Dubai Launches ‘House First’ Initiative to Support Family Housing
The initiative introduces flexible housing regulations to help families build and expand their homes.
Dubai Municipality has launched the ‘House First’ (Al-Bait Awlaweya) initiative, aimed at supporting families with practical housing solutions by introducing new flexible construction regulations. The initiative allows families to expand their living spaces more efficiently while adhering to Dubai’s Planning Code and Building Code requirements.
Under the new regulations, citizens can build a side family wing before constructing the main villa, ensuring they can meet immediate housing needs while still benefiting from the full functionality of the primary residence. The initiative also permits the construction of a separate villa for a son within the same family property, including dedicated living areas such as a living room, bedrooms, and a kitchen.
Additional key updates include removing the setback requirement between service annexes and the villa, allowing townhouse-style designs and enabling service annexes to reach up to 8 metres in height. The initiative also allows the full use of the second floor in residential villas, providing families with greater flexibility in home design and space optimisation. Furthermore, minimum setback distances have been adjusted to 1.5 metres, improving private villa designs while maintaining urban aesthetic and architectural coherence.
The initiative is part of Dubai’s broader urban development strategy, aimed at enhancing family housing options while maintaining efficiency, functionality, and the city’s visual identity. Dubai Municipality has encouraged citizens interested in benefiting from the initiative to visit its official website or call 800900 for more information.
