Dubai: Dubai Municipality has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment (MBRHE) to enhance pathways for flexible housing solutions that empower Emirati citizens to efficiently build their own homes.
According to Emirates News Agency, the agreement aims to simplify procedures, enhance government integration, and develop regulatory and implementation models that improve the quality of housing services, increase customer satisfaction, and support sustainable urban development goals.
The MoU was signed during GITEX Global 2025 by Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director-General of Dubai Municipality, and Mohammed Al Shehhi, Acting CEO of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment. The agreement reaffirms both parties' commitment to advancing the ecosystem of construction, housing, and building services, while developing comprehensive and innovative housing solutions that meet citizens' needs. It also focuses on offering diverse options with minimal cost and administrative requirements, thereby facilitating citizens' homebuilding journeys and contributing to a better quality of life.
Under the MoU, both entities will collaborate to design and update standardized housing models categorized into predefined types approved in advance to expedite the licensing and implementation process for citizens' private housing projects. The cooperation will also aim to enhance citizens' experience by promoting joint integration to streamline procedures and unify communication channels.
The partnership will cover all project stages-from preparing designs and contractor listings to supervising execution and completion-ensuring clarity of roles, efficiency, and a seamless customer experience. Mariam Al Muhairi, CEO of the Building Regulation and Permits Agency at Dubai Municipality, emphasized the partnership's alignment with Dubai Municipality's vision of achieving government integration and providing a comprehensive, sustainable housing ecosystem.
Dhallal Bin Quraish Al Falasi, Assistant CEO of the Corporate Support Sector at MBRHE, highlighted the memorandum's alignment with the Government of Dubai's vision to enhance quality of life and provide an integrated residential environment. By simplifying procedures and activating unified digital channels, the collaboration aims to deliver a seamless customer experience for citizens.
As part of the partnership, the two entities will also work on developing electronic integration and data exchange mechanisms to enhance process efficiency. This will include sharing information related to inspection results, licensing status, project progress reports, and contractor performance evaluations. Both parties will coordinate technical, administrative, and financial procedures related to MBRHE's role as a project manager on behalf of homeowners to ensure smooth workflow.
Dubai Municipality will define and update contractor requirements and standards for private citizen housing projects, providing MBRHE with an updated list of qualified contractors. This will strengthen reliability and execution quality, facilitate licensing through pre-approved standardized models, and involve MBRHE in reviewing the mandatory unified contractor agreement.
Meanwhile, MBRHE will coordinate with homeowners to select suitable designs, tender projects, award contracts, and appoint contractors. Acting as the project manager under written authorization from homeowners, the establishment will monitor project progress, ensure contract compliance, and periodically share contractor performance evaluations with Dubai Municipality.