In line with Dubai’s ongoing vision to develop and regulate key sectors in accordance with the highest international standards, and within the framework of the Government of Dubai’s efforts to enhance the legal and regulatory structure of vital industries and to align local practices with global benchmarks, the Government of Dubai has enacted a series of progressive legislative measures.
Following the issuance of Law No. 7 of 2025 on 14 July 2025 regulating contracting activities in the Emirate of Dubai, the Government, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, enacted Law No. 14 of 2025 on 5 October 2025 to regulate the practice of engineering consultancy activities in the Emirate of Dubai.
The Law aims to align Dubai’s engineering consultancy sector with international standards, ensuring the quality and integrity of engineering and planning services across the Emirate’s urban and infrastructure projects.
This article provides an overview of the key provisions of Law No. 14 of 2025 governing the practice of engineering consultancy activities in Dubai through the following main points.
Repeal of Previous Legislation
With the issuance of Law No. 14 of 2025, Local Order No. 89 of 1994 concerning the regulation of the engineering consultancy profession in the Emirate of Dubai has been repealed.
Additionally, any provision in other legislation that conflicts with this Law is repealed to the extent of the inconsistency. However, the decisions, regulations, circulars, and manuals previously issued by the competent authority, including those issued under Local Order No. 89 of 1994 and its executive regulations, remain in force to the extent that they do not conflict with the provisions of this Law, until new instruments are issued to replace them.
Date of Issuance and Effective Date
Law No. 14 of 2025 was issued and published in the Official Gazette of the Government of Dubai on 5 October 2025 and shall enter into force six (6) months from the date of its publication. Accordingly, the Law will become effective at the beginning of April 2026.
(Note: six months from 5 October 2025 = 5 April 2026; adjusted for accuracy.)
Purpose and Scope of the Law
The objectives and rationale behind the issuance of Law No. 14 of 2025 may be summarised as follows:
- Establishing clear rules governing the practice of engineering consultancy activities through a transparent legal framework that requires registration, licensing, and classification.
- Enhancing quality and professionalism by defining technical, administrative, and financial standards and by ensuring the competence of qualified practitioners.
- Protecting the public interest by ensuring that projects comply with approved urban planning and structural standards.
- Encouraging local and international investment by facilitating legal procedures and strengthening Dubai’s position as a regional hub for engineering consultancy services.
Regulatory Committee and Implementing Authority under Law No. 14 of 2025
Law No. 14 of 2025 provides for the formation, by decision of the Chairman of the Executive Council, of a Permanent Committee titled “the Committee for the Regulation and Development of Engineering Consultancy Activities”. The Committee shall be chaired by a representative of Dubai Municipality and shall include members representing competent authorities and relevant stakeholders in the Emirate. Its mandate includes defining approved activities and classifications, overseeing performance, recommending regulatory decisions, and ensuring compliance.
Authority and Responsibilities of the Committee
Dubai Municipality, in coordination with the competent authorities, shall establish a unified electronic system linked to the “Invest in Dubai” platform to manage registration, classification, and the issuance of Professional Competency Certificates. This ensures the existence of a comprehensive database of engineering offices, their activities, classifications, and technical staff. The Municipality is also responsible for qualifying and classifying engineering offices, issuing competency certificates, and maintaining updated classification systems for offices engaged in construction, design, and demolition works.
Scope and Classification of Engineering Offices
The Law applies to a wide range of engineering consultancy activities, including architectural, civil, electrical, mechanical, chemical, geological, coastal, and petroleum engineering, among others.
Engineering offices are classified as follows:
- Offices established in Dubai.
- Branches of offices established in other Emirates (with a minimum of three years’ experience).
- Branches of foreign offices (with a minimum of ten years’ experience).
- Joint offices between a local Category I office and one or more foreign offices with at least ten years of experience.
Categories of Engineering Offices
- Advisory Engineering Office (Opinion Office): Provides professional advice and must be owned by one or more engineers with at least ten years’ experience.
- Engineering Audit Office: Authorised to conduct third-party engineering audits in any consultancy activity.
Regulatory Requirements, Restrictions, and Registration Procedures
The Law prohibits any person from representing themselves as an engineering office without a valid licence and registration. Engineering offices may only engage in activities they are authorised to perform within their designated classification category. It is also prohibited to employ unregistered engineers or to contract with unlicensed companies.
Registration and Licensing of Engineering Offices
The Law specifies the procedures and requirements for registration, renewal, classification, and de-registration of offices and technical staff. Dubai Municipality shall issue executive regulations detailing these administrative processes.
Transitional Arrangements and Compliance Regularisation
All engineering offices and engineers operating at the time the Law enters into force must regularise their status within one year. Registrations that expire during this period may be renewed, provided an undertaking is submitted to complete compliance within the remaining period.
Breaches and Penalties
Violators of the Law are subject to fines ranging from AED 1,000 to AED 100,000, which may be doubled for repeated violations within one year, up to a maximum of AED 200,000. Administrative measures may include suspension, downgrading of classification, deletion from the register, or revocation of competency certificates.
Key Challenges under Law No. 14 of 2025
- Compliance costs for smaller offices.
- Limited timeframe for regularisation.
- Need for effective oversight and enforcement.
- Coordination with other legislation.
- Continuous updates to technical and professional standards.
Final Recommendations
- Expedite compliance before the end of the grace period.
- Avoid practising before completing licensing and classification.
- Adhere strictly to professional and technical standards.
- Update internal systems to ensure quality, insurance, and safety.
- Cooperate with regulatory authorities to ensure full compliance.
- Recognise that compliance is essential to maintaining professionalism and sustainability in Dubai’s engineering sector.
We hope this overview clarifies the key provisions of Law No. 14 of 2025 governing engineering consultancy activities in Dubai and serves as a valuable reference for professionals in the sector.
If you have any questions or require further advice on related matters, please feel free to contact Mohamed Taha at mohamed.taha@sat-law.com.
Written by Mohamed Taha.
21 October, 2025
