Dubai partition flats crackdown: Residents move to other emirates despite longer commute
After a crackdown on illegal room partitions across Dubai, many residents have found themselves without a place to stay. Some are now moving to Sharjah and other nearby emirates, where rents are lower, but commutes are longer and daily life has become much harder.
Shared partitioned flats were never ideal for many, but they were practical considering finances. The rooms were often just big enough for a bed and a fan, yet close to work, public transport, and a community to support them. That has now been replaced by long commutes, shared washrooms, and the challenge of starting over.
'I save on rent, but I am more tired now'
Mohammed Irfan, who works at a restaurant in JLT, was paying Dh1,400 per month for a partitioned room in Al Rigga. After authorities raided the building a week ago, he moved to Sharjah's Abu Shagara area, where he now pays Dh700 for a space accommodating three in a room.
'I do save money, but I now travel for over 90 minutes each way just to reach my workplace in JLT,' he said. 'Earlier, I could walk to the metro in 3 minutes. Now, I take a bus, then the metro, and sometimes still need a taxi from the station.'
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Despite the inconvenience, Irfan said he had no choice. 'Everything was easy in Dubai. The grocery, pharmacy, and metro were all downstairs. Now, as I am not familiar with the area, it feels complicated.'
He now wakes up early due to the extra commute time. 'By the time I get to work at 10:30 am, I have already spent over an hour on the road.'
'We had to split, it was too crowded'
Mary, a saleswoman at Al Ghurair Mall in Deira, lived with 13 others in a 2BHK flat in Muraqqabat and had to find new accommodation after the crackdown last week.
'We were paying around Dh800 each for bedspace, with 12 of us in one room. After the raid, we had to split,' said Mary. 'Now, my other flatmates and I are moving to Al Nahda in Dubai, paying Dh1,000 in a shared room with three others. This place has fewer people in the room, but the rent and travel will surely increase.'
'No privacy, but this is all I can afford'
Rupa, a salon worker, used to live in a shared space where she paid Dh600. Currently staying with a friend, she is scrambling to find an affordable place to live. She is now considering moving to a shared accommodation in Al Nahda, Sharjah, for Dh850 for a bed space.
'My commute time is surely going to increase. The salon was just a one-minute walk from my accommodation,' said Rupa. 'I may have to consider finding another workplace if it becomes too troublesome.'
Rupa mentioned that she's still grateful to have a roof over her head. 'I don't earn much. This is all I can manage.'
'My daughter's school is far now'
Farida, a single mother, had to move with her teenage daughter to Sharjah after being asked to vacate her previous flat in Deira.
'We were paying Dh1,500 in Dubai for a small partition. Now I pay Dh1,200 in Sharjah for a significantly bigger partition, but the school is far,' she said. 'The vacations are going to start soon, so the stress is less. But once school starts, I will have to think about an alternative for the school commute or consider changing her school.'
Call for affordable options
Javed, who works as a salesman in a mall, moved to a shared villa in Sharjah after being evicted from his partitioned room in Deira. He now pays Dh500 per bed space, sharing the room with 8 others.
'The reason for moving to Sharjah is that the crackdown will continue even if I look for another accommodation in Dubai,' he said.
'Many of us live hand to mouth. We don't have Dh2,000 to spend on rent. There should be some proper, legal low-cost housing for people like us.'
Moved into a storeroom
Shahid, a delivery rider, said he is currently staying in a converted storeroom in a shared flat in Sharjah. He pays Dh450 for the space.
'I had no option. It has no ventilation, and the fan doesn't work properly. I had to get a cooler for myself, but that too fails to keep me cool in this summer heat,' he said. 'But I am outside all day delivering, so I only come to sleep.'
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