If you are moving to Dubai from the United States or Canada, you probably already know pest control as something that shows up at closing, at a lease signing or when the neighbours' problem becomes yours. Dubai handles it differently, and the pests are not the ones you grew up with. This guide covers what carries over from home and what does not.
What you know from home
In the United States, the termite question usually arrives with a home sale. Lenders often ask for a wood destroying insect report, and the standard form is the NPMA-33, published by the National Pest Management Association. The association says the form must be used for HUD and VA guaranteed transactions and is typically used for conventional ones, though a state that requires its own form takes precedence. The inspector reports visible evidence of wood destroying insects and visible damage.
Licensing is also a state matter. Under federal law, anyone who applies or supervises restricted use pesticides must be certified, and state agencies issue the certifications under EPA-approved programs. EPA's 2017 standards set a maximum recertification interval of 5 years for commercial applicators.
Canadian readers will know a split system. Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA, whose work now sits with the Pesticides Regulatory Directorate) registers pesticides under the Pest Control Products Act. Provinces and territories can set up their own certification and licensing systems. In Ontario, for example, structural and termite work fall under separate exterminator licence classes.
The point for a newcomer: at home, the licence on the technician's truck and the form in your closing package told you something. In Dubai you need to know where to look for the equivalent.
The pests that change
Termites. North American buyers often think of termites as a regional risk. In the UAE, a 2005 survey in the Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences identified six termite species, all subterranean, that reach wood through earthen galleries, and recorded all six in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Subterranean termites work out of sight, which is why an inspection matters more than waiting for visible damage. If you are renting a villa, ask the landlord for any termite treatment records. See our termite control page.
Mosquitoes. Many people from the US and Canada expect mosquitoes to be a summer problem that fades with the first frost. In Dubai, a one-year survey run by Dubai Municipality that began in June 2024 trapped 1,598 Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and concluded the species is widely distributed in the city (Emerging Infectious Diseases). Collections were lowest in the summer months, and dengue virus was detected in the species in late 2024. Standing water in plant saucers, balcony drains and garden features is the usual starting point. Read about mosquito and fly control.
Bed bugs. EPA's household guidance says bed bugs are great hitchhikers. It advises checking used beds, couches and furniture before bringing them home, and checking hotel luggage racks when you travel. Those habits matter in a move, when furniture and suitcases arrive from several places. See bed bug control.
Cockroaches and rodents. Ask any company what it will actually do about the source, such as drains, gaps and waste areas, and not only about spraying.
How pest control is organised in Dubai
In Dubai the check is the municipality. Dubai Municipality's Public Health Pest Control Section issues No Objection Certificates to pest control companies before they get a trade licence, and its page links a list of approved pest control companies. You can contact the section on 800900. Ask which pests and activities a company's approval covers, such as termite work, fumigation or bird control.
MUMTAZ is a UAE company, founded in Sharjah in 2006, with offices in Sharjah, Dubai (Deira) and Abu Dhabi. It holds Dubai Municipality and Abu Dhabi pest control approval and is on the Sharjah Municipality pest control register, Category A. You can check licences on our licence check page.
Where NPMA fits
If you know NPMA from home, this part is for you. NPMA is a non-profit trade association founded in 1933 and headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, with over 4,000 members. Its stated mission is to support members in being professional, knowledgeable and profitable through education, industry leadership and public policy advocacy (NPMA).
MUMTAZ is a member of NPMA and of the British Pest Control Association (BPCA). NPMA's member directory is members-only, so to check that membership, contact NPMA or ask us for proof. To check our BPCA membership, contact the association at membership@bpca.org.uk or ask us for proof.
Membership is not a government licence and does not replace the municipality approval a company needs to work in Dubai. Do not confuse it with QualityPro, a separate accreditation programme administered by the Foundation for Professional Pest Management and endorsed by NPMA. Ask a company which one it means. Our certifications page lists what we hold.
What to ask a company
- Is the company on Dubai Municipality's approved list, and for which pests?
- Who does the inspection, and is the treatment chosen after it?
- Do I get a written service report after each visit?
- What follow-up is included, and what warranty applies? Ask us for ours.
- How long should my family and pets stay out, and what should I cover or put away?
Surprises for newcomers
In a North American house you may have dealt with the pest company directly. In Dubai, apartment buildings often have a management office, so ask whether the building arranges common area treatments and what you are responsible for inside your own unit. Villa owners and tenants usually arrange their own, including gardens and drains.
Allow time before you return after a treatment. The exact period depends on the product and the job, so ask the technician for it in writing before the visit.
Settling in
Before you unpack, a move-in clean and an inspection are worth considering, particularly in villas with gardens such as those in Arabian Ranches or Dubai Hills, and in apartments in Dubai Marina or JVC.