Abu Dhabi: Musaffah area has long been the capital’s industrial hub, housing numerous vehicle workshops, warehouses and factories. It is split officially into two major areas: Musaffah Commercial and Musaffah Industrial.
Most businesses, maintenance workshops and factories are located in the industrial section, which is dotted with two- to five-storey structures. These structures are separated by roads punctuated with roundabouts and negligible greenery.
While the area features worker accommodations in the ICAD (Industrial City Abu Dhabi) Residential City, many people opt for makeshift living conditions atop their stores as these are cheaper and implement fewer regulations. Inhabitants pay for bed spaces that cost up to Dh500 a month, and these are often provided in illegally partitioned spaces. Although the Municipality of Abu Dhabi prohibits more than three people living in a room, these buildings see up to 15 people in a room.
Municipal officials regularly conduct raids to eliminate illegal accommodation arrangements, including unlicensed structures and partitions. A statement sent last week said that more than 900 violations had been identified in Musaffah since summer of 2014.
Musaffah Commercial, on the other hand, includes a number of consumer outlets, retailers and malls, as well as buildings for families.
