Residents of Dubai living in common areas must comply with specific requirements set by the Dubai Municipality. According to these rules, a single person's bedroom must have at least five square meters of space, which should allow for a single bed and a small desk, leaving limited room for movement.
The Municipality has also developed provisions concerning families living together in one home, as well as standards for the use of bathrooms and necessary amenities for individual residents.
Several families may reside in one residential unit, provided that each family has its own separate bedroom. Bedrooms designated for family accommodation must be equipped with their own internal bathroom.
For housing intended for individuals, shared use of a bedroom by multiple people is permitted, but this must comply with the approved maximum capacity and applicable technical and sanitary standards. Furthermore, the rules allow for the conversion of a living room into a residential space.
The kitchen area must be at least one square meter per resident of the dwelling, while adhering to safety and public health requirements according to the Dubai Building Code.
In new co-living buildings intended for individuals, communal kitchens may be located on each floor. Their size and equipment must be chosen based on the number of residents. If the co-living arrangement is in apartments, kitchens can be located within the residential unit, and their dimensions and equipment must correspond to the occupancy density.
Requirements differ for full bathrooms and for cases where toilets and showers are provided separately. If a bathroom combines a sink, toilet, and shower, at least one such facility must be provided for every four people. This requirement applies to both family housing and individual housing.
In the case of separate placement of toilets and showers, at least one toilet must be provided for every four people and one shower for every six people. This option is allowed exclusively in individual housing.
Co-living buildings intended for individuals must also have multi-functional halls corresponding to the number of residents. These areas are intended for recreation and dining and must be furnished with the necessary equipment in accordance with the Dubai Building Code and approved technical specifications.
Additionally, such buildings must provide dedicated rooms for washing and drying clothes, including laundry sinks and suitable drying areas proportional to the number of residents.