Dubai: Bachelors who share bed spaces on the decline in the city

Some bachelors not only have to dodge rent hikes — the laws about where they can live in the city are also a challenge.

Dubai Municipality operates a non-stop campaign against bachelors who share bed spaces in residential neighbourhoods such as Satwa, and as a result of inspections the number of offences has shot down from 2,321 in 2012 to 1,523 this year.

“Our team of 40 inspectors work day and night to follow up on residents’ complaints and evict bachelors who do not adhere to the regulations,” said Jaber Al Ali, head of the building inspection department at Dubai Municipality.

“The fall in violations is a clear indicator that our continuous campaign is effective and that residents are aware about the city’s rules,”

Al Ali said that Dubai Municipality has two teams of building inspectors that patrol the city’s residential areas, they are on the lookout for an unexpected number of vehicles parked outside a house — a sign of illegal accommodation.

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) is also in on the bachelor campaign, as it coordinates with Dubai Municipality and cuts off the bachelors’ water and electricity connection 24 hours after they have been issued with an eviction notice

However, bachelors can live in freehold areas, such as International City.

The most popular areas for bachelors to illegally share bed space are in Satwa, Jafiliya, Al Bada’ae, Jumairah 1, Abu Hail, Rashidiya, Hamriya and Wuhaida.

Meanwhile, residents using the bed space option told Gulf News they expect the trend to continue if rents climb in Dubai.

They said the number of people sharing apartments will rise to bring down the payment instalment per person.

A two-bedroom apartment can cost between Dh3,500 to Dh7,500 per month, depending on the area. A number of renters said their salaries were between Dh4,000 and Dh7,000 a month.

Frequent quarrels

In comparison, bed space rates are only around Dh400-Dh600 per month, renters said.

The expatriate added that he has lived in a bed space arrangement for ten years.

“Even families are sharing apartments, with one family to a room. Not everyone earns a high salary,” said a 29-year-old Indian.

His bed space costs Dh400 a month.

“I can’t afford to bring my wife and son to Dubai. I use a bed space so I can save money and send it back home.”

“Whenever ‘bachelors’ are driven out from an area, they push up demand for bed space in other places. I’m already paying Dh550 a month,” said another Indian, aged 33.

However, bachelors said, the savings in rent comes at a price. The pressure of sharing a room with several people often leads to quarrels.

“We argue over when to turn off the lights, over air-conditioning. We also have privacy issues. And if one renter falls ill, chances are you’ll catch it as you’re crammed into a room,” the Indian expatriate added.

“I have five room-mates. You have to wait your turn for the bathroom. If one guy takes too long, we’re all late for work.