Dubai Municipality guide: How to book pest control, sewage and waste disposal in Dubai

Source: OFFICIAL UAE NEWS · Emirates 24/7

Are you looking for a way to get rid of mosquitoes in your garden? Or do you live in a remote area, and want the authorities to regularly withdraw sewage from your home? The Dubai Municipality can help.

Since it was established in 1954, the Dubai Municipality has been overseeing daily operations in the city that directly influence the quality of life of all residents, visitors and business owners in the emirate. By 2030, it expects to become “a globally pioneering municipality that provides the best quality of life for Dubai citizens, residents, and visitors”, according to its website.

So, how can you benefit from Dubai Municipality’s vast network? We’ve curated three different catalogues of services you can access, as a resident:

• Veterinary services
• Water, waste and pest control
• Hospitality and recreation

Learn more about each one by clicking on the links above. Below, you will find our complete guide to waste, water, and pest control services offered by the Dubai Municipality.

Pest and insect control at home

You can apply for pest control services for the following categories: disease-transmitting pests (flies, mosquitoes, and rodents), or poisonous pests (scorpions, snakes, bees, spiders, wasps and hornets).

Service completion: One working day for poisonous pests, four working days for other types of pests.

Cost: Free

How to apply: You can call the Municipality’s call centre at 800 900, or use the Dubai Municipality app or the DubaiNow app to request the service.

The process for applying via both apps is similar. Here are the steps to follow, if you are using the DubaiNow app:

• Download the DubaiNow app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Log in with your UAE PASS.
• Navigate to the ‘Services’ tab, go to the ‘Public Health Services’ section and select ‘Request for Pest Control’.
• Fill in the required details, including your name, contact number, address, and the type of pest that needs to be targeted.
• Confirm and submit the request. There are no documents needed for this service.
• You will then receive an SMS from the Dubai Municipality, confirming the appointment date and time.

Control veterinary parasites

If you live on a farm in Dubai, you can obtain external parasite control services, wherein the authorities will spray pens and farms to eliminate all parasites that cause and transmit diseases affecting both humans and animals.

Service completion: Three working days for pens and farms in all Dubai areas.

Cost: Dh1 per head

How to apply: You can call the Municipality’s call centre at 800 900, use the Dubai Municipality app, or apply via their website. If you are applying through the Municipality’s website, here are the steps to follow:

• Visit: https://veterinary.dm.gov.ae/Admin/Dashboard/CheckForm. Log in with your UAE PASS.
• Fill in the required information, including your address and phone number.
• Pay the fees online.
• You will receive an application number, along with a call from the Dubai Municipality confirming your appointment.
• The Dubai Municipality employee will arrive on the agreed-upon date and time to carry out the spraying procedure.

Request agricultural pest control for home gardens

You can obtain pest control services for home gardens in Dubai, excluding real estate development areas and free zones. These services involve spraying for agricultural pests, such as insects, or diseases, using either chemical or organic specialised pesticides. Additionally, agricultural extension services for pest control are provided.

The service is limited to outdoor plants in home gardens and doesn’t include indoor plants, vegetables, or plants in farms, pens, and palaces. You can request this service twice per month, provided there's a gap of 10 to 15 days between applications, if pests persist after the first treatment.

Service completion: You will be notified by phone, of the pest control service date, within seven days.

Cost: Free

How to apply: You can call the Municipality’s call centre at 800 900, or use the Dubai Municipality app or the DubaiNow app to request the service.

Dispose household appliances and furniture

Dispose bulky waste items, such as home furniture, as well as electrical and electronic waste, via the Dubai Municipality’s handy waste disposal service. The service is available in all areas of Dubai, except in development areas and free zones like Palm Islands and Discovery Gardens.

Service completion: Three working days.

Cost: This is a non-profit community service managed by the Waste Operations Department at Dubai Municipality, and is provided to customers for free.

How to apply: You can call the Municipality’s call centre at 800 900, or apply via the Dubai Municipality website/app, or the DubaiNow app to request the service. You can also contact Fares, Dubai Municipality’s chatbot, via WhatsApp. Follow these steps if you would like to book with Fares:

• Tap on the link: https://api.whatsapp.com/send/?phone=971800900&text=Hi&app_absent=0
• Open the chat with Fares, and type ‘Dispose of household appliances and furniture’.
• Follow the instructions.

Once you request the service through one of the above channels, you will receive a call from the Dubai Municipality to schedule a date for waste collection, within one working day of the application submission.

Upon pick-up, you will receive an SMS for confirmation of service completion, from Dubai Municipality.

Acquire or relocate a waste container

Use this service to obtain approval to change the location of Dubai Municipality waste containers from public spaces in the emirate to alternative locations, and acquire waste storage containers for residential villas, events, and official occasions. This service doesn’t cover investment areas.

Service completion: Seven working days.

Eligibility criteria: Only UAE citizens and building consultants may apply for this service.

Documents required:

• Photographs of the current container location.
• Land number or Makani number.

Cost: Free

How to apply: You can call the Municipality’s call centre at 800 900, or apply via the Dubai Municipality website/app, or the DubaiNow app to request the service.

Test environmental samples

This service allows you to obtain an accredited test result report, according to the ISO 17025 standard, for environmental samples, such as groundwater, sea water, lake water, water from channels and open beaches, swimming pool water, irrigation water, wastewater, hotel and dental clinic water, sediment and soil samples, nature reserves, hazardous waste, organic fertilisers, etc. The report ensures compliance with international specifications.

Service completion: The service duration varies, depending on the type of test required.

Eligibility criteria:

• UAE citizens, residents, and visitors, among others, may apply for this service.
• Before bringing in a sample for testing, check the Dubai Municipality’s ‘guidelines for required quantities of environmental samples’ on their website.
• Next, collect the samples in sterile sampling containers provided by the Dubai Central Laboratory department at Dubai Municipality. To obtain these containers, visit the Laboratory’s Customer Happiness Centre (Block D2, ground floor) in Umm Hurair Road, Al Karama.

Cost: Fees vary according to the type of test being undertaken. There is also a knowledge and innovation fee of Dh20 per receipt voucher for sample testing.

How to apply: You can apply via the Dubai Municipality website. Follow these steps:

• Log into the Dubai Municipality website (dm.gov.ae) with your UAE PASS details.
• Head to ‘Test environmental sample’ in the ‘Services’ section.
• Fill in the details and pay the fees.
• Deliver the sample to be tested personally, or through a shipping company, to Dubai Central Laboratory Department - Customer Happiness Centre or to Dubai Central Laboratory Department Drive-Thru Unit (Makani number: 29644 93053). Note that the Drive-Thru Unit can receive a maximum of three samples.
• Receive the test result report through the website or by email.

Withdraw sewage

If you live in a remote area of Dubai that is not connected to the public network, you can request to withdraw and transport sewage water from the site. The process of withdrawing a single load of sewage water from septic tanks takes only 15 to 20 minutes, due to the use of tankers equipped with advanced pumps that can withdraw large quantities in a short time.

However, this application is for one septic tank with a capacity of 5,000 gallons. If there's more than one septic tank or if its capacity exceeds 5,000 gallons, you must submit another application.

Service completion: Three working days.

Eligibility criteria: Only UAE citizens, who own and live in the house in question, may apply.

Document required: Makani number.

Cost: Free

How to apply: You can apply via the Dubai Municipality website/app, or the DubaiNow app to request the service.

Connect to sewerage networks

Through this service, buildings, homes, and real estate properties can connect to the sewerage network in Dubai. Completion certificates are issued by Dubai Municipality Building Activities Control Department once the building or home has been connected to the sewerage network. The Municipality reserves the right to re-inspect the site if the conditions weren’t met or fulfilled.

Service completion: Small network: 45 working days. Large network: 90 working days.

Eligibility criteria:

• Governmental departments, entities and agencies
• Building contractors
• UAE citizens who own the land
• Real estate developers

Documents required:

• Plot number
• Phone number
• Landlord’s name

Additional documents, based on the application status:

• Photograph of the manhole location
• Drawing of the requested drainage connection
• Undertaking letter from the landlord or authority, according to the case

Cost:

Permanent connection to sewerage network or to an additional connection point

Site inspection to approve the connection: First time: Free. Re-inspection: Dh120.

Connection - Buildings and residential villas:

• 50 Fils per square foot of the building area or any additional area to be built later, with a minimum of Dh1,000 and a maximum of Dh200,000
• Additional connection: Dh1,000 or the cost of connection (the higher fee)
• Knowledge and Innovation fee: Dh20

Connection - Parking facilities:

• Main connection: Dh10,000
• Additional connection: Dh5,000 or the cost of connection (the higher fee)
• Knowledge and Innovation fee: Dh20

Temporary connection to sewerage network

• Dh5,000 or the cost of connection (the higher fee)
• Knowledge and Innovation fee: Dh20

How to apply: You can apply via the Dubai Municipality website to request the service.

Approval to divert or disconnect sewerage or stormwater lines

You can obtain an approval to divert or disconnect sewerage or stormwater networks during building construction, demolition, or when merging a sikka (alleyway). It's mandatory to apply for disconnection or diversion services during the construction of buildings. The application must be submitted by building and construction contractors or consultants, or by the landlords.

The diversion service is carried out by Dubai Municipality contractors. In exceptional cases, contractors approved by the Municipality carry out the diversion under its supervision.

Service completion:

Divert sewerage line or lines: from 30 days to one year.

Disconnect sewerage lines: 30 working days.

Eligibility criteria:

• UAE citizens
• Governmental departments, entities, and agencies
• Real estate developers
• Building contractors

Cost:

• Dubai Municipality contract: the contract value + 25% supervision fees.
• Knowledge and Innovation fee: Dh20.

How to apply: You can apply via the Dubai Municipality website to request the service. Here are the steps to do so:

• Log into the Dubai Municipality website (dm.gov.ae) with your UAE PASS details.
• Fill in the details (plot number, phone number, owner's name), and apply for the service.
• Receive Dubai Municipality’s reply (approved/rejected).
• If approved, the site inspection date is specified.
• Accompany the Dubai Municipality employee to inspect the specified location.
• Pay the fees, if any.
• Receive an SMS notification of the application completion and closure.