If you are moving to Dubai from France, you already know more about pest control than you think. French rules on termites, bed bugs and biocide certificates are strict, so many newcomers arrive expecting a regulated, documented service. This guide shows what carries over to Dubai, what does not, and what to ask before you let anyone treat your home. Readers coming from Belgium, Switzerland or Luxembourg will find the Dubai half just as useful, because it is about the questions to ask.
What you already know from home
Three things shape how people think about pests at home.
- Termites are a legal matter in some places. In zones set by prefectoral order, a seller must attach a termite report (the état relatif à la présence de termites) to the sale. It must be less than six months old and prepared by a certified professional, according to the housing information agency ANIL.
- Bed bugs became a national story. In July 2023 the health agency ANSES reported, from an Ipsos survey, that 11% of households were infested between 2017 and 2022, and that bed bugs are increasingly resistant to insecticides.
- Tiger mosquitoes have spread widely. Santé publique France says the tiger mosquito (moustique tigre, Aedes albopictus) has been established in southern France since 2004, and 81 of the 96 mainland departments were colonised by early 2025.
The French rules behind a "proper" treatment
In France, a professional who uses pest control biocides needs a personal certificate called Certibiocide. There are three versions, and the one for pests (nuisibles) takes 21 hours of training. The certificate lasts up to five years, and you can check one online with the holder's name and certificate number, according to the building federation FFB.
On bed bugs, ANSES recommends favouring non-chemical methods such as dry heat or freezing, and notes that chemical products can cause poisoning and increase resistance to insecticides. If an infestation persists, health authorities advise calling a trained professional who holds a Certibiocide. They also warn about dichlorvos, an insecticide banned for household use in France that is still sold illegally and has caused poisonings.
The professional body CS3D (the chambre syndicale of disinfection, pest and rodent control firms) signed a partnership agreement with the government in March 2022 under the national bed bug plan, to build skills and favour non-chemical methods. What those rules add up to is three things: a trained person, a documented method and someone accountable.
What changes in Dubai
In France the termite report belongs to the sale. If you are buying or renting a villa in Dubai, ask for a termite inspection yourself before you move in. See our guide to termite control in Dubai for how checks and treatment work.
The other surprises are about daily life.
- Timing is not seasonal. Treatment timing depends on the pest and the property, so ask the technician rather than relying on a pest season you knew at home.
- Mosquitoes are a city issue, not only a countryside one. A 2026 study in the CDC journal Emerging Infectious Diseases collected 1,598 Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in Dubai over one year. They turned up throughout the city, mostly in labour camps, construction sites and green spaces, which were among the places the traps targeted. Drains, plant saucers and garden irrigation matter. See mosquito and fly control.
- Bed bugs will sound familiar after the upsurge ANSES describes, which it links to travel and second-hand furniture. Read about bed bug treatment before you unpack anything second-hand.
The company is what Dubai approves
In France the Certibiocide belongs to the person. In Dubai the municipality's process starts with the company. The municipality's pest control section gives a company a No Objection Certificate before it can obtain a trade licence, and publishes the list of approved companies. Always confirm that your provider is on it, and use the steps on our licence check page.
MUMTAZ is a UAE company, founded in Sharjah in 2006, with offices in Sharjah, Dubai (Deira) and Abu Dhabi. Locally its standing rests on a Category A entry on the Sharjah Municipality pest control register, plus Dubai Municipality and Abu Dhabi pest control approval.
Where BPCA and NPMA sit next to Certibiocide
A French reader will ask which certificate this is. It is none of them: Certibiocide is a French personal certificate for using biocides, while BPCA and NPMA are trade associations that companies join. MUMTAZ belongs to two: the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) and the US National Pest Management Association (NPMA).
BPCA describes itself as a not-for-profit body for the UK pest management sector, and its members follow published codes of best practice. NPMA says it serves over 4,000 member companies.
To check our BPCA membership, contact the association at membership@bpca.org.uk or ask us for proof.
NPMA's directory is login-only, so for NPMA, contact the association or ask us for the proof.
Neither is a permit to work in Dubai, and neither stands in for municipality approval. Our ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 certificates are listed on our certifications page.
What to ask a pest company in Dubai
Take the habit of asking for paperwork with you, and ask for it in writing.
- Are you on the Dubai Municipality approved list, and can you show your licence?
- Which pest, which products and which method will you use for my home?
- Do I need to leave, and for how long? Ask for the stay-out time for each treatment.
- What is the follow-up? Ours is a gel bait visit within 3 days, and a 6-month re-treatment warranty covers the pests treated.
- Will I get a service report after every visit?
Ask these questions of any company, including us. A clear written answer to each one tells you far more than a promise on the phone.