Dubai Municipality regulates pest control in Dubai through its Public Health Pest Control Section. The section issues No Objection Certificates to pest control companies before they get a trade licence, qualifies and inspects them, tests pesticide effectiveness, and publishes a list of approved companies. Its call centre number is 800900. Tenants, landlords and businesses should use only listed companies.

The section also carries out public health pest control in public areas and facilities, markets, gardens and parks, ports and airports, and in citizens’ homes, using integrated pest management (IPM) for pests that spread disease, such as mosquitoes, flies and rodents. For how to check a company, see our guide to Dubai Municipality approved pest control companies.

What the Dubai Municipality pest control department requires from companies

• An NOC from the Public Health Pest Control Section as a pre-requisite for the trade licence.
• Qualified staff. Every member of staff must carry a pest control ID card issued by the section.
• Periodic inspections by the section.
• Group classification. Companies on the official list are divided into three groups according to qualified manpower.
• Scope. The general list covers general pest control and excludes fumigation, termite control and bird control, which need separate permission.

1. Rules for homes: landlord vs tenant

There is no single rule that says “the landlord always pays” or “the tenant always pays” for pest control. It depends on your tenancy contract and on the cause of the problem.

• The tenancy contract. Read what it says about maintenance, pest control and treatment before move-in or move-out.
• The law on maintenance. Under Dubai’s rental law (Law No. 26 of 2007), as explained by a legal adviser to Gulf News, the landlord is responsible for maintenance work and repairs of defects or damage that affect the tenant’s intended use of the property, unless the parties agreed otherwise.
• The cause. If pests enter because of a building defect, such as gaps, drainage problems or an infestation that was there at move-in, it is more likely to be the landlord’s responsibility. If the infestation comes from the way the unit is used, for example food waste or unclean storage, the tenant is more likely to be responsible.

What to do as a tenant: report pests to your landlord or building management in writing with photos and dates, keep copies of messages, and ask for a licensed company. If the issue is not resolved, you can contact the Rental Disputes Centre. What to do as a landlord: arrange a licensed company for a pre-tenancy treatment where needed, keep records, and respond quickly to reports.

In a shared building, pests move between units, so building management should arrange building-wide treatment. For homes, see our home pest control guide for Dubai.

2. Rules for restaurants, food outlets, warehouses and labour camps

Restaurants and food businesses

Under Dubai Municipality food safety requirements, food establishments are expected to run a pest management programme, work with a Dubai Municipality-licensed pest control company, and keep service records that can be shown to inspectors. Businesses should not apply chemical pesticides themselves. Check the current wording of the Dubai Food Code with the Municipality’s Food Safety Department, because requirements are updated.

Records usually include: the company’s licence copy, service reports, the products used, dates of visits, pest activity found and corrective actions. See our guide to commercial pest control in Dubai.

Warehouses and offices

Warehouses, especially those storing food, need documented pest control programmes, and many landlords and tenants also require them in lease terms. Rodent and bird control often need regular monitoring.

Labour camps and staff accommodation

Shared rooms and kitchens raise the risk of cockroaches, bed bugs and rodents. Employers should arrange regular treatments with a licensed company and keep reports. Contact the Municipality or your free zone or landlord for any facility-specific requirement.

How often must food outlets have pest control? We have not found a rule that fixes one number of visits for every business, so we do not quote one. The right frequency depends on the type of business and the risk, and your licensed company should recommend a schedule and document it. Ask the Municipality if you need the exact requirement for your licence.

3. Approved chemicals and safety periods

• Approved products. The Public Health Pest Control Section tests pesticide effectiveness, and licensed companies are expected to use products that are approved for use. Ask the company for the product name and active ingredient.
• Safety and re-entry. There is no single waiting time that applies to every product. The product label, the technician and the safety data sheet tell you how long to ventilate, stay out and wait before wiping surfaces.
• Food areas. In kitchens and food preparation areas, only products suitable for those environments should be used, and food must be covered or removed.
• Never use fumigation tablets or unlabelled chemicals in a flat or villa. They are dangerous and have caused fatal poisonings in the region.

Our guide on pet-friendly and child-safe pest control explains what to ask.

4. How to contact the municipality or report a problem

• Call 800900. This is the Dubai Municipality call centre, which also covers the Public Health Pest Control Section.
• Email info@dm.gov.ae.
• In person. The Public Health Pest Control Section is in Al Quoz Industrial Area 3.

Where do I complain about pests in my building? Start with your landlord or building management and put it in writing. If it is not resolved, or if you suspect an unlicensed company, contact Dubai Municipality on 800900. Keep photos, invoices and service reports.

5. Why an AMC contract helps compliance

An annual maintenance contract (AMC) with a licensed company helps in several ways:

• Records. Scheduled visits produce service reports and logs you can keep for inspections.
• Prevention. Regular checks find pests early, before an inspector or a customer does.
• Consistency. One accountable company manages products, visits and follow-ups.
• For landlords, a contract covering common areas shows that the building is maintained.

Ask what the contract includes: the number of visits, which pests, reports, response time, warranty and renewal. See our pest control contract services.

6. Frequently asked questions

Who is responsible for pest control in a rented flat in Dubai?

It depends on the tenancy contract and the cause. Under Dubai’s rental law, unless agreed otherwise, the landlord is responsible for maintenance and repairs of defects that affect use of the property. Pests caused by building defects or existing at move-in are more likely to be the landlord’s responsibility, while pests caused by how the unit is used may fall on the tenant. Report in writing and keep records.

How often must food outlets have pest control?

Food businesses are expected to have a pest management programme with a licensed company and keep service records. We do not state a fixed number of visits because it depends on the business and the risk. Your company should recommend a schedule, and you can confirm requirements with Dubai Municipality.

Where do I complain about pests in my building?

Tell your landlord or building management in writing first. If it is not resolved, call Dubai Municipality on 800900. For a rental dispute, the Rental Disputes Centre handles complaints.

Do I need an annual pest control contract?

For a typical home, no, but it is useful for villas and recurring problems. For restaurants and other food businesses, a contract with a licensed company is generally expected as part of food safety compliance. Check the requirement for your licence.

What is the Dubai Municipality pest control contact number?

The call centre is 800900, and the email is info@dm.gov.ae.

Does Dubai Municipality require pest control visits twice a month?

We have not found a rule that sets a visit frequency for every property, so we do not give one. Frequency depends on the type of premises and the risk. Ask the Municipality or your licensed company for the requirement that applies to you.

Need a licensed company for your home or business?

Aura Pest Control provides inspections, treatments and service reports for homes and businesses across Dubai and Sharjah. Message us with your property type and the pest, and we will arrange a free inspection.

• WhatsApp: +971 52 408 0230
• Call: +971 52 408 0230
• Email: info@aurapestcontrol.ae
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