How to prevent your view from being blocked in Dubai

A common problem for apartment buyers in Dubai: you purchase a home with a beautiful view, and two years later a skyscraper suddenly appears in front of it. Fortunately, you can largely prevent this by conducting thorough research beforehand. Here, you can read step-by-step how to do that.

How to check for future construction projects in your area

The easiest way to find out if construction will block your view is via the official government website: https://dda.gov.ae. This is the website of the Dubai Development Authority (DDA), where you have access to an interactive map with zoning plans for virtually all plots of land in Dubai.

An example: suppose you are viewing the project Binghatti Skyrise in Business Bay. On the DDA map, you can then see that this project is permitted to build up to a maximum of 48 storeys. Next, you examine the surrounding plots:

• The plot directly in front is permitted to build up to a maximum of 19 storeys
• Other plots in the vicinity have a limit of 27 storeys
• An adjacent plot is limited to 5 storeys

This gives you immediate insight into what can and cannot be built in front of your view. This data is official and therefore a reliable source on which to base your purchase decision.

Additionally, also use the mapping service https://2gis.ae. This displays existing buildings and planned developments in 3D, giving you a realistic picture of what the view from your floor will look like.

Practical example

Suppose you want to buy an apartment in Binghatti Skyrise and you want to be certain of maintaining your unobstructed view of the Burj Khalifa. In that case, it is advisable to choose a home from floor 35 or higher, as surrounding buildings are not permitted to exceed that height.

Using this approach, you can make a targeted investment in a home that will retain its view, and therefore its value, in the long term.