one of these: the right drawings, submitted to the right authority, with the right NOCs alongside. See all approval services, including optional fit-out and execution services.
Applications to the building, fire, utility and free zone authorities, and to master developers.
Approvals organised by project type, from a villa extension to a clinic, café or warehouse.
Engineering drawings prepared to the Dubai Building Code and the reviewers' expectations.
Projects and people we work with
Villa & home owners
Extensions, layout changes, pools, pergolas and landscaping in master communities, plus regularising works done by a previous owner.
Tenants & business owners
Office, retail, restaurant, salon, gym and clinic fit-outs that need fire, food-safety or health approvals before trade licences and opening.
Contractors & fit-out firms
Drawing packages, authority submissions and comment responses, so your team can focus on building.
Investors & landlords
New buildings, change of use, warehouse upgrades, completion certificates and affection plans for planning decisions.
From first message to approved permit
Every project is different, but the way we run it is consistent and transparent.
Tell us the plan
Send a description, location and any drawings or photos by WhatsApp, phone or the form.
Approval roadmap
We confirm the authority, the approvals and NOCs needed, and the documents to prepare. You receive a written scope and quotation.
Drawings & submission
We prepare or check the drawings, assemble the documents and coordinate the submissions.
Follow-up to approval
We answer reviewer comments, coordinate inspections and keep you updated until the permit or certificate is issued.
Find the right starting point
Start from your situation. If yours isn't listed, message us. Working out the route is part of what we do. You can also start from your area in our community guides.
| Your situation | Where to start | Often also needed |
|---|---|---|
| I want to add a room or change the layout of my villa | Villa renovation & extension | Developer NOC, structural evaluation |
| I've leased an office or shop and need to fit it out | Fit-out permits | Civil Defence approval, building management NOC |
| I'm opening a restaurant or café | Restaurant & F&B approval | Kitchen fire suppression, food-safety approval |
| I own a plot and want to build | Dubai Municipality approval | Affection plan, building design, Al Sa'fat |
| Works are finished but there's no completion certificate | Completion certificate | As-built drawings |
| My warehouse needs a mezzanine or racking | Warehouse & industrial approval | Civil Defence, structural design |
| I'm opening a clinic or pharmacy | Clinic & pharmacy approval | DHA requirements, fit-out approval |
What you can expect from us
- Honest advice on the route. We tell you which approvals apply, including when a simpler route or no permit is needed.
- Clear separation of costs. Our consultancy fee is quoted separately from the authority and developer fees, which are paid to them.
- One point of contact across the developer, authority and service-authority stages.
- No false promises. Approvals are decided by the authorities. We focus on complete, compliant submissions that avoid avoidable delays.
- Reachable on WhatsApp for quick questions and progress updates.
The approval bodies we prepare submissions for
We don't represent any of these organisations. Each one makes its own decisions. Follow a link to see what each typically requires.
Understand the process before you start
Practical, plain-English guides to Dubai's approval rules, written to help you plan, not to replace advice for your specific project.
What is DM approval, and when do you need it?
What the term actually covers, which works trigger it and when another authority applies.
Villa renovation NOC in Dubai: step by step
How the developer NOC and building permit fit together for villa works.
Common mistakes when applying for building permits
The avoidable errors that cause comments, resubmissions and delays.
Common questions
Are you a government office or part of Dubai Municipality?
No. Dubai Authority Approvals is a private consultancy. We prepare drawings and documents and coordinate applications. Permits, NOCs and certificates are issued only by the relevant authority or developer.
How do I know which authority my project falls under?
It depends on the plot's location and the type of work. Mainland plots are usually under Dubai Municipality. Free zones and some developments have their own authorities. Master communities add a developer NOC. Our community guides explain the usual route in 24 areas, or send us the location and a short description and we will confirm.
How much does an approval cost?
There are two parts: the fees charged by the authorities and developers, which depend on the project, and our consultancy fee for drawings, submissions and follow-up. We quote both clearly once we understand the scope.
How long will it take?
It depends on the approvals involved, the completeness of the documents and how many review rounds the authorities require. Some authority services have short published service standards, but design and comment rounds add time. We give a project-specific estimate.
Can you help if work has already been done without approval?
Often, yes. The usual route is an as-built survey followed by a regularisation application, sometimes with remedial works. We assess the situation first and explain the realistic options.
Do you guarantee approval?
No. No consultant can honestly guarantee an authority's decision. We make sure your submission is complete and compliant, which is the best way to avoid rejections and delays.
Start with a free first conversation
Tell us what you are planning and where. We will explain which approvals apply, what you need to prepare and how we can help, before you commit to anything.
- A practical answer on which authority and NOCs apply
- A clear list of the documents and drawings to prepare
- A written scope and quotation for our consultancy work