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Dubai eases villa construction rules: 'Home First' plan lets Emirati families build a second villa
Dubai Municipality has launched the 'Home First' initiative: Emirati homeowners may build a separate villa for family members on their existing plot, extend the second floor across the full footprint, and reduce setbacks to 1.5 metres.
Why it matters
This is one of Dubai's biggest residential building relaxations in recent years, directly answering the housing needs of large Emirati families: grown children can build on the family plot instead of finding new land. Officials say it promotes family stability and eases financial pressure.
Full report
Dubai Municipality has announced revised building regulations under the 'Home First' initiative, giving Emirati homeowners more freedom to extend existing villas, construct an additional home for family members on their plot, and develop residential annexes.
Key measures: minimum building setbacks reduced to 1.5 metres; the second floor may be extended across the entire footprint of the first floor (100% extension); an additional 1.5-metre setback for rooftop floors; setbacks between service annexes and the main villa removed, with annexes allowed up to eight metres across two floors; townhouses may now be built adjacent to each other across two plots.
Conditions apply: beneficiaries of an additional family villa must be at least 18 years old; eliminating setbacks along a shared boundary requires written consent from neighbours; height, dimensions and placement of family accommodation and annexes face restrictions; additional structures cannot be built until the main villa is completed.
Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Acting Director-General of Dubai Municipality, said the initiative reflects a "flexible and sustainable urban planning framework" that meets the evolving needs of Emirati families while upholding Dubai's high architectural standards. It also aligns with the Dubai Social Agenda 33 goal of making Dubai the world's best city to live in. The municipality invites Emirati citizens to check the required documentation on its official website or call the service centre at 800900.
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