AE · Expiry & renewal tracking
Renew every lift and lifting equipment certificate in Dubai on time
Under Dubai Municipality guideline GU48, cranes, hoists, lifts, lifting gear, forklifts and similar equipment in any workplace in the Emirate must be tested and certified once every 12 months by a third party accredited by EIAC. The accredited body issues a safety certificate per item, kept at the site by the owner.
Dubai Municipality's technical guideline GU48 applies to all establishments in the Emirate of Dubai where cranes, hoists, lifts and other lifting equipment are used. It notes that Dubai Local Order No. 61 of 1991 requires the occupier or employer to keep the workplace, plant and equipment safe at all times.
Under GU48, cranes, hoists, lifts, lifting equipment and gear, forklifts and similar equipment used in factories, construction sites, hotels and other workplaces must be tested and certified by a third party accredited by the Emirates International Accreditation Center (EIAC) once every 12 months.
After examination and testing, and only after any repairs are done, the accredited third party issues a certificate of safety for each item, showing its serial number, technical details, the tests done and the safe working load. The owner or occupier must carry out the repairs it identifies immediately. The compliance certificate must be kept at the site.
At a glance
| Guideline | Dubai Municipality GU48 (version 5, 29 January 2025) |
|---|---|
| Scope | Establishments in the Emirate of Dubai using cranes, hoists, lifts and other lifting equipment |
| Frequency | Tested and certified once every 12 months |
| Who certifies | A third party accredited by EIAC |
| Certificate | One per item: serial number, technical details, tests, safe working load |
| On site | Compliance certificate kept at the site; safe working load displayed on the equipment |
Scope: Emirate of Dubai. Other emirates have their own rules.
Who is responsible?
The owner or occupier. Under GU48 it must carry out the repairs identified by the accredited third party immediately. If the third party considers the equipment unsafe, the owner must be advised to stop using it and a report must be sent immediately to Dubai Municipality's Health and Safety Department.
Operators and riggers need certification too
GU48 also requires operators of lifting equipment such as cranes, hoists, forklifts and cradles, and workers such as signallers and riggers, to be certified by a third party accredited by EIAC. Their training institutes must be registered and approved by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).
Tracking it with ExpirySuite
- Add each lift, crane, hoist or forklift by serial number and record the expiry date of its third-party certificate.
- Add operator and rigger certificates as separate documents for each person.
- 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) so the right person gets the reminder.
- If a date passes, managers get overdue reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.
- Ask the inspection body to upload the new certificate 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 lifts be certified in Dubai?
- Once every 12 months, by a third party accredited by EIAC (Dubai Municipality guideline GU48, requirement 1).
- Does this include forklifts?
- Yes. GU48 lists cranes, hoists, lifts, lifting equipment and gear, forklifts and similar equipment used in factories, construction sites, hotels and other workplaces.
- Where must the certificate be kept?
- At the site (GU48, requirement 9).
- What if the inspector finds the equipment unsafe?
- The owner must be advised to stop using it, and a report must be sent immediately to Dubai Municipality's Health and Safety Department (GU48, requirement 6).
Sources
Last checked: Sep 30, 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 lifting equipment and lift third-party certificate (Dubai Municipality) (UAE)
A ready template for lifting equipment and lift third-party certificate (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 lifting equipment and lift third-party certificate (Dubai Municipality) (UAE) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.
Assign an owner
Give each lifting equipment and lift third-party certificate (Dubai Municipality) (UAE) an owner and let employees update their own via a secure link — no login needed.