A Quest on The Palm: What We Faced During Our First Projects at Masterwork Space
Stage 1: The Illusion of Simplicity
To get project approval before starting work, we followed the standard path that had worked perfectly in other districts. We compiled the necessary document package, prepared drawings (based on familiar standards, like Emaar’s), and sent the request for a permit to Nakheel. Three or four days later, we received a rejection: the drawings were deemed incorrect, and they required edits to meet their specific standards. We promptly made the changes, resubmitted the documents, and a few days later, we finally received the coveted NOC (No Objection Certificate). Happily sharing the news with the client, we began planning the launch. It seemed like the hard part was over.
Stage 2: “We Don’t Issue Passes”
On “D-Day,” my team and I gathered at the building entrance. Calls to suppliers and drivers were happening in parallel—mobilization was in full swing. I confidently walked into the security office to get the passes, but I was surprised by the answer: “We don’t issue passes.” I was redirected to the main security office (at Nakheel Mall) or the Nakheel office before the entrance to the island. I chose the latter—it seemed more straightforward. I got my ticket, waited 30 minutes, met the manager… only to be told that they don’t physically handle this. Applications must be submitted strictly online, with a 24-hour processing time. Exhaling, I passed the news to my colleagues. We submitted the application that same day. The next day, we received a rejection. The situation was taking an ironic turn.
Stage 3: The Bureaucratic Maze (Trakhees & DCD)
Digging for the truth, we discovered we needed approval from Trakhees (the regulatory authority for free zones). Resigning ourselves to this harsh reality, we went to their website. We had to register Masterwork Space from scratch as a new company and undergo a full verification process. It was a real quest: constant waiting, re-submissions, back-and-forth correspondence, and emails into the void. Eventually, we broke through these obstacles and achieved registered company status. We returned to Nakheel for confirmation, thinking the finish line was near. But no. The Trakhees system then requested approval from DCD (Dubai Civil Defense).
Stage 4: Battle with the System
The story with the DCD registration was even more fairy-tale-like. The system was practically non-functional: weeks of silence, and attempts to call or write were useless. We decided to go all-in: we filed an official complaint stating we couldn’t get any response. And it worked! We got registered. But the joy was short-lived. The portal we gained access to turned out to be a “zero” version—it simply lacked the functions for submitting and managing projects.
Conclusion & Solution
At this point, our independent journey ended. We realized that time is money, so we brought in specialists with niche experience in these matters who (not for free, of course) helped us navigate the path to the end.
I believe that this is exactly how—through failures, expenses, and nerves—valuable, genuine experience is gained. Today, we understand all the nuances of this bureaucratic system that are invisible from the outside. And perhaps it’s for the best. Such barriers ensure that only those ready to be responsible for quality and safety operate in Dubai, rather than those who build “however they please.”
Thank you for your attention!
Fanil Shadmanov Co-founder, Masterwork Space