TECOM and DCCA Approval
TECOM and DCCA approval is now issued by the Dubai Development Authority (DDA), which took over from the Dubai Creative Clusters Authority (DCCA). DDA approves building, fit-out and NOC applications across the TECOM communities, including Dubai Internet City, Media City and Knowledge Park. We prepare the drawings and take your TECOM approval through DDA from submission to completion.
Many tenants still search for "DCCA approval" because older leases, landlord letters and fit-out manuals use the name. The authority is the same; only the name has changed. If your office, studio or campus is in a TECOM community, your approvals go to DDA rather than Dubai Municipality.
Much of the work in TECOM communities is office and retail fit-out in existing towers, where the landlord NOC, DDA fit-out drawings and Civil Defence approval all need to line up.
What is TECOM and DCCA Approval?
TECOM and DCCA approval means the building, fit-out and NOC approvals for projects in the TECOM communities. TECOM Group is the master developer of these communities. The regulator was the Dubai Creative Clusters Authority (DCCA), which now operates as the Dubai Development Authority (DDA) under Law No. 10 of 2018.
DDA covers Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai Studio City, Dubai Production City, Dubai Academic City, Dubai Outsource City, Dubai Science Park and Dubai Design District (d3). In these areas, DDA handles the approvals that Dubai Municipality would issue on the mainland.
TECOM and DCCA Approval Process
1. Confirm the authority. We check the affection plan or tenancy contract to confirm the unit sits in a DDA community.
2. Landlord NOC. The building owner or landlord approves the works before any authority submission.
3. Drawings. We prepare the drawings to DDA's guidelines for the stage of work, from building permit to fit-out.
4. DDA submission. The application is filed through the DDA portal, and Civil Defence approval is obtained for fire and life safety.
5. Comments and approval. We close out DDA's comments until the permit is issued.
6. Inspection and completion. DDA inspects the finished works and issues the completion certificate.
TECOM Approvals Before Construction
Before work starts on site, a TECOM project typically needs:
TECOM Approvals During Construction
Once work is on site, these approvals and certificates follow:
TECOM Fit-Out and Handover Approvals
For fit-outs and handover in TECOM buildings, expect:
Is My Unit Under TECOM and DCCA Approval?
If your plot or office is in one of these communities, your approvals go to DDA, not Dubai Municipality:
How Long Does TECOM Approval Take and What Does It Cost?
TECOM approvals go through DDA, which typically takes 7 to 15 working days once a complete submission is in. DDA authority fees typically range from AED 1,020 to AED 3,000, depending on the type of approval and the scope of works. Our consultancy fee is quoted separately.
TECOM and DCCA Approval FAQs
Quick answers to the questions tenants and developers ask most:
For DDA approvals outside the TECOM communities and the full list of DDA services, see our DDA approval service. Fire and life safety still needs a Civil Defence approval, and if you're not sure which authority covers your unit, our guide to which authority approves your project explains it.
Send us your tenancy contract and floor plan, and we'll confirm the authority and the approvals your fit-out needs.
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