Dubai Municipality to automate building permits procedure through Building Permits and Control Application services

Dubai Municipality is launching a mega e-services project, Building Permits & Control Application, to automate the procedure of applying and obtaining building permits and the process of Building Controls in the emirate of Dubai.

The new online services, which are aimed at contractors and consultants of Building and Constructions projects in Dubai, will reduce the time taken to issue building permits by over 80 per cent. The initiative is in line with Dubai Municipality's vision to take forward Dubai's 'e-government' initiative, by offering several services online.

"The breath-taking speed of property development in Dubai has required the municipal authorities to keep apace," said Abdulla Al Shaibani, Assistant Director General for Technical Services, Dubai Municipality. "Recognising the need for specialised e-services to facilitate the procedure of obtaining building permits, we have aptly responded with a comprehensive 'Building Application' e-service, the most advanced of its kind in the Middle East. The service comes at a time when Dubai's property market is expanding at an express pace with new dimensions and concepts being introduced every  other day."

While applying for building permits, project consultants and building engineers need to submit the blueprints of the proposed building along with the qualifications and credentials of the building consultants. The large amount of paper work generated, must first be meticulously scrutinised by Municipal authorities before granting a building permit. Such a procedure could be cumbersome and time-consuming. The new service will enable the applicants to make the building permit applications online, through a user-friendly form which will be hosted on www.dm.gov.ae

Details of the projects can be registered using the online form and supporting documents can be sent to the Municipality on a CD. Municipal Authorities are now exploring options for receiving the supporting documents electronically. The fee payment for the application can be made either by e-Dirham or credit card.

A total of 100 e-services are planned for Building Permits & Control Application, of which 74 services are exclusively designed for building permits and the rest for building controls. Of the 74 services meant for building permits, 24 of them will be live and online before the end of March 2005.

"At present Dubai Municipality is testing the modules and training select end-users and staff about using these services," said Mr. Al Shaibani. "Our IT department has been constantly providing technologically advanced services, bearing in mind the various requirements of business and residents of Dubai."

"Dubai Municipality has led the way with regard to implementing e-services, fully integrated with the Dubai e-government's portal to facilitate smooth functioning of various departments of the Dubai government," he added. "The Building Permits & Control Application project will help contractors as well as Dubai Municipality reduce paper wastage, save time and avoid unnecessary delays."

The second phase in Building Permits & Control Application will see the automation of Building Control processes. Dubai Municipality's building inspectors will be equipped with Advanced Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to enable them to enter remarks or violations if any, in their 'data-loggers' (electronic log books) during their field surveys. The remarks will automatically be updated in the database of the Municipality, who in turn can impose fines on any violation.

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