Dubai has introduced Law No 4 of 2026 regulating shared housing occupancy and management set to take effect in September establishing a comprehensive legal framework that defines six categories for shared housing and six types of eligible properties while imposing 15 obligations on landlords and 7 obligations on tenants to ensure a structured and balanced housing environment.

The law aims to regulate the management and use of shared housing units while protecting the rights of property owners and residents and enhancing overall housing standards across Dubai as it seeks to eliminate overcrowding reduce random congestion in residential areas minimize security risks and preserve the emirate’s urban appearance while preventing the spread of unregulated shared housing practices.

Under the new regulation shared housing is designated for specific groups including families individual women individual men female and male students residing in educational or non educational housing as well as government employees and private sector workers while Dubai Municipality retains the authority to amend or expand these categories in coordination with the Dubai Land Department and relevant authorities with approved property types including apartments standalone houses residential complexes mixed use buildings townhouses and multi storey buildings.

The law enforces 15 obligations on landlords including compliance with official regulations defining occupancy limits displaying official permits notifying authorities of any changes formalizing and registering rental contracts ensuring unit readiness prohibiting unauthorized modifications maintaining regular maintenance providing essential services and issuing a comprehensive tenant guide while also requiring monitoring tenant compliance and reporting violations as tenants are obligated to follow safety regulations maintain the property avoid unauthorized use subleasing or business activities and allow inspections when required.

Penalties under the law include fines starting from 500 dirhams up to 500000 dirhams with repeat violations leading to doubled fines reaching up to one million dirhams alongside administrative actions such as suspension of activities permit cancellation revocation of commercial licenses service disconnection and forced eviction by judicial order while Dubai Municipality has urged property owners and businesses to regularize their status within one year of enforcement with a possible one time extension if necessary.