What food businesses in Dubai, Sharjah & Ajman actually need to know about Local Order No. 8 of 2002, FOG disposal, cleaning frequency and the documentation that keeps you inspection-ready. This is general guidance — always check the current rules with Dubai Municipality for your specific establishment.
The foundation for grease trap rules in Dubai sits in the emirate's sewerage and drainage legislation.
Local Order No. 8 of 2002 requires that the private sewerage network of a restaurant, cafeteria, food factory, fast-food outlet, hotel or similar food establishment must have grease traps meeting the specifications set by the competent department — before discharging to the public sewer.
Discharging untreated or prohibited substances into the public sewerage network is forbidden. Kitchen flow must pass through a compliant trap so fats, oils and grease are intercepted, not sent straight down the drain.
The competent department may inspect at licence application or renewal, and periodically thereafter. Where a trap is not yet installed, an establishment may be allowed to operate only after lodging a security deposit guaranteeing installation within 45 days.
Dubai Municipality requires grease trap cleaning, collection and disposal to be handled by contractors registered under the registered waste-disposal activity — "grease trap cleaning and waste removal." Only registered operators are permitted to transport FOG waste to approved treatment facilities. This matters for two reasons:
There is no single interval that fits every establishment. Frequency is driven by trap size and how much fats, oils and grease your kitchen produces. The figures below are indicative ranges that vary by size and usage — your assessed schedule may differ.
High-output small units may need service from roughly weekly up to a few times a month, because their limited capacity fills quickly.
Bigger floor or in-ground interceptors are commonly serviced around twice a month, with many commercial kitchens falling in a 30 to 90 day window.
A widely used engineering rule is to pump the trap once accumulated grease plus solids reach about 25% of its liquid capacity — before performance drops.
Clean immediately at the first sign of odour, slow drainage or overflow, regardless of the schedule. A backed-up trap can close a kitchen.
Compliance is as much about evidence as it is about a clean trap. Keep these to hand for any Dubai Municipality inspection.
A report for every visit showing the date, the trap serviced and the work done — your primary proof that maintenance is happening on schedule.
Manifest or transfer documentation showing FOG was removed by a registered waste-disposal contractor and taken to an approved facility.
A record of the agreed frequency for your trap size and kitchen type, so an inspector can see maintenance is planned, not reactive.
Penalties for non-compliance and exact requirements are set by Dubai Municipality and can change. This page is a general overview, not legal advice — confirm the current rules and any fees that apply to your establishment directly with the authority.
Yes. Under Local Order No. 8 of 2002, the private sewerage network of a restaurant, cafeteria, food factory, fast-food outlet, hotel or similar food establishment must have grease traps meeting the specifications prescribed by the competent department before connecting to the public sewer. It is not optional for food businesses.
There is no single fixed interval for every kitchen. The required frequency is driven by trap size and the volume of fats, oils and grease your kitchen produces. As an indicative guide that varies by size and usage, small under-sink traps may need service as often as weekly to a few times a month, larger interceptors are commonly cleaned around twice monthly, and many commercial kitchens fall in a 30 to 90 day window. A widely used engineering benchmark is to pump the trap once accumulated grease and solids reach about 25% of its liquid capacity. Immediate cleaning is needed at the first sign of odour, slow drainage or overflow.
Grease trap cleaning and FOG waste removal must be carried out by a registered waste-disposal contractor. Dubai Municipality requires grease trap cleaning, collection and disposal to be carried out by contractors registered under this activity, who are permitted to transport fats, oils and grease waste to approved treatment facilities. Using a registered contractor is part of staying compliant and producing valid records at inspection.
No. Local Order No. 8 of 2002 prohibits discharging untreated or prohibited substances into the public sewerage network. Kitchen wastewater must pass through a compliant grease trap so that fats, oils and grease are intercepted before the flow reaches the sewer. Bypassing the trap or discharging raw FOG can lead to penalties and recovery of any damage caused to the network.
Keep a dated service report for every cleaning visit, the waste transfer or manifest records showing FOG was removed by a registered waste-disposal contractor and disposed of at an approved facility, and a record of your servicing schedule. Inspectors may check that the trap is installed, correctly sized and properly maintained, so a clear paper trail is your evidence of compliance. For details on a typical visit, see our services page.
We assess your trap size and FOG load, set a compliant frequency, and file a dated report after every visit across Dubai, Sharjah & Ajman. Want costs first? See our services or request a quote.