Trakhees is the planning and development department of Dubai's Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation. In areas under its jurisdiction, including Nakheel communities, any modification or fit-out of a completed building needs a Trakhees Modification Permit before work starts, and a Modification Completion Certificate before the space is used. Your consultant or contractor applies online. The target for a new Modification Permit is 7 working days from payment.
What is Trakhees?
Trakhees is the Department of Planning and Development of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC). PCFC describes itself as set up in 2001 under the authority of the Dubai Government, with Trakhees as one of the entities under its umbrella.
For building work, the part that matters is Trakhees' Civil Engineering Department (CED). Its procedures say CED "takes the role of Authority" in reviewing and approving building permits, modification works, designs and drawings within Trakhees jurisdiction. It also inspects sites and follows a violation process for breaches found on its daily inspections (Circular No. 17 of 2024).
Which areas fall under Trakhees?
Areas of PCFC, Dubai World and their affiliates. Dubai Decree No. 22 of 2009 calls them Special Development Zones: land, compounds and areas owned by PCFC or Dubai World, their affiliates, and areas within PCFC's jurisdiction. It makes PCFC exclusively responsible for issuing all types of licences there.
- Named in the decree: Nakheel, Limitless, Dubai Maritime City, Estithmar and the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre.
- Nakheel communities: Nakheel says construction, modification and extension work needs an NOC from both Nakheel and Trakhees before contractors get a long-term access permit.
The decree names landowners, not a street map, and some zones run parts of the process themselves. To check your own community, use which authority approves my job or the approvals by community dataset.
Which works need Trakhees approval?
New buildings need a Building Permit; changes to completed buildings need a Modification Permit. Trakhees' published procedures list these services:
| Work | Trakhees approval | Published target |
|---|---|---|
| New construction | ||
| New project (architectural, structural, MEP, sustainability and facility drawings) | Building Permit, applied for by the appointed consultant | 10 working days |
| Revision, amendment or revalidation of a Building Permit | Building Permit revision, amendment or revalidation | 10 working days each |
| Existing buildings (with a Building Completion Certificate) | ||
| Any modification or fit-out works | Modification Permit (new) | 7 working days from payment approval |
| Change of scope before completion | Revision to Modification Permit | 10 working days |
| Change of consultant, contractor or client | Amendment of Modification Permit | 5 working days |
| Works not started within 6 months of the permit | Revalidation of Modification Permit | 2 working days |
| Setting up the site: fencing, signboards, site facilities | Mobilization NOC, after the Modification Permit | 10 working days |
| Works finished, before you use the space | Modification Completion Certificate | 3 working days |
Targets as published by Trakhees in its client procedures (September 2024, January 2023 and December 2022). They run from payment or from a complete submission; missing drawings, clarifications and prerequisites not met by the client can delay them. Trakhees also lists a 2025 circular on minor modification and decoration works after completion; its page did not open for us, so this guide does not say which small works are exempt. Ask Trakhees or your consultant before assuming none is needed.
Who applies for Trakhees approval?
Your consultant or contractor, not you alone. Applications go online at online.trakhees.ae. Building Permits are applied for by the customer's appointed consultant. For completion inspections the consultant or contractor pays the inspection fees, and the consultant, the Trakhees-accredited contractor and, if required, the client must be on site.
- Accreditation: consultants and contractors in charge of design or construction on Trakhees projects must have their engineers accredited by Trakhees, and every application names the accredited engineer (Circular CEDGR-7, 2015).
- Contractor Register: Dubai Law No. 7 of 2025 applies in special development and free zones too, so the contractor must also be licensed and on Dubai's Contractor Register. What the register means; check a contractor.
- You, the owner: get the master developer's NOC (for example Nakheel's), sign the appointments and keep the approved drawings.
How do you get a Trakhees Modification Permit?
Developer NOC, drawings, online application, review, payment, then the permit and, at the end, the completion certificate.
- Master developer NOC: For example Nakheel Urban Planning, for work in a Nakheel community (Owner)
- Get the existing approved drawings: Request copies from CED Document Control; if Trakhees has none, prepare stamped "As Existing" drawings (Consultant or contractor)
- Apply online with the forms and checklist: Application form for Modification NOC (TRK-CED-MF-CF01a) at online.trakhees.ae (Applicant or consultant)
- Helpdesk check: Accepted, rejected with reasons, or returned for more information (Trakhees CED)
- Pay initial fees, then technical review: Target 7 working days; approved drawings are stamped, others returned for correction (Applicant; Trakhees CED)
- Pay any final fees and download the permit: The download link is valid for one month (Applicant)
- Mobilization NOC, then the works: Follow the permit conditions; violations found on inspection can add penalties (Contractor)
- Modification Completion Certificate: Site inspection, target 3 working days; no use of the space before it (Consultant and accredited contractor)
If the works cannot go ahead, the permit can be cancelled only if nothing has started on site, which is how the contractor's refundable deposit is returned. Once work has started, Trakhees asks for the completion certificate route instead.
How much does Trakhees approval cost?
Trakhees publishes no fixed amounts. Its procedures say service fees are "as per project specification": initial fees are paid before review, any further calculated fees before the permit is released, and inspection fees before the completion inspection is booked. Penalties for violations can be added to the final fees. Other approval fees that are published, and those that are not, are in hidden renovation costs in Dubai.
How is Trakhees different from Dubai Municipality and the DDA?
Each issues permits for its own areas; the property's location decides which one you deal with.
| Trakhees | Dubai Municipality | Dubai Development Authority | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Areas | PCFC, Dubai World and affiliate areas, such as Nakheel communities | Most of mainland Dubai | Zones including Dubai Internet City, Media City, Knowledge Park, Studio City, Production City, Science Park and Dubai Design District |
| Changes to a completed building | Modification Permit; applicant or consultant; 7 working days; fees per project | Building permit through the Dubai Building Permit System; self-maintenance permit for minor structural repairs | Building Modification Permit; contractor; 2 working days; AED 1.0 per sq ft of added or relevant built-up area |
| Commercial fit-out | Covered by the Modification Permit | Decoration works permit for commercial units over 100 sq m, by a contractor Dubai Municipality has approved | Fit-Out Permit; contractor; 2 working days; AED 0.90 per sq ft (AED 200 to 10,000) |
| Painting, basic maintenance | Not stated in the procedures we opened | No permit since August 2023 | Not covered here; see fit-out approvals |
For homes, the full chain of building, developer and authority approvals is in apartment renovation in Dubai and villa renovation approvals. For offices and shops, see fit-out approvals in Dubai.
Questions
What is Trakhees?
Trakhees is the Department of Planning and Development of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), a Dubai Government corporation set up in 2001. Its Civil Engineering Department reviews and approves building permits and modification works in areas under Trakhees jurisdiction.
Which areas fall under Trakhees?
Areas of PCFC, Dubai World and their affiliates. Dubai Decree No. 22 of 2009 defines these Special Development Zones and names Nakheel, Limitless, Dubai Maritime City, Estithmar and the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre. Nakheel says construction, modification and extension work in its communities needs a Nakheel NOC and a Trakhees NOC.
Do I need Trakhees approval to renovate?
For changes to a completed building in its area, yes. Trakhees' procedure says any modification or fit-out works in a completed facility with a Building Completion Certificate need a Modification Permit before work starts. A Modification Completion Certificate follows, and the space may not be used before it.
Who applies to Trakhees, the owner or the contractor?
Usually your consultant or contractor, online at online.trakhees.ae. Building permits are applied for by the appointed consultant, and engineers of consultants and contractors working on Trakhees projects must be accredited by Trakhees.
How long does a Trakhees Modification Permit take?
Trakhees targets 7 working days from payment approval for a new Modification Permit, 10 working days for revisions and 3 working days for the Modification Completion Certificate. A new Building Permit has a 10 working day target. Missing drawings or documents delay all of them.
How much does Trakhees approval cost?
Trakhees does not publish fixed amounts. Its procedures say service fees are set as per project specification, calculated in its system, with initial fees before review and any final fees before you can download the permit.
Keep going
Sources
- PCFC: About the Corporation: established in 2001 under the authority of the Dubai Government; the Department of Planning and Development, Trakhees, is an entity under PCFC, opened 4 November 2026
- Dubai Legislation Portal: Decree No. (22) of 2009 Concerning Special Development Zones in the Emirate of Dubai: definition of the zones, named affiliates, PCFC's exclusive licensing role (Articles 1 and 2), opened 4 November 2026
- PCFC Trakhees: Client Procedure for obtaining Modification Permits (PCFC-TRK-CED-MF-CP-01, Rev. 02, September 2024): scope, permit types, online steps, drawings, targets, cancellation and deposit, fees per project, opened 4 November 2026
- PCFC Trakhees: Client Procedure for requesting Modification Completion Certificate (PCFC-TRK-CED-MF-CP-02, Rev. 02, December 2022): no occupancy before the certificate, inspection attendance, inspection fees, 3 working day target, opened 4 November 2026
- PCFC Trakhees: Client Procedure for Obtaining Building Permits (PCFC-TRK-CED-PS-CP-01, Rev. 03, January 2023): appointed consultant applies, six permit types, 10 working day targets, fees per project, opened 4 November 2026
- PCFC Trakhees: CED Accreditation Requirements (CEDGR-7, 5 May 2015): accreditation of consultants' and contractors' engineers, opened 4 November 2026
- PCFC Trakhees: Circular No. (17) of 2024, Compliance with the CED regulations (30 July 2024): violation process on daily site inspections, opened 4 November 2026
- Nakheel: Contact us and FAQs: changes that do not affect the facade or structure need a Nakheel Urban Planning NOC; construction, modification and extension work needs Nakheel and Trakhees NOCs; access permits AED 52.50 per person, opened 4 November 2026
- Dubai Development Authority: Building Modification - Permit: contractor applies, 2 working days, AED 1.0 per sq ft and Fit-Out Permit: contractor applies, 2 working days, AED 0.90 per sq ft (minimum AED 200, maximum AED 10,000), opened 4 November 2026
- Dubai Development Authority: Decision No. 1 of 2021 Concerning Licence Categories: the zones it covers, opened 4 November 2026
- Dubai Legislation Portal: Administrative Resolution No. (85) of 2019 Concerning the Licensing of Decoration Works: permit for commercial units over 100 sq m by a contractor Dubai Municipality has approved, opened 4 November 2026
- Dubai Media Office: Dubai Municipality launches new service (13 August 2023): no permit for painting and basic maintenance; self-maintenance permit through the Dubai Building Permit System, opened 4 November 2026
- Al Tamimi & Co: An overview of Law No. (7) of 2025: applies across mainland Dubai and all special development and free zones, opened 4 November 2026
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by community and authority: confirm with the authority or your consultant before you start work.