Bachelors say grim living conditions hard to change

Abu Dhabi: A stench fills the air as one walks out of the old-fashioned building elevator. Looking out from a window, which opens to a space within the building, nothing but thick layers of dirt can be seen.

Suhail Ahmad represents a typical "bachelor" forced to live away from his loved ones to earn a livelihood. He lives in a seven-storey building behind Hamdan Street in Abu Dhabi. It is one of the so-called "bachelor accommodation" buildings in the city.

Ahmad's apartment has five rooms; each room shared by seven to eight individuals. Though many of these men are married, they are often referred to as bachelors, as they live away from their families.

"There is no other affordable place I can find to match my budget. My monthly expenses, inclusive of food and accommodation, add up to Dh1,200," he says, despite having only a bed space to call his home. He shares the room with seven others from his native Bangladesh.

Concerns

Being able to live with his wife and two children is not an immediate concern for Ahmad.

"I have come to terms with the fact that I can never bring my family to live with me here, because of the living costs."

He currently earns Dh2,000 per month working at a maintenance company.

"Even if at a later stage, I earn Dh4,000, enough to be able to sponsor my family, it would be unthinkable because of the high cost of living, especially the rent," he says.

Refusing to allow his overcrowded room to be photographed, he said he does not believe the situation will change for the better for people like him any time soon.

Salam, another resident of the same building, said that the rent has been constantly increased over the past few years, without provision of any additional facilities or proper maintenance of the building.

"We have been told that the rent will increase from next month," he said.

Meanwhile, in a similar building nearby, police officials are investigating fights and petty thefts.

"It is common in such buildings where single men live in poor conditions," said an officer, who requested anonymity.