Residents demand low-cost homes

Dubai: The Dubai Government must create more affordable residential communities to address the shortage of housing for medium-income group, residents said.

In a half-yearly survey conducted by DSL Exhibitions among 567 residents in Dubai, 78 per cent of respondents said there is an imbalance in the city's property market.

The survey, conducted over about 45 days, focused on urban planning and quality of life and is part of the Resale and Rental Property Show to be held next month.

It covered UAE nationals (20 per cent), Indians (60 per cent), Arab expatriates (15 per cent) and other nationalities (5 per cent).

"The survey was conducted without adhering to any particular bias... It was designed to explore issues that the general population feels, as people living in Dubai are the ultimate customers of the exhibitors (at the show)," said Tessa Morris, DSL Exhibitions marketing director.

Nearly 78 per cent of the respondents said the luxury apartment sector in Dubai is over-supplied. A significant 89 per cent of those who felt there is an imbalance in the property market noted that the medium-income group is facing an undersupply of affordable housing.

At least 11 per cent felt there is a shortage of two- and three-bedroom villas. Asked what would remedy the situation, almost all respondents, 98 per cent of them, said that "government intervention is needed to create affordable" accommodation.

Asked about the impact of Dubai's construction boom on the quality of life of residents, 72 per cent said their lives have been negatively affected, while only a few, about 15 per cent, felt their quality of life has improved.

Among those who declared that their quality of life has deteriorated, 54 per cent cited rising rents as the most worrying factor, and 46 per cent blamed traffic congestion.

However, city residents do not seem to be completely despondent after all, since 81 per cent of the respondents said they are hopeful their quality of life will improve once the construction projects are completed.