Planning a public event in Dubai means two parallel tracks: event licensing with the Department of Economy & Tourism (DET) and Fire & Life Safety approvals led by Dubai Civil Defence (DCD). Use this checklist to move from concept to showtime without surprises, including tents, stages, ticketing, and the paperwork DCD inspectors expect to see on site.
Who regulates Fire & Life Safety for events in Dubai?
Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) is the authority that reviews your temporary event layouts, fire safety measures, and the drawings you submit for NOC/approval. Their standards follow the UAE Fire & Life Safety Code of Practice, which covers occupancies, egress, materials, and firefighting equipment for temporary and permanent structures.
In parallel, your event must be licensed in the DET e-Permit portal, which is the official system for event licensing in Dubai (formerly DTCM). You create the event, upload documents, pay fees, and—if it’s a public event—list on Dubai Calendar.
When your structure is a “temporary event structure” (stages, seating, tents)
Any stage, grandstand, platform, truss, or tent you install for less than a season is treated as a temporary structure. That usually triggers life-safety drawings, load data, and materials documentation for DCD review, and—where applicable—structural approvals under Dubai Municipality or the relevant zone’s building code.
Typical approvals & drawings before you build
Before fabrication or delivery, align your drawing set and forms with DCD’s submission requirements. Expect to provide scaled plans showing exits, travel distances, firefighting equipment, electrical routes, LPG (if any), and a formal NOC request letter that describes the event, location, dates, and activities.
Tents & membrane structures — what organisers must prepare
Tents, marquees, and membrane halls bring extra duties. You’ll coordinate tent flame-spread certificates, anchorage details, and load data alongside the normal event plans.
Separate “temporary tent permit” via DET e-Permits (what it covers)
DET operates a dedicated service for temporary tent permits inside the e-Permit system. Apply, submit the event/venue details, attach DCD/municipality letters where relevant, and await approval; FAQs in the portal also explain amendments and extensions if your schedule shifts.
Fire-performance documentation (what to show DCD)
Bring proof that fabrics, linings, and decorative elements meet the UAE Code/NFPA flame-retardancy requirements. Keep manufacturer certificates and test reports in your on-site file so inspectors can verify class and treatment method during spot checks.
Safe layout & operations on show days
Good drawings are step one; disciplined operations are step two. Assign a safety lead, brief your crew, and keep the routes clear during peak crowd moments (doors, halftime, end of show).
Egress routes, max occupancy, housekeeping, no-smoking controls
Mark exits, keep aisles at the designed width, enforce occupancy limits, and maintain clear zones around extinguishers and electrical gear. Housekeeping matters—remove packaging, cap cable ramps, and post “No Smoking” where required by venue and code.
Emergency plan, trained staff, extinguisher placement
Provide an event-specific emergency plan that mirrors the venue’s procedures, appoint wardens for each audience zone, and ensure extinguishers are located per your approved plan. At least a portion of your team must hold basic fire awareness training under DCD guidance, and venues such as DWTC operate defined evacuation protocols your crew must follow.
Documentation pack to have ready for DCD/venue
Inspectors and venue H&S managers commonly ask to see a consistent “show file.” Keep it printed (and digital) at the control point and brief your floor managers on its contents.
Event proposal & risk assessment, scaled drawings, materials certificates, NOCs
Expect the following core documents on site: the DET e-Permit, event risk assessment, scaled plans with egress/FF&E, contractor method statements, flame-retardancy certificates, and any venue/authority NOCs listed in your DCD submission. This aligns with DCD’s event submission approach and typical Dubai venue rules.
For quick reference, the table below maps typical approvals to the issuing party. Always confirm free-zone specifics (DIFC, DDA/TECOM, DHCC, Trakhees) if your site sits inside a special jurisdiction.
| Approval | Who issues it | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| DET Event Permit (e-Permit) | Department of Economy & Tourism | Public events (entertainment, sports, business, charity, religious) |
| DET Temporary Tent Permit | Department of Economy & Tourism | Any event using a tent/membrane structure |
| DCD Life-Safety Approval / NOC | Dubai Civil Defence | Temporary structures, egress layouts, firefighting measures |
| Zone/Building Code Consent | Dubai Municipality or Free-zone Authority | Structural/temporary works inside their jurisdiction |
Keep copies of approvals at the security control point and a second set at the production office; that speeds up spot checks and shift handovers.
Ticketing & eTix integration (if your event is paid)
Paid public events must connect to DET’s e-Ticketing ecosystem (often referred to as eTix). Ticket sellers integrate via the TicketManager API to sync capacities, ticket types, and reporting; DET publishes the integration steps and contract flow.
If you need to amend your event (date, timing, tent extension), request an amendment in e-Permit first; some changes also trigger venue re-approval and updated DCD drawings.
Costs & when event permit fees appear
DET displays event permit fees and any tent-related charges inside the e-Permit workflow. Venues may also pass through DCD plan-review/inspection fees tied to their internal deadlines; for example, DWTC publishes late-submission fees alongside the standard DCD review/inspection cost references.
Budget early: add a line for “authority fees & drawing updates,” especially if you plan layout changes after tickets go on sale.
Ordered checklist — from idea to opening doors
Use this sequence to keep authorities, drawings, and contractors in lockstep. It assumes a medium-scale public event with a tented F&B area and a truss-and-stage show zone.
- Create your event in DET e-Permit, attach venue LOA, draft plan, and risk assessment.
- Prepare DCD submission set: scaled plans with exits/travel distances, FF/FA layouts, electrical/LPG notes, method statements.
- If using tents, start a separate Temporary Tent Permit in e-Permit; collect fabric flame certificates.
- Integrate ticketing with eTix (TicketManager API) if the event is paid.
- Brief staff on the emergency plan; ensure extinguisher types/locations match approved drawings; verify trained headcount.
- Print the on-site documentation pack and place copies at Security Control and Production.
Walk this list in a pre-open “readiness lap” with venue H&S; fix any blocked routes or missing signage before doors open.
Unordered essentials — things teams forget
These quick wins prevent the most common non-compliances during inspections and walkthroughs.
- Exit signs powered and visible after lights dim; test the genset/UPS for emergency lighting.
- Two-way radios on the same channel for floor managers and security; log a contact tree in your plan.
- Keep “No Smoking” controls and butt bins outside tent perimeters, not at exits.
- Spare flame-retardant tags for replacements (drapes, soft goods) in the décor kit.
- Have the “amend event permit” path bookmarked in e-Permit in case timings shift on show week.
A 10-minute daily “egress sweep” before doors will catch most of these issues early.
Handover & post-event (dismantling, site clear-down)
When the lights go up, keep life-safety discipline until the last truck departs. Maintain exit widths during strike, isolate power before dismantling truss, and remove LPG before tent disassembly. File your final incident-free report, close any open amendments in e-Permit, and clear waste per venue rules.
For future shows, save your full submission pack and red-lined drawings. That reduces drafting time the next time you pitch the same footprint or tent spec.
Where PSM UAE fits in (optional support)
Need trained stewards and a control room team? Our Event Security unit supports crowd flow, emergency response, and evacuation drills. For perimeter control and VIP convoys, book Traffic Control. During build/strike, deploy Construction Site / Technical Builds guards and mobile CCTV to protect assets and keep unauthorized vehicles out.
Micro-scenario: You’re building a 24×12 m stage with two covered FOH tents for a 3,000-pax concert. You submit DET e-Permit, then lodge DCD drawings showing two 3 m exits per side, 45 m max travel distance, and 6 kg ABCs every 25 m along the backline. You add tent flame certificates and connect your ticketing to eTix. On show day, your safety sweep unblocks a cable ramp that had drifted into an aisle, and your wardens open the auxiliary exit before the encore crush.
