Jointly Owned Property & the Safety Certificate in Dubai

Under Dubai Law No. (3) of 2026 on the Quality and Safety of Buildings, all buildings—including jointly owned properties (JOPs)—must obtain a Quality and Safety Certificate for buildings once they are 20 years old from the date of the Completion Certificate. For JOPs, the obligation falls on the Jointly Owned Property Management Entity under Law No. (6) of 2019, or on the owners themselves if no management entity exists. This certificate proves that the building's structure, cladding, electrical and mechanical systems, and safety features meet current standards.

The certificate is not a one-time formality. For buildings under 40 years old, it is valid for 10 years; for buildings 40 years or older, it is valid for only 5 years. This means older buildings must be re-certified more frequently, reflecting higher risk. The law applies to all buildings, including residential strata buildings, commercial towers, and mixed-use developments.

For help obtaining your certificate, Wasleen Approvals manages the full Dubai Building Quality Safety Certificate process — from Technical Report preparation to submission and follow-up until approval.

In a JOP, the responsibility is shared between the owners' association (or management entity) and individual owners. The management entity must initiate the technical report and submit the application. Individual owners must cooperate, allowing access for inspections and contributing to costs. If the building has no management entity, each owner is jointly responsible—meaning one owner can be fined for the whole building's non-compliance.

1. Confirm the building's age using the Completion Certificate date.
2. If 20 years or older, engage a Dubai Municipality-registered engineering firm to prepare the Technical Report.
3. The firm inspects structural integrity, cladding, electrical/mechanical systems, windows, doors, security barriers, Civil Defence compliance, and CCTV/SIRA compliance.
4. Submit the Technical Report and required documents to the Dubai Municipality via the Dubai Legislation Portal.
5. Pay the certificate fee (set by Executive Council Chairman resolution).
6. Obtain the Quality and Safety Certificate for buildings and display it as required.

For more detail, see our guide on Who Needs a Quality and Safety Certificate for buildings in Dubai?.

For more detail, see our guide on Building Management Obligations Under Law 3 of 2026 Dubai.

Failing to obtain the certificate or violating any provision of Law No. (3) of 2026 can result in fines ranging from AED 100 to AED 1,000,000 per violation. If the same violation is repeated within 2 years, the fine is doubled, with a maximum cap of AED 2,000,000. The exact fine for each type of violation will be set by a follow-up Executive Council Chairman resolution—so the per-violation amounts are not yet known.

Every effort has been made to produce an accurate and complete English version of this legislation. However, for the purpose of its interpretation and application, reference must be made to the original Arabic text. In case of conflict, the Arabic text will prevail.

For more detail, see our guide on Landlord Obligations Under Dubai's Building Safety Law 2026.

• Quality and Safety Certificate Technical Report (prepared by a DM-registered engineering firm)
• Completion Certificate date (must be at least 20 years old to trigger the certificate)
• Engineering Firm classification (must match the building's height category per Dubai Municipality thresholds)
• Laboratory test results (from a UAE-licensed, EIAC-accredited technical laboratory where testing is required)
• Ownership or possession proof (Owner, legitimate possessor, or the JOP Management Entity under Law No. (6) of 2019)

Navigating the certificate process for a jointly owned property can be complex, especially when coordinating with multiple owners and authorities. Wasleen Approvals specializes in obtaining Dubai building quality and safety certificates. We handle the paperwork, liaise with Dubai Municipality, and ensure your building meets all requirements. Contact us today to start your application and avoid fines.

For detailed guidance on the certificate process, visit our dedicated page on the Dubai Building Quality and Safety Certificate. Our team can also assist with other approvals, including villa renovation approvals.

You may also need these related Dubai approvals:

• Dubai Building Quality and Safety Certificate (Law No. 3 of 2026)
• Dubai Municipality Building Permit
• Dubai Civil Defense Approval
• Dubai Municipality NOC