Dubai Municipality issues ultimatum to seven buildings
Owners told to immediately repair or demolish buildings which don’t meet safety standards
The Dubai Municipality has issued an ultimatum to the owners of seven abandoned buildings, instructing them to immediately undertake necessary repairs or demolish the structures within two weeks from the date of notice issuance.
These buildings are located around different parts of Dubai, such as Al Naif, Satwa, Al Rashidiya, Al Khubaisi, Abu Hail and Muhaisina 2. Failure to respond to the order will lead to the municipality demolishing the buildings and an imposition of the cost of work plus 20% as administration charges.
“Dubai is the meeting point of the East and West and is a global destination for business and tourism,” said Khalid Mohammed Saleh, director of the Building Department at the municipality. “Given this position of the city, we cannot compromise with the aesthetic view of our streets and roads.”
This notice is the latest in the civic body’s recent campaign to reduce the number of abandoned and neglected buildings to zero. The campaign included advertisements, visits and various PR activities to inform the public about the negative impacts of leaving buildings neglected and unoccupied.
Inspections had revealed most abandoned buildings were host to a variety of insects and other creatures that threaten public health standards, and half-constructed buildings were also found to be used by anti-social elements, said a report by Khaleej Times.
