DM vs Trakhees — Consolidated Professional Notes for Architects

Prepared for: Architectural professionals preparing for work in Dubai. This document summarises the
key technical, procedural, and compliance differences between Dubai Municipality (Dubai Building Code
- DBC) and Trakhees (PCFC free■zone regulations). It is written at a professional level for quick
learning, interview prep, and reference on projects.

How to use this document

• Read Part I and II separately to understand each authority. • Use Part III (Comparison & Quick
Decisions) when you need to decide which rules to apply during a project. • The final section contains
practical checklists and submission tips.

Part I — Dubai Municipality (Dubai Building Code, DBC) — Core Points

Scope & Purpose:
The Dubai Building Code (DBC) is a consolidated regulatory document introduced to unify building
standards across Dubai. It covers architecture, structural design, utilities, fire and life safety, energy
performance and accessibility. The DBC is backed by Decree No. 45 of 2021 which gives it legal force;
therefore, compliance is mandatory for projects under Dubai Municipality jurisdiction.

Key Technical Areas — DBC

1. Architectural: Minimum room dimensions, clear circulation widths, natural light/ventilation guidance,
building envelope recommendations and facade performance expectations. Document your compliance
explicitly on plans (e.g., call out corridor width, escape route lengths).
2. Fire & Life Safety: Egress calculations, stair widths, travel distances, fire compartmentation, refuge
areas for required building classes, and coordination with Dubai Civil Defence. High-rise and mixed-use
buildings require robust fire engineering input.
3. Structural: DBC references accepted international standards for loads (dead, live, wind, thermal).
Structural submissions should include calculations, material specs, and geotechnical reports.
Serviceability checks (deflection, vibration) are as important as strength checks.
4. MEP & Utilities: Energy performance clauses, ventilation minimums, potable water supply and
sanitary drainage requirements. Electrical installations must coordinate with DEWA regulations for
metering and distribution.
5. Accessibility (Universal Design): DBC integrates universal design obligations — ramp gradients,
accessible toilets, tactile paving, signage, lift standards and door clearances must be shown on
schematic and construction drawings.
6. Sustainability: Energy efficiency metrics (insulation, glazing U-values, HVAC efficiency) and building
systems must meet DBC requirements and local incentive programs. Ensure early-stage energy
modelling for large projects.

Approval & Submission Practice — DBC

• Early confirmation of jurisdiction is essential — municipal vs free zone. • Submissions should include:
architectural drawings, structural calculations, MEP schematics, fire strategy, accessibility checklist, and
energy report where applicable. • Expect iterative reviews with comments addressing non-conformance
items. • As-built submission, commissioning reports and NOCs (Civil Defence, DEWA) are required
before occupancy certificate is issued.
 Part II — Trakhees (PCFC) — Core Points
Scope & Purpose:
Trakhees regulates building works within its jurisdiction (ports, customs areas, Jebel Ali Free Zone,
Dubai Maritime City and other PCFC-managed lands). Its regulation set is modular: Architecture (Blue
Code), Structural (Grey Code), MEP, and Green Building guidelines. Trakhees often provides more
prescriptive guidance tailored to industrial and marine contexts.

Key Technical Areas — Trakhees

1. Architectural: Detailed requirements for facade composition, service access, stair & corridor
composition, and industrial building layouts. Trakhees often prescribes submission templates and
drawing sequences.
2. Structural: Explicit references to codes (BS, ASCE) and prescriptive minimums for load combinations.
Trakhees places emphasis on robustness for industrial uses and heavy equipment foundations.
3. MEP & Civil: Dedicated MEP design guidelines addressing industrial ventilation, equipment rooms,
fuel stores, drainage and wastewater management. Civil engineering expectations (road access, site
grading, retaining structures) are well defined for port/industrial sites.
4. Accessibility: Trakhees adopts universal design principles; specific clauses are cross-referenced to
the Dubai Universal Design Code. Ensure accessible circulation in industrial buildings where public
access exists.
5. Green & Energy: Trakhees publishes Green Building Guidelines for industrial and warehouse
typologies — these can be more prescriptive regarding insulation, roof treatments, and energy-efficient
mechanical systems.

Approval & Submission Practice — Trakhees

• Use Trakhees’ submission templates and follow their exact file and drawing order. • Provide technical
calculations, method statements, and industrial safety documentation for hazardous uses. • Trakhees
approvals often require close coordination with PCFC planning and environmental teams. • Third party
inspections and certification (where applicable) are commonly requested during construction and
commissioning.

Part III — Direct Comparison & Decision Flow

Use this section as a rapid decision matrix when you start a project. It lists common project questions
and indicates which authority's rules are primary.

Question Primary Authority / Note

Who governs the plot? Confirm via title deed / master developer — if on PCFC land, use T
Which structural code to use? Follow DBC references for municipal sites; Trakhees Grey Code fo
Accessibility requirements? Follow Dubai Universal Design Code — both DM and Trakhees re
Submissions format? Trakhees: follow strict template. DM: follow municipal submission p
Industrial / marine specifics? Trakhees governs ports, heavy industrial — use Trakhees speciali

Practical Decision Flow — Quick Steps

1. Confirm plot jurisdiction (title deed, planning portal) → choose DM or Trakhees. 2. Check acceptance
of code editions (which edition of ASCE/BS/Eurocodes). 3. Prepare the standard submission set for that
authority including: architectural, structural, MEP, fire, accessibility checklist, energy report. 4. Use
authority-specific file naming & drawing order. 5. Coordinate early with Civil Defence, DEWA and
environmental teams as required.
Part IV — Technical Highlights & Common Clauses to Memorize
Below are technical items frequently referenced in reviews and interviews. Memorize these as compact
rules-of-thumb; always check the exact clause in the code for design work.
• Accessible route: continuous path with maximum ramp slope typically 1:12 (check UDC clause for
exceptions).
• Stair width: minimum clear widths depend on occupancy — always compute egress width as per
occupant load.
• Travel distance to exit: governed by building use and compartmentation — in many commercial
occupancies max travel distance ranges from 15–30 m to an exit (verify code).
• Fire rated separations: compartment walls and doors, and required rating depend on occupancy and
vertical/horizontal separation.
• Structural load combinations: always include dead + live + wind; for industrial sites include equipment
loads and dynamic loads for machinery.
• Roof U-value / insulation: newer DBC energy clauses set minimum thermal performance targets —
design facades and roofs with specified U-values for the climate.
• MEP service routes: allocate continuous vertical shafts with clearances for maintenance; coordinate
early with structural grid.
Part V — Submission Checklist (Authority-specific templates)
The checklist below is for professional-level project submissions. Use this as a template and add
authority-specific forms when required.
• Title report & site jurisdiction confirmation
• Architectural drawings: site plan, floor plans, elevations, sections, details
• Structural calculations and geotechnical report
• MEP schematic layouts and basic calculations
• Fire strategy report and egress calculations
• Universal Design compliance checklist (UDC)
• Energy performance summary / thermal calculations
• Materials & finish schedule with compliance notes
• Construction method statement (for Trakhees industrial/hazardous projects)
• Commissioning & testing plan
• NOCs required (Civil Defence, DEWA, Environment) — attach applications or proof of submission

Part VI — Tips for Interviews & Career Growth

1. Be able to explain the difference between jurisdiction and code application — employers expect you
to confirm which authority controls a plot before starting design. 2. Show examples of how you
incorporated accessibility in past designs (drawings or annotated sketches). 3. Prepare a 2■minute
summary of the DBC and a 2■minute summary of Trakhees highlighting where they differ. 4. Explain
coordination workflow: when you involve structural, MEP, fire, and how you manage code conflicts. 5.
Familiarize yourself with submission portals (DM e-Services and Trakhees accreditation portal) and
typical file naming conventions.

Part VII — Where to look for canonical documents & updates

Authoritative sources (always verify the latest edition on these portals):
• Dubai Municipality — Dubai Building Code (official portal and PDF).
• Trakhees / PCFC accreditation pages — Blue (Architecture), Grey (Structural), MEP and Green
guidelines.
• Dubai Civil Defence circulars and DEWA technical requirements for electrical distribution.
• Dubai Universal Design Code / Wosool assessment portal for accessibility guidance.
When referencing online PDFs in design work, record the URL and download date. Authorities
periodically issue circulars and amendments — always confirm you are using the current edition before
submission.

Appendix — Useful Templates & Short Samples

Below are two short template snippets you can adapt for submission notes or permit cover letters.
1) Cover note (Architect to authority):
We confirm that the enclosed submission (Architectural, Structural, MEP, Fire Strategy and Accessibility
Checklist) has been prepared in accordance with the Dubai Building Code (or Trakhees Regulations, as
applicable) and relevant international standards. Please review and advise on comments for
compliance.
2) Accessibility annotation sample (on drawings):
Accessible WC: 'Complies with Dubai Universal Design Code — minimum clear floor space 1500 x
1500 mm; door clear width 900 mm; grabrails per UDC clause.' (Replace clause references with the
exact clause numbers used in your edition.)

Final Notes & Suggested Next Steps

This document is a professional-level consolidation intended to accelerate your practical learning.
Recommended next steps:
1. Keep the original DBC and Trakhees regulation PDFs as reference — use this consolidation as a
guide, not a replacement. 2. Use the submission checklists and practice preparing one full submission
set (for a hypothetical villa or small industrial unit) following the authority template. 3. Save this PDF in
your professional folder and update it when authorities release updates or circulars.
Prepared by: ChatGPT — Consolidated professional notes. Date: 06 October 2025.