Dubai Municipality has introduced updated building regulations for early childhood centres, allowing developers to construct a first floor dedicated solely to administrative and service functions.
The new standards, announced on Friday, apply to nurseries, preschools, and daycare centres across the emirate. Facilities must now include a setback or open space of at least three metres on all sides. Parking rules have also been revised: one space is required per classroom, one for every 50 square metres of office space, and one bus parking space for every three classrooms.
Eng. Sanaa Al Alili, director of the Urban Planning Department at Dubai Municipality, said the new planning standard supports Dubai’s goal of improving educational infrastructure.
“The additional floor space improves urban flexibility, optimises land use, increases capacity, and enhances service levels without additional fees”, she said.
The regulations were developed in partnership with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) and the Knowledge Fund to expand capacity and improve operational efficiency across early childhood education facilities.