Dubai Municipality CAD standards cover: (1) File format — .dwg format (AutoCAD 2018 or later), (2) Layer naming — AIA layer naming convention with DM-specific modifications (e.g., A-WALL for architectural walls, S-COLS for structural columns), (3) Line weights — standard pen assignments for different elements (thick lines for cut elements, medium for visible edges, thin for dimensions/text), (4) Text styles — Romans or Arial font, specific heights for different text types (titles: 3.5mm, dimensions: 2.5mm, notes: 2.0mm), (5) Title blocks — standard DM title block format with project name, drawing title, scale, date, revision number, and consultant stamp, (6) Dimension styles — DM-standard dimension format with arrows or ticks, specific text placement, and precision levels. All submissions must include a CAD standards compliance checklist signed by the consultant.
CAD Drawing Standards Dubai: Complete Guide 2026
Complete guide to CAD drawing standards required by Dubai Municipality for all building approval submissions. Covers DM's adoption of AIA layer naming conventions with local modifications (A-WALL, A-DOOR, S-COLS, E-LITE, M-SUPP), standard pen assignments for cut elements (0.50–0.70mm), visible edges (0.25–0.35mm), and dimension lines (0.10–0.18mm), text style requirements using Romans or Arial font with specific heights for titles (3.5mm), dimensions (2.5mm), and notes (2.0mm), DM-standardized title block format, and the mandatory CAD standards compliance checklist. Non-compliant CAD drawings are the #1 reason for drawing submission rejection.
By Kavya Ramachandran — Interior Designer
Back to CAD Drawing Certification (Dubai)What are the CAD drawing standards required by Dubai Municipality?
DM adopted the AIA (American Institute of Architects) layering standard with local modifications. Key layers include: A-WALL (architectural walls), A-DOOR (doors), A-WIND (windows), S-COLS (structural columns), S-BEAM (structural beams), E-LITE (electrical lighting), E-POWR (electrical power), M-SUPP (mechanical supply) — each with specific color, line type, and line weight assignments.
Pen assignments (line weights) follow DM standard: cut elements (walls, slabs in section) = 0.50–0.70mm, visible edges (elevations) = 0.25–0.35mm, hidden/dimension lines = 0.10–0.18mm, hatching/pattern fills = 0.05–0.10mm.
Title blocks must follow DM's standardized format showing: project name and location, consultant name and stamp, drawing title and number, scale(s), date of issue, revision history with cloud markups, and DM-issued project reference number.
The CAD standards compliance checklist must be submitted with every drawing set. The checklist verifies: correct layer naming, proper pen assignments, standard text styles, complete title blocks, correct dimension styles, and file format compliance.
Non-compliant CAD drawings are the #1 reason for drawing submission rejection. Using Wasleen's pre-submission CAD audit service ensures your drawings meet DM standards before official submission.
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