Shoring and Excavation Permits in Dubai 2026

DDA's list is the most complete published reference:

• Soil investigation report
• Appointment letter signed by owner, consultant and contractor
• Geotechnical design calculations (slope stability) for open excavation
• Geotechnical model
• Shoring design drawings, in Circular 400 format
• Shoring design review checklist
• NOCs from relevant authorities, where applicable
• NOC from the neighbour or plot owner if excavation or anchors enter the neighbouring plot
• Third-party geotechnical peer review, where triggered

The neighbour NOC deserves early attention. Anchors crossing a boundary turn a technical matter into a negotiation with another owner, and that timeline is outside your control. If the NOC looks unlikely, redesign without anchors before you submit.

The bylaw's excavation shoring provisions name Eurocode 7 and BS 8081 among the design codes. Works close to protected road zones, including excavation, piling, shoring and foundations, must also observe the legislation on roads and public transport.

That second point is why roadside basements often need RTA involvement. See utility NOCs and the ROWPS right-of-way permit.

Dubai Municipality's directory shows two services worth building into the programme:

• NOC to discharge groundwater into temporary lagoons, needed before construction starts, within 5 days
• Request site structural inspection, for shoring works after excavation at key levels, through the DM website or BPS, free if no re-demarcation is needed

High groundwater is common near the coast and creek. If dewatering is likely, budget and programme it from the start rather than discovering it during excavation.

A typical order for a new building is affection plan, soil investigation, preliminary design approval, shoring permit, excavation, then the main structure under the building permit. In DDA areas, the shoring fee already paid is deducted from the final building permit, so it is not a pure additional cost.