How to report illegal pest control or pesticide sellers in Dubai
What counts as illegal pest control in Dubai, how to report unlicensed operators and 'bomb' sellers on 800900, what details to give and when to call 999.
- Independent · no bookings
- Published 23 October 2026
- 13 sources, checked 23 October 2026
- 6 min read
Short answer
- Report unlicensed pest control operators and anyone selling pesticide 'bombs' or tablets to Dubai Municipality on 800900.
- If someone is unwell or fumes are spreading, call 999 first. Dubai Police's 901 line is for non-emergencies.
- Illegal includes unlicensed operators, selling pesticides without permission, phosphide in homes, and smoke or thermal fogging inside flats.
- Give the place, date, phone number or flyer, vehicle details and what was offered. Do not buy a sample.
- Before hiring, check the company is on Dubai Municipality's approved list and ask to see the technician's ID card.
In this guide (8 sections)
- What counts as illegal pest control in Dubai?
- Who do you call: 800900, 999 or 901?
- What information should you give when you report?
- What are the warning signs of an illegal operator?
- How do you check a pest control company is licensed?
- What happens after you report?
- What if the illegal treatment was in your own rented flat?
- What to check before you act
To report illegal pest control or someone selling pesticide "bombs" in Dubai, call Dubai Municipality on 800900 and give the place, date, phone number and what was offered. If anyone is unwell or fumes are spreading in a building, call 999 first. Before you hire anyone, check the company is on the Municipality's approved list.
This is general information, not legal advice. Rules and phone numbers can change, so the date of each source is given.
What counts as illegal pest control in Dubai?
Based on the rules reported in the sources below, these are the main things to report:
| What you see | Why it is a problem | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| A person or firm doing pest control without Dubai Municipality approval | DM's Public Health Pest Control Section issues a no-objection certificate (NOC) before a pest control company can get a trade licence | DM section page, checked October 2026 |
| Someone selling pesticides informally, e.g. in plain plastic bags | Local Order No. 11 of 2003 bars trading pesticides without permission | Gulf News, updated 2018 |
| Aluminium phosphide "bombs" or grey tablets offered for homes | Banned for home use; linked to many deaths | Khaleej Times 2012; Gulf News 2018 |
| Smoke insecticides or thermal fogging inside a flat | Banned inside flats and residential buildings by a July 2012 Dubai resolution | Khaleej Times 2012 |
| Unregistered pesticides | A 2016 ministry resolution banned distributing pesticides not registered with the ministry | Khaleej Times 2017 |
| A worker spraying with no supervisor and no ID card | Licensed firms must have approved supervisors present; staff must carry a Pest Control ID card | Khaleej Times 2012; DM approved list, 2026 |
The DM section page also says the section regulates and qualifies pest control companies. In July 2021 Dubai Municipality said it had imposed strict penalties on fake pest control companies and described their activity as a crime (Gulf Today, 2021). The article did not give fine amounts.
Khaleej Times reported in 2012 that members of the public may not apply professional pesticides at home themselves, and that not every licensed company is permitted to do fumigation or termite work (Khaleej Times, 2012). The 2003 local order on pesticide trading was reported by Gulf News (page updated 2018).
Who do you call: 800900, 999 or 901?
| Situation | Call | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Someone feels unwell, or strong fumes are spreading | 999 | Get everyone out first. Say you suspect pesticide gas. |
| Someone is selling "bombs" or pesticide tablets | 800900 (Dubai Municipality) | Number given for this purpose by Khaleej Times in 2012 and 2017 |
| An unlicensed operator is working in your building, or left a flyer | 800900 | Also tell building security |
| Checking whether a company is licensed | 800900 or the DM approved list | Gulf Today, 2021 |
| Non-urgent police matter | 901 (Dubai Police) | Non-emergency line, per Gulf News, updated September 2026 |
Gulf News describes 901 as Dubai Police's line for general enquiries and services that do not need an immediate emergency response (Gulf News, updated 2026). None of the sources we found names 901 for reporting pesticide sellers. Dubai Municipality is the body that licenses pest control companies, so start there.
Police do get involved when people are harmed. In 2014 a Dubai tenant was charged with manslaughter after fumes from his flat killed a neighbour, and three men who supplied the chemicals were also charged (The National, August 2014).
Dubai Municipality's other channels. dubizzle listed the Dubai Now app, the Dubai Municipality app, WhatsApp on 800900 and the Faras chat as ways to reach the Municipality's pest control service in August 2024 (dubizzle, 2024). That listing was about requesting free treatment. We could not confirm a separate in-app category for reporting illegal operators, so a call to 800900 is the clearest route.
Outside Dubai. If you live in Sharjah, Gulf News reported in May 2019 that Sharjah Municipality's helpline is 993.
What information should you give when you report?
The more specific, the easier it is to act on. Note down:
- Where: building name, area, flat or shop number.
- When: date and time you saw it.
- Who: company name, phone or WhatsApp number, social media page, or the name on a flyer.
- What was offered: for example "tablets for bed bugs", "fogging the whole flat", a very low price.
- Vehicle: colour, any company name, plate number if you saw it clearly.
- Signs at a flat: taped doors or windows, dead insects, a strong smell.
- Harm: whether anyone needed medical help.
Keep photos of flyers or messages. Do not buy a sample, open any packet, or confront the seller. Khaleej Times reported in 2017 that suspected poisonings should be reported quickly, because delay makes it harder to find the cause (Khaleej Times, 2017).
What are the warning signs of an illegal operator?
These come from news reports and industry warnings. A single sign is not proof:
- A very low price. In 2018 Gulf News reported unlicensed operators charging about AED 100 for a two-bedroom cockroach job, roughly a third of licensed rates (Gulf News, 2018). Another Gulf News report quoted licensed firms warning about a "Dh50 job" sold with a six-month guarantee (Gulf News, 2018).
- "Leave the flat for a day or two." That second report said approved diluted sprays need about four to six hours away, and that being told to stay out much longer is a reason for caution.
- No landline, website or written quote. The same report suggested checking for these and asking for a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).
- Leaflets under doors. Sharjah Municipality told residents in 2019 to ignore pest control leaflets pushed through doors and use only listed companies (Gulf News, May 2019).
- Tablets or "bombs" for bed bugs. This is the classic illegal product. See why aluminium phosphide is banned.
- No licence or ID shown. In 2021 Dubai Municipality said tenants should ask a company representative to show a licence before letting them in.
How do you check a pest control company is licensed?
- Find it on the approved list. Dubai Municipality publishes a monthly list of approved pest control companies. The list page showed a file dated 3 September 2026 when we checked (DM approved list).
- Match the name and phone number on the list with the ones on the quote or flyer.
- Check the right activity. Termite control has a separate list. Fumigation is a separate licensed activity.
- Ask for the Pest Control ID card at the door. Back in 2003, Khaleej Times reported that the card shows the operator's name, company, phone number and validity period. Check the current card against the company name.
- Call 800900 if anything does not match.
Our step-by-step guide on how to check a company is DM-approved explains Groups A, B and C and the termite list.
What happens after you report?
The sources do not set out a published complaint process or timescale. Past reports show what enforcement has looked like:
- 2003 (old): acting on a tip-off, Municipality officials caught a man spraying a house in Deira without a licence; his pesticide and equipment were confiscated and the firm he worked for was fined (Khaleej Times, 2003).
- 2014: a tenant and three suppliers were charged after a neighbour died from fumes (The National, 2014).
- 2021: the Municipality said strict penalties were in place for fake firms and asked building guards not to admit unlicensed staff (Gulf Today, 2021).
You may not hear back about the outcome. If the problem continues, report it again with the new dates.
What if the illegal treatment was in your own rented flat?
You can still report it, whoever arranged it. If you then need proper treatment, read who pays for pest control in Dubai. The free Dubai Municipality service covers some public health pests such as rats and mice. Bed bugs and cockroaches need a licensed company.
If you smell fumes from a neighbour's flat, see what to do about a neighbour's pest control smell.
What to check before you act
- Is anyone unwell or are fumes spreading? Call 999 first.
- Do you have the place, date, phone number and what was offered?
- Have you kept the flyer or a screenshot, without buying anything?
- Is the company on the current Dubai Municipality approved list?
- Did you report it to 800900 and tell building security?
Questions people ask
What number do I call to report illegal pest control in Dubai?
Dubai Municipality's call centre on 800900. Khaleej Times reported in 2012 and 2017 that residents should use this number to report fumigant sales and anyone selling aluminium phosphide.
Is 901 the right number for reporting a pesticide seller?
901 is Dubai Police's non-emergency line for general enquiries and services. The sources we found name Dubai Municipality, not the police, as the place to report pesticide sellers, so start with 800900 and call 999 in an emergency.
Is it illegal to hire someone who is not a licensed pest control company in Dubai?
Dubai Municipality issues a no-objection certificate to pest control companies before they get a trade licence, and in 2021 it described the activity of fake pest control companies as a crime. Residents are repeatedly told to use only approved companies.
Can I report a pest control flyer pushed under my door?
Yes. Note the company name and phone number, check whether the company is on the approved list, and pass the details to 800900 if it is not. Sharjah Municipality told residents in 2019 to ignore such leaflets.
Is thermal fogging allowed inside Dubai flats?
No. A Dubai resolution in July 2012 banned smoke insecticides and thermal fogging inside flats and residential buildings, according to Khaleej Times.
General information only, not professional, medical or legal advice. Rules, services and prices change; confirm with Dubai Municipality or a licensed company before you act. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Sources
- Public Health Pest Control Section (Dubai Municipality)checked 23 October 2026
- Approved Pest Control Companies (Dubai Municipality)checked 23 October 2026
- Don't 'bomb' houses to kill pests (Khaleej Times, 2012)checked 23 October 2026
- Pest control in Dubai: things you need to know (Khaleej Times, April 2017)checked 23 October 2026
- Dubai imposes strict penalties on fake pest control firms (Gulf Today, July 2021)checked 23 October 2026
- Dubai residents warned against using dangerous pesticides (Gulf News, updated September 2018)checked 23 October 2026
- UAE pest control firms warn against cheap services (Gulf News, updated September 2018)checked 23 October 2026
- Pesticide control: 12 things you need to know (Gulf News, updated September 2018)checked 23 October 2026
- Municipality warn public against using unlicenced pesticide firms (Gulf News, May 2019)checked 23 October 2026
- Police warn of dangers of using banned pesticides after Dubai tenant dies (The National, August 2014)checked 23 October 2026
- UAE 999 vs 901: when should you call each police number and why? (Gulf News, updated September 2026)checked 23 October 2026
- Public health pest control in Dubai (dubizzle blog, August 2024)checked 23 October 2026
- Stricter tabs on illegal pest control services (Khaleej Times, 2003)checked 23 October 2026