If your shop, office or warehouse sits in JAFZA, on Palm Jumeirah or in one of several Nakheel communities, you need Trakhees fit-out approval before any interior work starts, not a Dubai Municipality permit. Many tenants only find this out after their drawings come back rejected.
Trakhees is the regulatory arm of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC). It has its own portal, its own drawing standards and its own completion process. This guide explains where Trakhees fit-out approval applies, what counts as minor or major works, the documents you need, and each step from NOC to completion certificate.
What Is Trakhees Fit-Out Approval?
Trakhees fit-out approval is the statutory permission from Trakhees’ Civil Engineering Department (CED) to carry out interior works in a PCFC-regulated zone. PCFC’s operational requirements state that a CED Modification NOC or permit is mandatory before any modification or fit-out works, for all establishments. Designs must follow the Dubai Building Code.
It is decided by location
Decree No. 22 of 2009 makes PCFC responsible for licensing inside its Special Development Zones, so the address of your unit, not your business activity, decides the authority.
It ends with a completion certificate
The process closes with a Modification Completion Certificate (MCC). PCFC’s MCC procedure says the premises must not be occupied until it is issued.
It needs an accredited contractor
The contractor must be accredited with Trakhees. Registration with Dubai Municipality alone is not enough to work in a JAFZA or Palm Jumeirah unit.
Where Trakhees Fit-Out Approval Applies
Trakhees regulates land owned by PCFC or Dubai World. The areas most often listed are:
- Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA)
- Palm Jumeirah
- Jumeirah Islands and Jumeirah Park
- Dubai Maritime City
- Other Nakheel communities, such as Discovery Gardens, Al Furjan and International City
| Authority | Typical areas |
|---|---|
| Dubai Municipality | Mainland: Deira, Bur Dubai, Al Barsha, Al Quoz |
| Dubai Development Authority | Internet City, Media City, d3, Knowledge Park |
| Trakhees (PCFC) | JAFZA, Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Islands, Dubai Maritime City |
Lists differ between sources, and some zones run their own processes. Before design starts, ask your landlord which authority approves your unit and get the answer in writing. Getting Trakhees fit-out approval right starts with that one question.
Minor vs Major Works Under Trakhees Fit-Out Approval
In JAFZA, the Fit-Out Manual splits works into two classes, as summarised by Mitchell’s:
| Class | What it covers | Approvals needed |
|---|---|---|
| Minor | Low-height partitions; minor changes to floors, MEP and civil works | Building Maintenance Contractor (BMC) review and JAFZA Modification NOC |
| Major | Full-height partitions; major civil and MEP changes | The above, plus Dubai Civil Defence, Trakhees CED and EHS, and DEWA |
The manual sets no partition height in metres. Ask the BMC to classify your scheme in writing at concept stage, because a wrong class is one of the fastest ways to lose weeks on Trakhees fit-out approval.
Documents Needed for Trakhees Fit-Out Approval
For the JAFZA Modification NOC
- JAFZA lease drawing
- Existing layout: floor plan and MEP
- Proposed layout: floor plan, elevation, cross-section and MEP
- The BMC checklist for your class of works (CL.002 for minor, CL.001 for major)
For major works and completion
- A DEWA NOC or approved load schedule
- Dubai Civil Defence approval, then its completion certificate
- Trakhees-approved, stamped drawings kept on site for every inspection
- A Nakheel compliance certificate, where your community requires one
Drawings prepared for Dubai Municipality often need reworking for Trakhees, so brief your designer on the correct authority before drawing starts.
Trakhees Fit-Out Approval Process: Step by Step
Here is how Trakhees fit-out approval typically runs for a JAFZA unit, with the review targets Mitchell’s reports:
- Classify the works with the BMC as minor or major.
- Submit existing and proposed drawings to the BMC. First review: 2 working days.
- Apply for the Modification NOC on the Dubai Trade portal. Processing: 3 working days.
- Major works only: get Civil Defence initial approval and the Trakhees CED and EHS modification permit. Trakhees targets 7 working days from payment approval.
- Get the Permit to Work from the BMC.
- Set up the site: safety induction booked 2 working days ahead, gate passes through Tasreeh, material permits and a skip.
- Build to the approved drawings, with stamped copies on site.
- Apply for the Modification Completion Certificate. Trakhees targets 3 working days. Inspection is booked after fees are paid, and the accredited consultant and contractor must attend.
These targets cover single reviews, not the whole programme, and Civil Defence publishes no turnaround. The CED modification permit also expires if works don’t start within six months.
Common Reasons Trakhees Fit-Out Approval Gets Delayed
- Applying to Dubai Municipality instead of Trakhees
- Drawings in the wrong format, or missing MEP layouts
- Works classed as minor that are really major
- A consultant or contractor not accredited with Trakhees
- A missing DEWA load schedule or Civil Defence approval
- Starting work early; violations found at inspection can add penalties to the final fees
- Missing access panels to landlord services, which can hold up the completion certificate
Get Trakhees Fit-Out Approval Right With Magnus
Magnus Interiors has delivered fit-outs across the UAE since 2006, from its office in Jebel Ali. Our fit-out, MEP and joinery teams work together, so the layout, MEP and fire drawings that go to the authority come from the people who build them.
We also convert warehouses into offices and showrooms, a common request in JAFZA; see our warehouse-to-office conversion guide.
Planning a fit-out in JAFZA, on the Palm or in a Nakheel community? Talk to our team about Trakhees fit-out approval and delivery for your unit, or WhatsApp +971 55 288 7962.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Trakhees fit-out approval take?
Individual reviews are short: about 2 working days for the BMC, 3 for the Dubai Trade NOC, 7 for the Trakhees CED permit and 3 for the completion certificate. Civil Defence, comments and resubmissions add time, so plan for several weeks overall.
How much does Trakhees fit-out approval cost?
There is no fixed public fee table. Trakhees bases fees on the project and its built-up area, and issues a payment advice after it accepts your submission.
Can I open my business before the completion certificate?
No. PCFC’s procedure says the premises must not be occupied until the Modification Completion Certificate is issued.
Can a Dubai Municipality-registered contractor do the work?
Not on its own. The consultant and contractor must be accredited with Trakhees, and both attend the completion inspection.
Who applies, the tenant or the contractor?
In JAFZA, the tenant’s consultant or contractor submits through the BMC and the Dubai Trade portal. The landlord’s NOC must be in place first.