Minimum sleeping area of 3.7 sq m per person required for workers' housing

Workers accommodation in Dubai must provide a minimum sleeping area of 3.7 square metres per person under updated planning and design standards announced by Dubai Municipality. The standards also set a gross floor area allocation of 8.9 to 10.3 square metres per person to support services within workers’ areas. Recreational facilities and outdoor spaces are to be provided at a rate of 0.75 to 1.5 square metres per person. The updates were outlined on September 18 as the municipality announced the completion of a package of projects and initiatives aimed at improving living conditions in workers’ areas, in coordination with government partners. Carried out under the Workers’ Accommodation Policy, the programme covered infrastructure improvements, building upgrades and the provision of services, community spaces and recreational facilities. The municipality launched a unified smart classification system for workers’ accommodation and surveyed 1,417 buildings to assess their structural condition and compliance with public health and safety standards.