No backtrack on 'one villa one family' rule - municipality - Real Estate

Monday, 2 February 2009 10:11 AM

Multiple families are allowed to live in one villa only if the villa is designed for that purpose and duly licensed, the Dubai Municipality said on Monday.

A statement clarifying the ‘one villa, one family’ rule was issued by the head of building inspection section, Omar AbdurRahman, following media reports that the municipality was backtracking on its October policy.

Sparking the controversy was a media interview in UAE daily, the Gulf News, with the director general of Dubai Municipality, Hussain Nasser Lootah, who said he had no probelm with five to eight people, from more than one family, living in one villa.

His comments appeared to contradict the municipality's strictly enforced rule that effectively banned unrelated people from living together, and resulted in hundreds of people moving out of rented houses.

However, in the latest statement AbdurRahman denied Lootah's comments amounted to a revision of the policy, saying it did "not contradict any statements issued by the municipality before.”

In certain areas of Dubai such as Mirdif and Al Barsha there were multiple villas in single compounds that were designed and licensed by the municipality to allow a varying number of families to co-habit, he said. “Only in such cases, we will allow more than one family," AbdurRahman said.

Buildings in Dubai were licensed in consideration of existing service infrastructure including water, electricity, roads and parking, he added.

He warned that buildings used in contravention of the rules would put pressure on the city’s entire infrastructure resulting in breakdown of some services.

AbdurRahman added that overcrowding posed serious threats to residents' safety and security.

In December Arabian Business reported that Dubai Municipality was disconnecting power and water from up to 20 villas per day, and would continue to do so, as part of its one villa, one family campaign.

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Posted by: worried Tuesday, 3 February 2009 11:20 PM[UAE]

I guess we will not hear from saeed any more. His GBP bluff has been called. reminds me of one Mounir who used to teach us how many airports the UAE had, we dont see him any more. Guys do not wish for an exodus - your wish might just come true.

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Posted by: Johnson Tuesday, 3 February 2009 8:25 PM[UAE] - UAE

We 4 families were staying in a villa in Al Quiz and in May 2008, Dubai Municipality put an eviction notice. Now I am staying in Sharjah. All that time all news papers clearly mentioned that only one family is allowed in a Villa. Also I have called Dubai Municipality and they reiterated this point. We are so confused that everyday we hear contradictory news in newspaper.

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Posted by: Sanjay Tuesday, 3 February 2009 5:43 PM[UAE]

To all people in position of power - pls think before u make rules which affect the masses. In cities like Hong Kong, any law is consider at several levels including people poll and what they think about it. After all, it is meant for the overall good of the nation - and people form the nation. With greater power comes even greater responsibility

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Posted by: UJ Tuesday, 3 February 2009 3:30 PM[UAE] - India

Its a case of unadultarted greed nothing else. They had this "one family one villa" rule to drive out families into apartments at exhorbitant rents and maybe drive up the demand for apartments. Now as villas as empty as very few can afford the crazy rents, they now are singing a different tune. Why is it so difficult for these people to be consistent. I am so glad I left Dubai just in time before the global crisis happened. I am fortunate to have a great job and own home in own country. I wish ye all Dubai expats that similar fortune smiles on you too. Cheers!

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Posted by: BMahesh Tuesday, 3 February 2009 2:48 PM[UAE] - UAE

A bit too late for this clarification.....after so many families with children were forced to leave their homes because of water and electricity being cut! DM has not had a clue as to how people had been effected by this rule....

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