Dubai Municipality has announced the temporary suspension of two engineering consultancy offices, prohibiting them from acquiring licenses for new projects over a six-month period. This decisive action, taken by the Committee of Registration and Licensing the Practice of Engineering Consultancy & Contracting, follows the discovery of professional misconduct that contravened established regulations, licensing terms, and ethical principles, negatively impacting property owners and developers. The municipality stated that this move underscores its commitment to regulating engineering consultancy services and upholding work quality within the sector.
In its continuous oversight efforts, Dubai Municipality routinely conducts field inspections of engineering consultancy offices to ensure adherence to legal requirements and professional standards. Concurrently, the municipality has revealed plans to overhaul its ‘Contracting Companies and Engineering Consultancy Offices Evaluation System.’ This updated system, slated for implementation in early 2026, will introduce comprehensive criteria and indicators designed to establish a sophisticated performance assessment framework. The ultimate goal is to propel Dubai’s construction sector towards greater intelligence, sustainability, and global competitiveness.
The forthcoming evaluation system will incorporate new benchmarks, including financial stability, the rate of Emiratisation (national employment), involvement in social responsibility initiatives, timely project completion, adoption of innovative technologies, and the integration of feedback from property owners. Eng. Maryam Al Muhairi, CEO of the Buildings Regulation and Permits Agency at Dubai Municipality, highlighted that these enhancements reflect the municipality’s dedication to elevating construction quality, enhancing global competitiveness, improving proactive service delivery, and nurturing professional excellence.
She further explained that the refined evaluation system will empower property owners and developers by offering detailed data to aid in selecting appropriate firms. Stakeholders will also have the opportunity to contribute to performance assessments through electronic surveys on the ‘Build in Dubai’ Platform (BID), fostering transparency and trust. The development of these updated standards will involve active collaboration with contracting companies and consultancy offices in Dubai, through regular meetings to gather their input before the system’s official adoption.
