Yes. In Dubai, anyone operating a MEWP must hold a valid IPAF PAL Card. Dubai Municipality made this clear in its 2019 health-and-safety guidance and in technical guideline GU67, which require every scissor-lift and boom-lift operator to be trained to the ISO 18878 standard and carded.
This trips a lot of people up. If you searched this before and landed on a UK page saying a licence is “not legally required,” that advice is true for Britain and wrong for Dubai. Here, it is mandated.
We deal with this confusion almost every week. A contractor reads a UK article, assumes their crew is fine, then an inspector asks for PAL Cards on site. Because every operator we put on a scissor or boom lift in Dubai is carded, we have seen exactly how fast an audit can go sideways without one. Let us clear it up properly.
Quick Answer
Yes, MEWP operators in Dubai legally need an IPAF PAL Card. Dubai Municipality’s Occupational Health and Safety guidance and technical guideline GU67 require operators of scissor lifts, boom lifts, and similar platforms to be trained to ISO 18878 and hold a valid card. Unlike the UK, this is a local requirement, not just best practice.
In short: no card, no operating. The card proves your operator was trained to the correct category for the machine.
Why Dubai Specifically Requires It
This is where the internet misleads people, so let us be precise about the local law.
Dubai Municipality’s 2019 MEWP Guidance
In September 2019, Dubai Municipality published technical guidance for MEWPs and mast climbing work platforms. It mandates that contractors using these machines ensure every operator holds a valid IPAF PAL Card.
That is the key fact most pages bury. It is a clear, local, contractor-facing requirement, not a vague suggestion.
GU67 and the ISO 18878 Standard
Dubai’s technical guideline GU67 sets the operating rules for MEWPs. It requires operators to be competent and trained to an internationally recognised standard, specifically ISO 18878, which IPAF training is built around.
GU67 goes further than the card too. It covers familiarisation with the specific machine, emergency rescue planning, and supervisor competence. The PAL Card is the baseline, not the whole picture.
Why UK and US Articles Do Not Apply Here
In the UK, IPAF certification is the industry norm but is not written into law the same way. So UK pages honestly say it is “not legally required.” That sentence is correct for Britain.
Dubai is different. The Municipality has made it a local requirement. If you are hiring MEWPs in Dubai, follow the Dubai rule, not the British one.
Who Actually Needs an IPAF Licence?
Not everyone on or near the machine needs a card. Here is the real breakdown, because this is where most of the practical questions sit.
The Operator (Yes, Mandatory)
Anyone who controls the MEWP needs a valid PAL Card for the correct category. This is non-negotiable in Dubai.
Passengers (No Card, but PPE Required)
A passenger who rides in the platform but does not operate it does not need an operator licence. They still must wear the correct fall protection and be briefed on the machine.
So a second worker in a boom basket is fine without a PAL Card, as long as they are harnessed and not operating the controls.
The Rental Company’s Delivery Driver
Here is a detail almost nobody mentions. Under Dubai’s rules, equipment rental companies must ensure their delivery staff hold the appropriate demonstrator, load, and unload licences.
That means the person who loads, unloads, and demonstrates the machine at handover also needs to be properly certified. When we deliver a lift, that side is already covered.
Supervisors and Managers
Site supervisors who plan and oversee MEWP work should be trained too, typically through an “MEWPs for Managers” course. They do not operate, but they are expected to be competent to manage the operation and rescue planning.
Which IPAF Category Does Your Operator Need?
A PAL Card is category-specific. A card for one machine type does not cover another. Match the category to the machine.
3a Mobile Vertical: Scissor Lifts
If your operator runs a scissor lift, they need category 3a, mobile vertical. This is the most common requirement on UAE sites.
3b Mobile Boom: Boom and Cherry-Picker Lifts
For an articulating or telescopic boom lift, the category is 3b, mobile boom. These reach out as well as up, so they need their own training.
1a and 1b: Static Vertical and Static Boom
Category 1a covers static vertical platforms. Category 1b covers static booms, including truck-mounted and trailer units, which is the relevant card for many spider lift setups.
Machine-to-Category Quick Table
| Machine | IPAF category needed |
| Scissor lift | 3a (mobile vertical) |
| Boom lift, cherry picker | 3b (mobile boom) |
| Static vertical platform | 1a |
| Truck-mounted, trailer, many spider lifts | 1b (static boom) |
| Supervising the work | MEWPs for Managers |
A common mistake: a crew is carded for 3a, then put on a boom lift that needs 3b. The card has to match the machine on the day, or it does not count.
The Harness Rule You Cannot Skip
This one surprises people, so we flag it on every boom-lift hire.
In Dubai, all boom-lift occupants must wear correct fall-restraint equipment. That means a proper harness with the right lanyard, anchored to the platform’s designated point.
It is not just a scissor-lift-versus-boom-lift technicality. For booms (1b and 3b), the harness is mandatory, and it requires the operator to be trained in using it correctly. We do not send a boom lift out without making sure the harness side is sorted.
How Long Is a PAL Card Valid?
This is the question with two answers floating around online, so here is the honest version.
An IPAF PAL Card is valid for five years internationally. That is the card’s printed lifespan.
However, Dubai’s GU67 expects operators to keep their competency current, and refresher training on a shorter cycle, commonly cited as around every two years, is widely applied locally. That is why you see both “2 years” and “5 years” online. Treat the five-year card as the baseline and confirm the current Dubai refresher expectation for your site, because local requirements get updated.
The IPAF ePAL app helps here. It stores the digital PAL Card, the operator logbook, and training records, so expiry and renewal are easy to track.
What Happens If Your Operator Is Not Carded?
Short answer: the risk lands on you, the employer, not just the operator. This is a liability topic, so it is worth being blunt.
- Site stoppage. An inspector finding an uncarded operator can halt the lift, and a halted lift can stall the whole job.
- Failed audits. Major contractors and clients check PAL Cards as standard. Missing cards can fail you out of a project.
- Liability if something goes wrong. After an incident, an uncertified operator is a serious exposure for the employer and HSE officer.
- Insurance and investigation risk. An accident involving an untrained operator complicates claims and invites scrutiny.
We once had a fit-out paused because a subcontractor’s lift operator was not carded. We put a PAL-carded operator on it the same day and the work restarted. The fix is simple when you plan for it.
Two Ways to Stay Compliant with Dream Way
You do not have to solve this the hard way. There are two clean routes, and you can mix them.
Hire a MEWP With Our PAL-Carded Operator
The fastest path is to hire the machine with a certified operator already attached. The operator arrives carded for the right category, harnessed where needed, and ready to work.
This is the route most clients take when they need a compliant lift today and do not have time to train their own crew. It closes the gap on the spot.
Or Get Your Team IPAF-Certified
If you would rather build in-house capability, train your own operators. We coordinate IPAF training in Dubai across the categories your crew needs, on-site or at a centre.
For what that training typically costs by category, see our separate guide on IPAF course pricing. Both routes end in the same place: operators who pass an audit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need an IPAF licence to operate a MEWP in Dubai?
Yes. Dubai Municipality requires all MEWP operators to hold a valid IPAF PAL Card for the correct machine category. It is a local legal requirement.
Is a PAL Card mandatory in Dubai?
Yes. Under Dubai Municipality’s 2019 guidance and GU67, contractors must ensure every scissor-lift and boom-lift operator holds a valid PAL Card.
Which IPAF category do scissor lift and boom lift operators need?
Scissor-lift operators need 3a (mobile vertical). Boom-lift operators need 3b (mobile boom). The card must match the machine.
Do passengers on a MEWP need a licence?
No. A passenger who does not operate the machine does not need a PAL Card, but they must wear correct fall protection and be briefed.
Does the rental company’s delivery driver need a licence?
Yes. Rental delivery staff must hold the appropriate demonstrator, load, and unload licences to load, unload, and demonstrate the machine.
How long is an IPAF PAL Card valid?
The card is valid for five years internationally. Dubai’s guidance expects refresher training on a shorter cycle, often around two years. Confirm the current local requirement.
Is a harness required when operating a boom lift in Dubai?
Yes. All boom-lift occupants must wear correct fall-restraint equipment, and the operator must be trained to use it.
Hire a MEWP With a Certified Operator
The simplest way to stay compliant is to let the machine and the carded operator arrive together. No scrambling for cards, no audit surprises.
Tell us the lift you need and the site. We will send a MEWP with a PAL-carded operator for the right category, or help you get your own team trained.
Call 056 857 8181 or request a quote here. You can also explore our IPAF training options or learn more about Dream Way. For the governing standard, the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) is the authority behind the PAL Card and the Dubai mandate.