UAE | Housing & Property
Bachelors unhappy with segregated housing plans
Many bachelors are upset and angry after being discriminated against with regard to housing. They say that they are human beings with rights and that they should be integrated in the social fabric of the country and not segregated in camps.
- By Samir Salama, Bureau Chief
- Published: 23:38 May 3, 2009
- They want accommodation in the city not far away from place of work.
- Image Credit: Gulf News
Abu Dhabi: Many bachelors are upset and angry after being discriminated against with regard to housing.
They say that they are human beings with rights and that they should be integrated in the social fabric of the country and not segregated in camps.
Bachelors contacted by Gulf News said they too contribute to society and most of them are not 'bachelors'; it is just either that they were forced to send their families home because of high costs of living or because they cannot afford to bring their families here.
They commended Abu Dhabi Municipality's plans to draft a law regulating their accommodation in the emirate and allocate plots of lands for building houses for them.
Family repatriated
"These houses should be in the city and not far away from our place of work, as I can't understand why bachelors don't deserve to live in Abu Dhabi or other cities across the country," said Emad E.M., an executive resident in Abu Dhabi for six years.
He added: "After all we are human beings who have rights. Bachelors feel pain if you cut them and they bleed just like other people, don't they?"
Another resident, who wished to be identified only as Mansour T., said: "I am married but I live alone after the high cost of rents and education forced me to send my family to my home country. I and those in my position would just like to know where will we stay if none of the real estate companies are willing to give us accommodation?"
He added he lives with other bachelors in a place in Abu Dhabi and recently the real estate company told them they have to vacate within a few weeks! "But we do not know where to go ... these discriminatory measures hit us singles very hard."
Michael R., a resident in Abu Dhabi for three years, said he had to cope with the vacating experience twice.
Amer Abdul Jalil Al Fahim, chairman of Al Qudra Real Estate, estimated that singles account for 50 per cent of residents in the emirate. "They are in dire need for houses that meet their needs. They must be integrated in the social fabric of the city, as they are important in managing businesses."
Al Fahim said that singles should not be segregated along social or professional lines. "Their houses must be near their places of work," he said, adding that labour cities may accommodate workers of construction companies but may not be suitable for other employees who run most of the businesses inside the city.
Proposal for building houses for singles
A law regulating bachelors' housing in Abu Dhabi is being drafted by the Municipalities and Agriculture Department, an official said.
The draft law, he added, will impose hefty fines on people breaking the law.
Abu Dhabi Municipality is also studying a proposal to allocate plots of lands in different areas in the emirate to building houses for singles. These plots will be offered to private companies for investment.
Same fate elsewhere
Bachelors are facing similar housing problems in Sharjah and Dubai as they have been asked to stay away from residential areas. In Dubai, the Dubai Municipality had made it clear that bachelors can reside in flats but not in villas while in Sharjah they are allowed in designated areas like the Sharjah Industrial Area and Al Saja'a.
One of the main reasons for the municipalities to undertake the campaign is to provide a safe and secure environment for families. "It does not matter what the profession is, but bachelors are not allowed to live in residential areas in Sharjah," said a Sharjah municipality spokesperson.
Have your say
Do you think bachelors should have separate living areas? Do you have bachelors living near you? What is your opinion on the issue? Tell us at letter2editor@gulfnews.com or fill in the form below to send your comments.
Your comments
While I agree with those who say the rents and living expenses should come down to enable every married individual to bring his/her family member here, but while we are waiting for that to happen for the time being the best solution is to deal with bachelors as the municipalities propose. Take out all bachelors out of family neighbourhoods, after all, what you are doing there?
Mussa
Dubai,UAE
I don't think the municipality should even consider isolating the bachelors. Besides, the bachelors play a big role in the development of this country. Bachelors and spinsters should be treated equally and there should be no discrimination. This will just affect the image of UAE as a nation that provides unfair treatment, maybe not in nationality, but in civil status.
Julius
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Most of the bachelors living in the UAE are forced bachelors because of their circumstances, either due to their children's education, cost of living or back home problems, such as looking after their elderly parents. Bachelors are also human beings who want to lead a calm life.
R.C.
Dubai,UAE
I am married and I have my family here with me. Actually, I do not understand the reason for kicking the bachelors (males) outside and keeping females. They are not considered bachelors too?
U.G.
Dubai,UAE
If bachelors are a real problem then why bring them into the country? Only family visas should be issued, and people willing to bring their family permitted.
Joseph
Dubai,UAE
I have almost travelled all over the world as a bachelor and I never encountered such housing conditions like here in the UAE. As a spinster working here I have experience of people interrogating me, sometimes about personal matters, which is not a good feeling and there is the feeling of un-belongingness to the society.
Balqis
Abu Dhabi,UAE
I hope the municipalities of every emirate will understand and consider our predicament as bachelors and allocate areas/buildings for our accommodation within the city.
C. Afuang
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Bachelors remain so in the UAE, because of the high costs. Higher cost in education, housing, transportation, rent, electricity, food and water. The core issue has to be addressed.
Menon
Dubai,UAE
What about spinsters - the female equivalent of bachelors, that is? Will there be similar rules for them too? After all, they live in much the same way as bachelors do. And there are plenty of expatriate spinsters working here in the UAE.
V. Rodrigues
Dubai,UAE
There is no complete segregation of bacheors, as I know many Western bachelors who live alone in good areas.
J. Fielder
Dubai,UAE
It is injustice to separate the bachelors from the society. Due to high living costs, many are forced to live like bachelors by sending their families home. Authorities must encourage married people to bring their families to the UAE by reducing the rent.
Madhu
Dubai,UAE
This is not fair. The 'singles' mostly are not bachelors. The real estate owners are getting this opportunity to increase the rent. And how do they categorise bachelors?
R. Vidya
Kochi,India
I don't understand the logic behind this: treating singles as if they are sexual or criminal offenders and segregating them from the rest of the society. I believe that the municipality should instead focus its study in providing housing for all sections of society without any exception whether they are single or not. After all, as the paper says, many of these singles have sent their families back home due to living expenses. Other singles live with their siblings or their parents and provide support for them. Other singles are trying to prepare themselves to enter married life and certainly it would be difficult to do so in the face of such restrictions.
W. Halawani
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Depends in how you define a bachelor.
If they are kept away, then they will lose their human touch. Sections of society should be mixed to learn about one another.
Felix
Dubai,UAE
If rents in this country were more affordable, 'bachelors' would not need to send their families back home. They have been forced to live alone.
P. Lotte
Dubai,UAE
It's very inhuman to isolate bachelors from residential areas. They should be given equal rights to live decently and have a more convienient place to stay. As long as the bachelors can afford to pay the rent, why force them to live in a place which is not conducive to their lifestyle - after all many of these bachelors are professionals. Maybe, the government should impose strict rules and regulations to ensure that these bachelors will not pose problems to families living in the same area. Like restricting the number of occupants, regulating the number of visitors, not allowing smoking or drinking or even staying outside their units and even maintaining cleanliness.
Renato
Dubai,UAE
Why should bachelors to be isolated from the mainstream? Many of them are unfortunate beings who left their families back home and are 'forced bachelors' here. Therefore, they are very well a part of the society.
Ravi
Sharjah,UAE
The municipality seems to be pointing out that bachelors are the main reason for all anti-social activities. If many bachelors living in a single bedroom is an issue, why can't a regulation be brought in like in the western countries where a single bedroom flat can accomodate a maximum of two adults only.
Selvan
Toronto,Canada
This is really painful. Bachelors have equal right to stay whereever they choose. This law is been drafted because there has been cases where 'some' bachelors have harassed women and may have caused inconvience to families. But I say why punish them all? There are better solutions to this problem, than just isolating these people to one remote corner of the city.
Resalat
Dubai,UAE
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