Dubai: Motorists driving past Novotel Dubai Al Barsha said they are being sprinkled by water dripping off the “hanging gardens” on the hotel’s façade.
Indian motorist Zahabia said her car regularly gets splashed on the way to work. A Pakistani taxi driver also said he has been hit a number of times. During a drive by recently, Gulf News had the same experience. Cars approaching the small roundabout next to the hotel were seen receiving the spray from above.
The hotel management has downplayed the reports saying it is only a matter of a few “minute drops” with only one complaint received.
Zahabia said the water, which appears clear when it strikes fresh, dries into a sticky yellow stain. She added that the hotel “needs to find another solution as we cannot go through this every single day… I am tired of getting my car washed almost every day and would like the hotel to take responsibility for this. We have the right to walk or drive without getting wet with this dirty water.”
She added that her husband has the same experience when driving past the four-star property.
A taxi driver said he was taken by surprise when he first got hit with water at the roundabout. “I looked up and thought ‘is it raining?’” he quipped.
The hotel management told Gulf News there can be a few stray drops during cleaning of the building’s side or when the drip irrigation system over-waters the greenery by a tiny amount.
“We have had the occasional remark — never a complaint as such — that water drops occur at times on the road along the hotel but never by motorists from the flyover bridge. But it is nothing more than a few drops and nothing constant…”