Every pipe, duct and cable that passes through a concrete slab or wall in Dubai needs a hole. Most of those holes are made by core cutting.
Dubai Municipality carried out 10,855 on-site structural inspections in the first quarter of 2026 alone (Dubai Media Office). New builds, fit-outs and renovations all over the city mean a steady stream of cores, and a lot of chances to get them wrong.
This guide covers what you need to know about core cutting in Dubai, from hole sizes and approvals to scanning and choosing a contractor. It also links to our area guides for Dubai Marina, Dubai Hills Estate, Arabian Ranches and Jebel Ali.
What is core cutting?
Core cutting makes a clean, round hole through concrete, blockwork or stone. A hollow, diamond-tipped bit spins against the surface, grinds a thin ring through the material and removes a solid cylinder, the core.
It’s also called core drilling or concrete coring. They all mean the same thing.
Compared with hammering or breaking, core cutting gives you an exact diameter, smooth hole walls and almost no vibration, so the concrete around the hole stays intact.
When you need core cutting in Dubai
The most common jobs are:
- AC and ventilation: refrigerant pipes, drains, ducts and kitchen extract
- Plumbing and drainage: water supply, soil stacks, floor drains
- Fire protection: sprinkler and fire main penetrations
- Electrical and data: conduits, cable bundles, risers
- Solar and EV charging: cable routes from roof or car park to the board
- Anchoring and fixings: holes for chemical anchors and bolts
- Testing: core samples for concrete strength checks
Typical core sizes
| Service | Typical core size |
| AC drain or small cable conduit | 32 to 52mm |
| Split AC pipe pair | 65 to 82mm |
| 110mm soil pipe | 152mm |
| Kitchen hood duct (150mm) | 162 to 200mm |
| DN100 fire main | 152 to 162mm |
| Risers and shafts | 250mm and above |
These are starting points. The final size depends on the pipe’s outside diameter, any sleeve or insulation, and the gap needed for firestopping or sealant.
Which approvals apply in Dubai?
Dubai has more than one building authority, and the one that applies depends on where your property is.
- Dubai Municipality covers most of the mainland.
- Trakhees handles many areas, including Jebel Ali Free Zone and Palm Jumeirah.
- Dubai Development Authority covers zones such as Dubai Internet City and Dubai Media City.
- Other free zones, such as DIFC, have their own processes.
On top of that, most buildings and communities need a building management or developer NOC. Small cores in non-structural areas may only need that NOC. Structural changes, large openings and facade changes usually need an authority permit too.
If you’re not sure which route applies, our permits and approvals team can check.
Why scanning comes first
Dubai’s towers, podiums and car parks often use post-tensioned slabs, and almost every building has rebar, conduits and pipes buried in its concrete. None of it is visible from the surface.
GPR concrete scanning maps what’s inside and marks it on the surface before drilling. A core that would hit a tendon or a live cable can usually be moved a few centimetres to a clear spot.
Where you can and can’t core
- Slabs and partition walls: usually fine after scanning, as long as the layout is checked
- Beams: only with a structural engineer’s approval, in the zone they specify
- Columns and shear walls: generally off-limits for services
- Slab edges and around columns: avoid, as these are high-stress areas
For anything structural, start with a structural analysis.
How a core cutting job works
- Site visit to check the location, access and building rules
- Approvals from building management and the authority if needed
- Scanning to mark rebar, tendons and services
- Protection of floors, furniture and the space below
- Coring, wet for reinforced concrete or dry with extraction for some masonry
- Core removal and clean-up of slurry and debris
- Sleeving and sealing, including firestopping where needed
What affects the price
- Hole diameter and depth
- Concrete strength and reinforcement density
- Number of holes
- Access: overhead, confined space or upper floors
- Working hours, especially nights in occupied buildings
- Scanning, protection, slurry control and disposal
Ask what’s included in the quote, so scanning and clean-up don’t turn into extras later.
Choosing a core cutting company in Dubai
Ask these before you book:
- Do you scan every core location?
- Who handles slurry and protection?
- Are your operators trained and insured?
- Can you coordinate with the structural engineer?
- Do you have experience with this type of building?
Core cutting guides by area
- Core Cutting in Dubai Marina Towers: what building managers expect
- Core Cutting in Dubai Hills Estate Villas: extensions, solar and roof slabs
- Core Cutting for Villa Renovations in Arabian Ranches: older villas and changed services
- Core Cutting in Jebel Ali and JAFZA: free zone approvals and industrial slabs
Book core cutting in Dubai
Scan and Core provides scanning, core cutting and structural checks across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. See our concrete cutting and coring services.
Contact Scan and Core to book a site visit, or call +971 56 861 9006.
