Dubai: Did you know that every building in the emirates of Dubai, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain have a unique 10-digit location code, which helps map the emirate on electronic systems and push them towards becoming Smart cities? Be it a villa, a high-rise building an office tower or a hospital, every structure is numbered. What is the number and how can it help you in life-and-death situations? Here is all you need to know about the Makani system.
What is Makani?
Makani is a 10-digit number which gives you the exact location of the entrance of a building. It is the official geographic addressing system in the emirates of Dubai, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain.
Makani means my location in Arabic and the system consists of 10 digit numbers called ‘Makani Numbers’. The main purpose of creating this system is to make it easy for anyone to find places and navigate around the emirates using electronic maps on smart phones, tablets, computers and navigation systems.
The number is derived from a universal geographic coordinate standard to ensure locating the entrance of each building with an accuracy of less than one metre using an electronic map. As a Makani number has geographic references for its location, each Makani number is unique and helps locate any entrance in these emirates.
Makani number for flats and villas
If you live in an apartment, your makani number will reflect the building’s main entrance. You can find the Makani number at the entrance of your lobby. In October, Dubai Municipality, which initially launched the system in 2015, announced that it has plans to expand the system to each unit within a building. Which means that in the next three years, Dubai plans to number each flat in a building and each shop in a mall to increase the accuracy of the Makani system.
If you live in a villa, the residential unit will have its own Makani number, which should be listed on a plate at the entrance.
Where can you find your makani number?
Even if you need to find the Makani number of a place apart from your home or office, you can do it in the following ways:
1. Website
• Click here to find your Makani number - www.makani.ae
• Search for your address by typing in the location in the search bar or click on the ‘Location’ button, which looks like an arrow on the right of the screen, for the website to access your device’s location.
• The system will then track your location. If you wish to select a particular plot or building on the map, click and hold the area.
• The website will then provide the 10-digit Makani number of the building for you.
2. Smartphone app
1. Go to your phone’s app store and search for the ‘Makani’ app by Dubai Municipality. It is available for both Android and iOS devices.
2. Once you have downloaded the app, you can provide access to the app to detect your device’s location.
3. Tap and hold the particular plot for which you need the Makani number.
4. The app will then provide the 10-digist Makani number of the building for you. The entrance for the building is marked with a red pin, with the 10-digit Makani number listed on top.
3. Ask at your building’s reception
Building entrances have the Makani number displayed on a plate and if you are unable to locate it, simply ask the security or reception for the 10-digit number.
How does it help?
The Makani system is part of the official addressing system in each emirate where it is implemented and will be used by all government organisations, police authorities and ambulance services. These are some of the different services that may ask for your Makani number:
1. In case of an emergency
If you are facing an emergency and find yourself at an unknown location, the app will help you look up exactly where you are. By providing the police or ambulance service with the 10-digit number, the authorities will be able to reach you quickly and accurately.
2. Register for help with the police
If you are a person who suffers from a critical illness or are a person of determination, you can register with Dubai Police to ensure you receive prioritised, prompt ambulance service, during an emergency. Dubai Police has a service where heart patients, those with other critical illnesses or people of determination can register for faster emergency response. The service requires those registering to provide their Makani number for the authorities to send an ambulance to your location in under five minutes. Read our detailed guide on how to register for the service here.
3. Book a taxi
Even for services as simple as booking a taxi, the Makani number can help you pinpoint your location with a less than one-metre accuracy. Simply enter your 10-digit makani number in the S’hail app or the Dubai Taxi website – www.dubaitaxi.ae – and the system will immediately identify your location to book a taxi service.
