AE · Expiry & renewal tracking
Clean every cooling water system in Dubai on schedule
Under Dubai Municipality guideline GU44 on Legionella control, every cooling water system with its tanks, pumps, pipes and filters must be emptied, cleaned and disinfected at least once every six months and whenever Legionella is detected (section 12-1). The system owner is responsible under Local Order No. 11 of 2003.
Dubai Municipality's technical guideline GU44 on Legionella control applies to water used in all built environments, including hotels, educational institutes, commercial, governmental and residential buildings and labour accommodation. It states that every violator is legally accountable under Local Order No. 11 of 2003 on public health and community safety (section 2).
All cooling water systems, including all associated tanks, pumps, pipes, water filters and fittings, must be emptied, cleaned and disinfected at least once every six months, and also whenever Legionella is detected in the system. Every cooling water system and its make-up water tanks must have an automatic biocide dosing device that works all year (section 12-1).
The owner of a cooling water system (cooling towers and evaporative condensers) should make sure that the water treatment system is inspected at least once a month by a competent person, that the system is tested for total bacteria count at least every month, and that a system shut down for more than four days is cleaned before it is restarted. The system must be cleaned no more than 6 months after the last cleaning (section 15).
At a glance
| Guideline | Dubai Municipality GU44, Legionella control in water systems (version 6, 19 August 2025) |
|---|---|
| Cleaning and disinfection | At least once every six months, and whenever Legionella is detected |
| Shut down more than four days | Clean before restarting |
| Water treatment inspection | At least once a month, by a competent person |
| Total bacteria count | Tested at least every month |
| Legionella test | Quarterly |
| Daily records | Water treatment readings such as pH, chlorine or bromine and biocide levels |
Scope: Emirate of Dubai. If a test of a cooling water system shows 1,000 or more Legionella colony forming units per litre, the owner must send the report to Dubai Municipality's health and safety department within 24 hours of receiving it (section 19).
Who is responsible?
The owner of the cooling water system (section 15). GU44 also requires a named person responsible for Legionella control, trained in Legionella control (section 12-1).
When test results call for extra cleaning
GU44 Table 4 links actions to the aerobic count and Legionella results for cooling tower water. In the band of 10,000 to 100,000 cfu/ml and 100 to 1,000 cfu of Legionella per litre, the water is resampled, and if a similar count is found again the tower is cleaned and disinfected. In the top band, above 100,000 cfu/ml and more than 1,000 cfu per litre, the tower is turned off and cleaned and disinfected immediately, and turned back on only when resampling shows Legionella below 100 cfu per litre and an aerobic count below 10,000 cfu/ml (section 14-2).
Tracking it with ExpirySuite
- Add each cooling tower or evaporative condenser and record the date its next cleaning and disinfection is due, six months after the last one.
- Add a separate monthly item for the total bacteria count test and the water treatment inspection.
- Reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before the due date and on the due date itself.
- Assign a responsible person (for example your facility manager or the named Legionella control person) so the right person gets the reminder.
- If a date passes, managers get overdue reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.
- Ask the cleaning contractor to upload the cleaning and disinfection report through a secure upload link, valid for 14 days; no account is needed.
- Emails arrive in each recipient's language, Arabic included.
Frequently asked questions
- How often must a cooling tower be cleaned in Dubai?
- Cooling water systems, with their tanks, pumps, pipes, filters and fittings, must be emptied, cleaned and disinfected at least once every six months, and whenever Legionella is detected (Dubai Municipality guideline GU44, section 12-1).
- What if the cooling tower was shut down?
- A system shut down for more than four days must be cleaned before it is restarted (GU44, section 15).
- Which checks are monthly?
- The inspection of the water treatment system by a competent person and the total bacteria count test (GU44, section 15).
- Which laboratory can test the samples?
- A laboratory accredited by the Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC) to perform the required testing (GU44, sections 13-2 and 19).
Sources
Last checked: Oct 1, 2026 · This page summarises official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Check the linked sources for current rules and fees.
Made for cooling water system cleaning (Dubai Municipality) (UAE)
A ready template for cooling water system cleaning (Dubai Municipality) (UAE) with sensible validity defaults, so you enter less and track more.
Reminders on time
Email alerts at 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before each cooling water system cleaning (Dubai Municipality) (UAE) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.
Assign an owner
Give each cooling water system cleaning (Dubai Municipality) (UAE) an owner and let employees update their own via a secure link — no login needed.