Dubai Municipality has launched a key initiative to help develop and improve procedures for practising engineering professions, said a report.

It has been designed to evaluate engineering offices, contracting companies and construction material suppliers operating in the emirate, said the state news agency Wam, citing a senior official.

"It is also used to measure their compliance with the laws, systems and regulations related to practising engineering professions, which in turn affects the quality of work in the construction sector," remarked Dawood Al Hajri, the assistant director-general for engineering and planning sector and chairman of the committee for the Development of Building Permits Procedures in Dubai.

The evaluation will focus on registration and qualification requirements; requirements of technical work, design, drawings and licensing besides requirements of implementing and supervising projects.

The evaluation is done through the standards approved by the municipality’s Buildings Department on the basis of their qualifying operations and obtaining building permits, as well as supervision of construction sites during the implementation until the accomplishment of the project, said Al Hijri.

This system will help owners and developers to choose engineering offices and contracting companies based on their technical excellence data that are periodically updated, he added.