Labour Camp Inspection Checklist for the UAE

Labour accommodation in the UAE is inspected by authorities and audited by clients and main contractors. A camp that fails an inspection can face fines, orders to fix issues, or problems winning future contracts. Use this checklist to prepare. It covers the items inspectors and auditors most commonly look at.

This is a practical guide, not a legal document. Standards are set by MOHRE, local municipalities, Civil Defence and sometimes client HSE rules, and they are updated over time. Always check the current requirements for your emirate.

1. Accommodation Rooms

• Occupants per room within the permitted limit
• Minimum floor area per person respected
• A bed, mattress and personal locker for each worker
• Working AC and adequate ventilation
• Natural light, windows that open, lighting working
• No cooking inside bedrooms
• No overcrowding with stored items or extra beds

2. Toilets, Showers and Washing

• Enough WCs, showers and basins for the number of occupants
• Clean, working fixtures with no leaks
• Exhaust fans working, and no damp or mould
• Hot water available
• A cleaning schedule displayed and followed

Short on facilities? Our portable toilet and shower units can be added quickly.

3. Kitchens and Dining

• Kitchen separate from sleeping areas
• Washable surfaces, clean and in good repair
• Working exhaust and ventilation
• Safe gas installation and cylinders stored correctly
• Fire extinguisher and fire blanket near cooking areas
• Food stored off the floor, refrigerated where needed
• A dining area with enough seating

4. Fire Safety

• Fire alarm and smoke detectors installed and tested
• Extinguishers in date and accessible
• Emergency lighting and exit signs working
• Escape routes and exits clear, with no locked or blocked doors
• An assembly point marked, with drills recorded
• No overloaded sockets or illegal wiring
• Required separation between blocks maintained

Read about fire-rated construction for camps where separation distances can’t be achieved.

5. Water and Sanitation

• Safe drinking water available, with coolers in summer
• Water tanks clean, covered and maintained. See our GRP tank guide
• Tank cleaning records kept
• Sewage and drainage working, with no overflow

6. Cleanliness and Pest Control

• Waste bins provided and emptied regularly
• Pest control contract and service records
• Common areas clean

7. Welfare and Facilities

• Laundry facilities
• Prayer room
• Recreation area
• First-aid kit and, for larger camps, a clinic or first-aid room
• Shaded areas for summer

8. Building Condition

• No damaged panels, roof leaks or broken doors and windows
• Floors intact and not slippery
• Staircases and handrails secure on double-storey blocks
• Electrical panels closed and labelled

9. Records and Documents

• Accommodation approval or permit
• Occupancy register
• Fire-system maintenance certificates
• Cleaning, pest control and tank cleaning logs
• Emergency contact numbers displayed

Upgrading or Building a Compliant Camp

If your camp needs more space, better sanitation or new blocks, prefab is the fastest fix. We build prefab accommodation blocks, kitchens, dining halls and porta cabins in our Sharjah factory for camps in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and across the UAE. See also our labour accommodation planning guide.