Planning and Environmental Issues
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Who has authority over land development and environmental regulation?

Dubai

Dubai Municipality has authority over land development and the environment.

Abu Dhabi

The Department of Municipal Affairs organizes and develops the real estate sector in Abu Dhabi and supervises and controls all matters related to the sector.

What environmental laws affect the use and occupation of real estate?

Federal Law No. 24 of 1999 provides that any person who intentionally or by way of negligence damages the environment or others is responsible for the costs of treatment or removal of the damage.

What main permits or licenses are required for building or occupying real estate?

Dubai

In Dubai, the principal authority for planning control is the Dubai Municipality.

Additional controls are implemented by RERA, such as the requirement for new projects to be developed by licensed developers and master community declarations that seek to regulate and govern common areas in jointly owned properties.

Construction approval and building regulations are provided by the Dubai Civil Defense.

Abu Dhabi

In Abu Dhabi, the principal authority in relation to the real estate sector is the Abu Dhabi Municipality and the Department of Municipal Affairs.

Can an environmental cleanup be required?

Federal Law No. 24/1999 on the Protection and Development of the Environment governs environment cleanups. Any person who intentionally or negligently causes damage to the environment or others is responsible for the cost of treatment or removal of the damage and may be imprisoned or fined.

Are there minimum energy performance requirements for buildings?

Dubai

In Dubai, the building code became mandatory for all new buildings in the emirate from 2014.

Abu Dhabi

In 2010, the emirate of Abu Dhabi implemented mandatory minimum efficiency standards for all new residential and commercial buildings through the Estidama Pearl Rating System.

Are there other regulatory measures that aim to improve the sustainability of newly constructed and existing buildings?

The UAE cabinet approved the Green Building and Sustainable Buildings Standards to be applied across the country and application of these standards started in 2011 and is expected the reduce carbon emissions by 30%.

Pacific Controls and Etisalat joined forces to create Emirates Energy Star to reduce UAE greenhouse gas emissions and the fuel bills of its companies by retrofitting existing buildings with energy saving controls systems.

There are a number of ongoing strategies aimed at improving the energy efficiency of the UAE, such as Dubai Integrated Strategy 2030 and Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, and Abu Dhabi is set to have its first net-zero energy office building in 2024 in Masdar City.