Majority of UAE residents say home air quality is ‘sub-optimal’
Khansaheb Industries survey of 1,000 residents also reveals four in five UAE residents consider air quality to be important in the home
Khansaheb Industries inaugural edition of the UAE Indoor Air Quality Audit has found that 45% of UAE residents consider their indoor air quality to be very good in home, with only 42% of residents in Dubai stating that they had good indoor air quality.
Collecting responses from 1,000 residents across the UAE, the Audit indicates the attitudes of general consumers toward the importance of air quality at home, in relation to their health, in schools, and in the workplace. The audit found that well over four in five consider air quality important in the home; residents with good home air quality report very good wellbeing and sleeping habits found the survey.
A high quality of indoor air quality is more important for UAE residents when choosing a home than the proximity to transport links, distance from a main road, close proximity to schools, whether there is outdoor space, story height, and parking availability, explained Khansaheb Industries during the audit’s reveal.
“Indoor air quality is an often overlooked but evidently critical topic for UAE residents across the nation,” commented Abdulrahman Khansaheb, managing director of Khansaheb Industries. “Following the pandemic, those living in the Emirates are wanting to ensure the air they and their children breathe in their home, their workplace, and their schools is of a high enough standard to offer long-term health benefits. The inaugural edition of the UAE Indoor Air Quality Audit demonstrates those concerns clearly and visibly.”
The audit additionally revealed that 91% of UAE residents consider indoor air quality to be important for their day-to-day health, with 75% considering it to be very important. Almost two-thirds of UAE residents consider good indoor air quality as leading to improved overall wellbeing, and 58% consider that it leads to an improved immune system response. 89% of consumers stated that they would consider indoor air quality when choosing which hospital they would go to.
Khansaheb added: “Following the results of our initial audit, real-estate developers and contractors across the nation need to take indoor air quality into consideration when planning and constructing property in the UAE – be that residential or commercial in nature. Khansaheb consistently advocates for the implementation of the highest quality indoor air standards across the UAE to ensure the health and wellbeing of all. As such, steps taken to improve indoor air quality standards in the UAE are critical. With the implementation of a thorough mandatory regulatory framework for the implementation of ventilation and ductwork in UAE buildings, residents can enjoy higher-quality air in their day-to-day lives.”
The audit comes amid increased public focus on the importance of indoor air quality for health and wellbeing, said the firm in a statement: “As UAE residents return to schools and offices following remote working, ensuring indoor air does not represent a vehicle for disease transmission is a key public health priority. Focused on indoor air quality across the home, workplace, hospitals, and schools, findings from the Khansaheb Indoor Air Quality Audit can inform future development of buildings with safe indoor air quality.”
