Dubai Municipality and Islamic Affairs Department introduce five-day permit process for mosque construction

Dubai: Dubai Municipality and the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai (IACAD) have launched a joint initiative to streamline mosque construction procedures, introducing a fast-track process that enables construction permits to be issued within a maximum of five days. The initiative also simplifies construction requirements to accommodate the essential and operational needs of mosques and their associated facilities, supporting more efficient use of buildings and spaces. The initiative strengthens integration between the two government entities to facilitate mosque development, improve the efficiency of permitting procedures and simplify the customer journey. It reflects their shared commitment to delivering more accessible and efficient government services while ensuring that the planning and development of religious facilities keep pace with Dubai’s urban growth and the needs of its communities. The collaboration covers several stages of mosque construction and development, including modifications, extensions and maintenance. Under the initiative, maintenance works that do not involve specialised structural modifications will be exempt from construction permit requirements through the self-maintenance service, subject to applicable regulations. This will reduce procedural requirements and facilitate the maintenance of existing mosques. To accelerate project delivery, Dubai Municipality will also coordinate with IACAD to review preliminary mosque designs and assess technical requirements at an early stage. This approach aims to identify and address regulatory considerations before formal permit applications, reducing the time required to complete subsequent approval procedures. The initiative further includes assessing land availability in areas experiencing high numbers of worshippers, enabling IACAD to identify opportunities to expand mosque capacity and respond to community needs. Dubai Municipality will also provide landscaping support within mosque premises, ensuring that these improvements complement the surrounding roads and public spaces and contribute to a cohesive urban environment. Strengthening government integration and service efficiency His Excellency Eng. Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality, said: “Our collaboration with the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department reflects Dubai’s approach to government integration, bringing together the capabilities and expertise of different entities to simplify procedures and deliver more efficient services. Through this initiative, we are establishing a clearer and more streamlined process for mosque construction permits, reducing the time and effort required to complete approvals while ensuring that technical requirements respond to the essential and operational needs of mosques. “This cooperation also supports our wider efforts to improve the efficiency of Dubai’s construction sector and enhance the customer journey. By simplifying regulatory procedures, coordinating requirements at an early stage and leveraging digital services through the unified Dubai Building Platform, we aim to accelerate project delivery while maintaining approved construction standards. These efforts will help ensure that Dubai’s religious facilities continue to develop in line with the emirate’s urban growth and the needs of its communities.” His Excellency Ahmed Darwish Al Muhairi, Director General of the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai, said: “Government integration is essential to translating the vision and directives of our leadership into services that respond effectively to community needs. At the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department, we place service accessibility and customer satisfaction at the centre of our development efforts, working closely with other government entities to align priorities, simplify procedures and improve the efficiency of service delivery. “Our collaboration with Dubai Municipality will strengthen the planning, construction and maintenance of mosques by establishing more flexible and coordinated procedures across the different stages of development. This will help us respond more effectively to the growth of residential communities, accelerate the provision and improvement of religious facilities, and enhance their readiness to serve worshippers. Through this initiative, we are advancing our commitment to providing accessible, high-quality services that bring us closer to the community.” Dubai Municipality continues to develop and simplify construction permitting procedures as part of its efforts to enhance the efficiency of the construction sector and support sustainable urban development. These efforts include reviewing regulatory requirements, facilitating access to permits and approvals, and expanding digital services that reduce the time and effort required by customers. Through continued cooperation with other government entiti