Opinions | City Talk
Rising cost of living multiplies residents' woes
A host of issues have been nagging residents, be it speculations over introduction of Salik on all major roads or how worse can the traffic become, leave alone the increasing rent.
- By Mariam M. Al Serkal, Staff Reporters
- Published: 00:45 February 10, 2008
- Clockwise, from top left: Meribeth Solana, Arnulfo Junior Bigtas De Vela, Binu K.S., Mohammad Al Ayoubi and Saleem Kunjupalla.
- Image Credit: Gulf News
Dubai: A host of issues have been nagging residents, be it speculations over introduction of Salik on all major roads or how worse can the traffic become, leave alone the increasing rent.
A recent Gulf News poll found that the cost of living was the biggest thing that concerned residents in 2007 with 53 per cent of respondents. Rent came in at second with 37 per cent, while traffic came in last at nine per cent.
City Talk took to the streets and asked residents what concerns are most on their minds - Salik, traffic congestion, rent or cost of living?
"Traffic and the cost of the living are on my mind because on a bad day it takes up to three hours to get to work in the morning. The public transport needs to be improved because when buses are delayed it makes everybody late for work," said Arnulfo Junior Bigtas De Vela, 24, an archive clerk from the Philippines.
Binu K.S., an Indian driver, 33, said: "The price of accommodation has gone up a lot in the past six years and it is now very costly to live in Dubai. My friends and I are now looking for accommodation in Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain because it's less expenses there."
Iranian marketing coordinator Pegah Foudeh, 26, said: "Everything is increasing but the salaries are not rising at the same rate. Salaries should be increased at least by 10 per cent because the cost of rent and food has gone up so much. It has become difficult for anyone to save these days."
Mohammad Al Ayoubi, an architectural engineer, 22, from Egypt, said: "Rent, transportation and the cost of living have all gone up. This is an internal problem and it is probably because of the growing infrastructure. The city is consuming a lot of electricity and energy and I think that the residents end up paying for it all."
Saleem Kunjupalla, a Indian foreman, 55, said: "In the past two months the cost of living has increased a lot. Everything is expensive, whether they are food items or household items, and the prices continue to rise. I want to save money but how can I do that when the food is getting costlier?"
Omar Zahran, 25, a Jordanian account manager, said: "The main concern is traffic and everything else is fine because if you compare the cost of petrol and food to other countries, the prices here are better. I live in Sharjah and it takes 90 minutes everyday to get to work in Dubai .... The second concern is rent."
Joel Maquiling, 31, a Filipino salesman, said: "Traffic is the main worry of mine because it's the reason why I am always late for work. I had to ask my boss for a transfer to Abu Dhabi because it's easier and more relaxed there.
"The bus at Rashidiya is always late and sometimes a bus does not arrive for two hours. A better transport system will definitely improve the chaos on the roads."
Khalid Mohammad, 28, an Emirati government employee, said: "Traffic is number one on the list of problems in this city. The same roads always have bad traffic and it feels like you are stuck on them forever, like Al Maktoum Bridge.
"Salik has helped ease the traffic and installing it at Al Garhoud Bridge was a good idea. The traffic is so bad that sometimes I don't want to visit my friends because I don't want to get stuck in the congested areas."
Meribeth Solana, a Filipina saleswoman, 36, said: "All these issues are big worries for me except Salik. I take the bus to get to work. The traffic is a problem because it makes me late for work nearly everyday.
"The cost of living has gone up so much that I had to change my food brands, and the rent is also high. I have to think twice before buying anything."
Narayana S., 31, from India, a chief accountant said: "The general cost of living, traffic and rent are my main concerns . I have noticed a rise in prices of these things over the past year, and am worried that the prices will continue to rise as a result of inflation. If the cost of living goes up dramatically, I will have to go back to my home country."
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