In alignment with the ‘Year of Community’ declared by UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Dubai Municipality has launched the ‘Home First’ initiative to enhance housing facilities for Emirati families. This initiative introduces comprehensive urban planning amendments aimed at strengthening family stability, fostering social cohesion, and improving the quality of life for Emirati citizens.
A key component of ‘Home First’ is the update to the Dubai Building Code, which now offers greater flexibility in residential planning. Emirati homeowners can construct side family annexes before the main villa, providing additional living spaces such as bedrooms, living rooms, and kitchens. The regulations also permit building a separate villa for a son within the existing family property, ensuring efficient space utilization and privacy while maintaining strong family bonds. Furthermore, families can expand their villas with a full 100% extension on the second floor, and setback regulations have been revised to allow more efficient use of space.
