Sharjah/Abu Dhabi: Noisy construction work late at night and early in the morning have recently left residents in many parts of the UAE disturbed and sleep-deprived.
They complain construction companies are flouting rules by working outside permitted hours, leaving residents cringing at night from the noise.
Those impacted are usually tenants near under-construction building and other sites.
In Sharjah, American expat R.D. said he hardly got any sleep last month because of a construction site in Al Khan area near his home that operated through the night.
“When do I get some quiet time to sleep? It is very loud, no safety equipment for the workers, and basically working round the clock. No one cares to stop them,” he added.
Khalifa Bin Hada Al Suwaidi, director of engineering department at Sharjah Municipality, said the municipality has specific regulations regarding working hours for construction work, especially during the summer. Work should end at 10pm on regular days, while it must stop during the time for Friday payers and during the midday break according to the Ministry of Labour decree, which prohibits work under direct sunlight between 12.30pm and 3pm for three months.
This year, the midday break is implemented from June 15 to September 16.
Al Suwaidi said if anyone has a complaint against construction noise, he or she can contact the municipality on 993.
Similar complaints were recently raised from different neighbourhoods in Abu Dhabi.
An Indian expat who lives in the Tourist Club area in Abu Dhabi, said that he had to wear earplugs at night. He added that construction in his neighbourhood starts after 9pm and continues past midnight.
Drilling, jack-hammering and metal-on-metal clanging are the worst sounds to bear at 3am or 5am, the residents said.
According to Abu Dhabi City Municipality, heavy work is not allowed after 7pm but light work could be carried out any time.
Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi’s Environment Health and Safety Management System said any activity resulting in excess noise that can disturb the peace of a neighbourhood should be undertaken only between 7am and 8pm on working days, and between 9am and 7pm on weekends and public holidays. Complaints about noise pollution can be made at 800 555.
