On September 14, 2012, Gulf News published my community report about an abandoned building in Bur Dubai. More than a year later the building still remains, falling apart brick by brick.
The new Al Fahidi Souk, which is adjacent to this building, is now ready to open. But this building is still standing.
The building is on street 41 in Bur Dubai and is very close to the Al Fahidi Metro Station and Meena Bazar, where people come to shop for textiles, jewelry, purses and more. Most of the shops in this building have closed down. The building apparently has no electricity or water supply and is abandoned except for some cats and a shopkeeper who operates a little shop in the evening using a small lamp and street light.
People have been seen going in and out of this broken building at night. The shops below this building are being used as storerooms by the former shop owners. Is it legal to operate a business in this building? Why is strict action not being taken? Why is this eyesore not being demolished? Why hasn’t the Dubai Municipality taken any action?
The building’s exterior stinks due to bird droppings. It looks too weak to withstand damage caused by rain and poses a threat to the school students who stand right outside the building, waiting for their school buses.
I urge the authorities to take immediate action and demolish the building before a major catastrophe occurs.
The reader is based in Dubai.
Editor’s note: The complaint was forwarded to the Dubai Municipality for comments. However, despite repeated reminders, they failed to respond.
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