Rain washes away the gloss from Dubai's prime properties

Dubai: Residents of some of Dubai's newest developments reacted angrily after their homes were flooded following yesterday's heavy downpour.

Householders blamed poor construction and inadequate maintenance for the problems, which began soon after the skies opened in the morning. People living in new developments such as The Meadows, The Springs and Arabian Ranches in the southern end of Dubai were among the worst affected.

Roula Sawaya, a Lebanese housewife who moved into a villa in Arabian Ranches two weeks ago, said: "It was raining from the ceiling ... Friends in nearby developments had same problems. Emaar should put more attention into construction quality and materials."

Minie Kapila from India, said her garage was flooded and water was dripping into the rooms of her villa in The Meadows. "The water was above ankle level deep in the garage it was filthy, stinking water. Even the manholes were clogged."

An Emaar spokesperson told Gulf News: "Emaar staff have been on site in its communities assisting customers following the unusually inclement weather which has revealed some leakages and, in isolated cases, some minor flooding due to drain blockages."

Traders in Ibn Battuta Mall also saw water leaking into their properties while buckets were put out to catch rainfall dripping from the ceiling into Mall of the Emirates.