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Dubai: Wanted: a pied piper to rid the rats in International City.
A building in the International City is infested with rodents, claim residents, who say they have been robbed of sleep and hygiene by rodents that are living and propagating in their apartments.
Residents of a building in the China cluster of the development have complained to Gulf News that rats have infested their building and are entering their apartments through gaps in false ceilings.
"I've had to throw away ten dead rats from my false ceiling after having them killed, but I can still hear them moving around above the ceiling at night sometimes. It's horrible," said Svetlana, who lives on the second floor.
Nakheel, the developer behind International City, said it is aware of the problem but that only "one complaint was received".
Many of the residents who spoke to Gulf News were under the impression that only their apartments were infested with rodents, unaware of the similar experiences of their neighbours.
"Surveillance and monitoring of the building have been stepped up since we received the complaint," said a Nakheel spokesperson.
He said although it was unclear what could have caused the infestation, "there is a large amount of construction in the area and a lot of material is coming in", which could have brought the rodents.
"I saw a mouse in the corridor once and then saw it in my apartment. I called pest control and had it killed," said another resident on the second floor.
Aytan, an Egyptian housewife who is pregnant, said she hasn't cooked since she saw a mouse in her kitchen. Having killed five in the past month, she points to what appear to be mouse droppings in her kitchen, convincing her that there are more.
Aytan said she decided she had "had enough" when she saw a mouse on her bed. "We're living in such unhygienic conditions. I haven't cooked in a long time," she said.
Raghda, also Egyptian, said she once saw a "massive" rat run into her kitchen.
A few days later, she found blood on her kitchen floor. "I looked around and saw many baby rats behind the water dispenser."
Since then, she said, her kitchen had been locked up until she had it cleaned professionally. "Our expenses have gone up significantly. We have had to pay for cleaning and eating out."
Although the rats in her apartment are dead now, Raghda says she is not comfortable yet.
"It's only a matter of time until more come. We saw 20 dead rats on the ground floor yesterday," she said.
Your comments
Looking at the housing situation in Dubai, I am amazed that someone living in Dubai is suggesting to others to find another place to live! The developer must help out the residents.
Muhammad
Toronto,Canada
Rats have rights too! People are just upset because the rats are living rent free.
Sager
Vienna, Virginia,USA
It is not easy to just move out after having paid so much money. The solution is not for humans to move out. A rat deciding where humans have to stay!
Dan
Dubai,UAE
I have never seen one rat in International City, but now I know I will keep on thinking about it whenever I hear a noise at night!
Nour
Dubai,UAE
I agree whole heartedly with Amina. In the words attributed to Marie Antoinette "Let them eat cake".
Grim
Dubai,UAE
The authorities must attend to this immediately as the people living there are facing unhygienic risk. Also it is not that easy to change apartments when people are working hard leaving their countries for bread and butter. This must be attended to immediately.
Adeel
Dubai,UAE
I was planning to move this summer to International City, we have chosen the apartment and everything is almost set. After I have seen this there is NO WAY I am moving there.
Marwa
Dubai,UAE
In response to Amina, and given the current rent levels, it is exactly that kind of response that is making people in the United Kingdom think twice about continuing to invest in Dubai at all.
Alexis
London,UK
I was willing to move there since the prices are less than other areas in Dubai, but after this article: NO WAY.
Mohamed
Dubai,UAE
Yeah, nice one Amina, just taken out a year's lease on a brand new flat, paid six months rent up front. It's really easy just "to move". This is a brand new development. Nakheel should make sure it is fit for habitation. Being full of rats, it clearly isn't.
Dan
Dubai,UAE
I bought a flat in International City, Amina, that's why I don't move. It's a huge investment and I can't afford to move now as I'm still making payments on it. I haven't seen rats in my building Fadi, and I'm in C, but if I do, I'll freak out! This is totally unacceptable and Nakheel should send in pest control immediately to stop the infestation.
Anonymous
Dubai,UAE
Massive infestation of rats occurred because lots of places in Dubai are being developed, I'm not in favour of rats but massive development displaces lots of animals, instincts will tell them to seek other places wherein they could live.
Farah
Abu Dhabi,UAE
I think it is good to keep cats (sterilized ones) around the building, provided residents feed/care for them, as they keep the rats away.
gracy
Dubai,UAE
I too am living in International City and reading this makes me worry. It's bad enough that most of the landscaping in the area, which is supposed to be done, is not done so it gets really dusty, and now rats. It is such a disgusting thing to know that rats are infesting the place. I hope Nakheel takes this matter seriously.
Katie
Dubai,UAE
I stay in International City B Block and haven't come across a single rat. Well, families at International City keep the corridors dirty with rubbish and leftover food lying there, waiting for the cleaner to pick it up. This encourages pests and rodents to come into the building.
Sultan
Dubai,UAE
My husband and I were discussing just this morning about taking an apartment in International City. After reading this I guess we have to rethink.
Reah
Dubai,UAE
If people aren't comfortable living at the International City, then why don't they move?
Amina
Dubai,UAE
Was this in the new part of the project, C and above?
Fadi
Dubai,UAE
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