Map Search for Buildings by Makani Number in the Emirate of Dubai

This showcase is provided by Smart Indexes for informational purposes only. It showcases the capabilities of geoanalytics to address complex business challenges, including real estate investment in the Emirate of Dubai, based on Smart Indexes empirical and analytical data on geo-objects and locations in the region.

Technologies: Python OpenAI Microservices JavaScript GeoJSON Mapbox

The Makani Number search feature is in high demand in the Emirate of Dubai as a GIS function (e.g., in 2GIS or Google Maps) for identifying an entry point and its coordinates by building name, full address, or Makani Number a 10-digit code that pinpoints the desired entrance to a building.

Search by Makani Number on Dubai geoanalytic map

Case Overview

This case demonstrates using Makani Number search for all buildings and registered plots in the Emirate of Dubai. Fast lookup by Makani Number locates the target building and determines its legal status according to ownership types registered in Dubai.

It should be noted that most commercial, governmental, and other public buildings have unique registered Makani Numbers. Villas and townhouses typically do not have unique Makani Numbers, as they are classified as private properties.

Burj Khalifa search results by Makani Number

About the Makani System

In Dubai, a Makani Number is a unique 10-digit code tied to a specific building entrance. Each separate entrance receives its own Makani identifier in the format "34196 93449".

The system is based on the military MGRS coordinate grid: the code consists of a five-digit east coordinate and a five-digit north coordinate within a 100×100 km grid square (the 40R zone and square letters are omitted).

Benefits of Makani Number Search

A rapid on-map service for solving the following tasks:

• Locating the building of interest.
• Identifying the property ownership type (plot and building units on its territory).
• Comparing building characteristics by location.
• Geo-navigation for logistics in tourism and commercial applications.

Numeric identifier search interface with Makani Search API

Importance of Makani Number for Dubai

There are 198,500 registered plots in the Emirate, and approximately 104,000+ buildings constructed, representing about 52.4% of the Emirate’s developed land.

Percentage ratio of registered land plots and buildings presented on next chart.

The ratio of the shares of constructed buildings to undeveloped areas of the Emirate of Dubai in relation to all registered land plots (according to Dubai Land Department).

Around 2,400+ are commercial development projects in the residential and commercial sectors. Warehouses often fall into a separate category: industrial property (property type usage = "industrial").

In the warehouse complexes classification project, linking Makani Number ↔ Parcel ID (from Dubai’s land registration data) was performed for 21,500 buildings out of 26,500 total warehouses.

Makani Number System of the Emirate of Dubai, UAE available for urban navigation

The Makani Number navigation system holds high development potential for logistics, retail, and GIS through 2040, in line with the Emirate of Dubai’s state development plans (Master Plan 2040).

Commercial buildings on different scales correctly have one or several Makani Number identifiers—one per entrance. For example, Dubai International Airport:

• Terminal 1, Departure: 34196 93449
• Terminal 1, Arrival: 34068 93528

Notes:

• The official navigation service Makani.ae does not provide a full-featured API as of 2025.
• Smart Indexes offers a commercial Makani Search API for enterprise use.
• The architecture of Makani Search API v1 based on business analytical concept «Color Signal Flags for Decision-Making in Dubai’s Property Market»

For API users available Makani Search API Ver.1 Documentation (released on Nov.7, 2025).

Learn more about the Makani Search API in the Knowledge Base documentation.

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A live demo is available upon request. Please contact Smart Indexes through our official channels.

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