A Makani number is a unique ten-digit code that identifies the precise location of a building entrance in Dubai. Created by Dubai Municipality, it pinpoints an exact doorway rather than an approximate address, making it easy to find a specific unit.
Where you’ll see it
You’ll see a Makani number on tenancy contracts, utility connections, deliveries and emergency services, and on building signage. It is widely used because conventional addresses in Dubai can be ambiguous, while a Makani number maps to one exact point.
Why it matters
Several official processes including utility setup and some registrations rely on an exact location. The Makani number removes guesswork, ensuring services and documents point to the correct building entrance.
What it is not
A Makani number is not a property ownership reference or a title number, it identifies a physical location, not legal ownership. It is also not the same as a community or plot number; it is specifically the entrance-level geographic code.
Example
When setting up a DEWA connection for a new apartment, a tenant provides the building’s Makani number so the utility and any deliveries reach the exact entrance.
Connected documents and parties
Tenancy contract, DEWA application, building signage; tenant, owner, Dubai Municipality, DEWA.
Going deeper: related reading: Ejari registration, where the Makani number is commonly required.
Related Terms
How we define terms
Every definition on glossary.ae follows a controlled structure: what the term is, what it is not, when it is used, and where you will see it. Read our editorial methodology to understand how terms are selected, reviewed, and maintained.
Read editorial methodology →
Last reviewed: June 2026