Dubai sets shared housing rules: 5 sqm per person, 1 sqm kitchen per occupant

Dubai Municipality has outlined requirements for shared accommodation: each person in a bedroom must have at least five square metres of space, enough for a single bed and small desk. For families sharing a home, more than one family can occupy a unit if each family has a separate bedroom with its own internal bathroom. For individual housing, multiple people may share a bedroom subject to approved maximum occupancy and health rules. Kitchen space must be at least one square metre per occupant, and living rooms can be repurposed for residential use. These rules affect residents in shared housing across Dubai.