Ventilation & smoke extraction in Dubai Sports City: local context
Dubai Sports City is a community off Al Khail Road and Umm Suqeim Road built around a cricket stadium, academies and a golf course, with residential towers, mid-rise apartment buildings and villa clusters developed since the mid-2000s. Many of its towers are now mature, occupied buildings, while remaining plots continue to fill in. It neighbours Dubai Production City and Motor City. Its mix of building ages means new-build and replacement work often happen within a few streets of each other.
- Mature residential towers are entering their first major replacement cycle, with chillers, pumps, fan coil units and BMS controllers being upgraded while residents remain in occupation.
- Tall buildings need domestic water pressure zoning, transfer pumping and PRV stations; refurbishments must keep each zone stable and tanks clean to control Legionella risk.
- The inland location brings high summer temperatures and blowing dust, so air-cooled plant is derated and roof layouts allow for frequent coil cleaning.
Building types we serve in Dubai Sports City
For mid-rise residential and mixed-use buildings, the work concentrates on compact plant on the roof, car-park ventilation in podiums, metered apartment DBs and tight ceiling voids that make coordination drawings decisive.
Approvals and authorities in Dubai Sports City
Smoke extraction systems in Dubai Sports City sits within Dubai's regulatory framework. The authorities you will meet are:
- Dubai Civil Defence (DCD)
- UAE Fire & Life Safety Code of Practice (UAE FLSC)
- Dubai Municipality (DM)
- Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA)
- Al Sa'fat — Dubai Green Building Evaluation System (Al Sa'fat)
- ASHRAE standards (62.1, 90.1) (ASHRAE)
Scope of work
- Installation of car park ventilation with jet fans, main extract fans and CO or NO2 sensors controlling normal ventilation.
- Stair and lift lobby pressurisation fans with relief dampers or variable speed control to maintain pressure without making doors hard to open.
- Smoke exhaust fans, smoke dampers and make-up air paths for atria, malls and corridors as required by the strategy.
- Interface wiring with the fire alarm system for zone-by-zone activation and fan status feedback.
Systems we install
- Car park jet fans and main extract fans
- Smoke exhaust fans rated for high temperature
UAE site and climate challenges
- Pressurisation fans draw outdoor air that may be very hot and dusty, so intakes are positioned away from smoke exhaust discharges and fitted with sand louvres to keep fans and dampers working reliably.
- Strong winds and sand can jam relief dampers and louvres, so these are checked during commissioning and included in periodic maintenance to ensure they open and close freely on demand.
- Fan redundancy and secondary power arrangements, which add cost but determine how robust the smoke control system remains if one fan or one supply fails during a fire.
Relevant Manolia projects
2B+G+15 residential tower, IMPZ
Dubai Production City (formerly IMPZ) · MEP · Completed
Full MEP package for a two-basement residential tower with gym.
Multi-storey parking & retail centre, DSO
Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) · MEP · In progress
G+3 parking and retail centre — MEP works in progress.
Frequently asked questions
Which authorities approve smoke extraction systems in Dubai Sports City?
Approvals in Dubai Sports City typically involve Dubai Civil Defence, UAE Fire & Life Safety Code of Practice, Dubai Municipality and Dubai Electricity & Water Authority. Exact routes depend on the plot, the master developer and whether the site sits in a free zone, so we confirm the authority matrix during mobilisation and prepare submissions accordingly.
What similar work has Manolia completed near Dubai Sports City?
Relevant reference work includes 2B+G+15 residential tower, IMPZ (MEP, completed). Each reference is listed with its scope and status as recorded in our company profile.
How are car park jet fan systems approved?
Jet fan layouts typically require an approved design, often supported by analysis, submitted to Civil Defence with the fire strategy. After installation, Manolia carries out functional tests and cause-and-effect checks with the fire alarm, then attends witnessed tests before approval is granted.