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Dubai: An eerie silence has descended on the three residential blocks of Shaikh Rashid Colony in Al Qusais, which earlier buzzed with the laughter of children and families.
Barring only a handful of families, the remaining 500 residents have moved out since a final eviction notice was served to them in October last year by the Dubai Development Board.
"We are very happy to have been given alternative accommodation by the Board at Muhaisnah where the Dubai Real Estate has constructed new residential blocks," said Abdul Kader, an Indian who was busy shifting his furniture to his new two-bedroom apartment in one of the residential blocks in Muhaisnah.
Abdul Kader lived in residential block 2 at Al Qusais for 30 years. "My children grew up here at the Shaikh Rashid Colony. I am a little sad, but at the same time quite relieved that an alternative was provided to families by the board," he said.
"I used to pay Dh18,000 as rent for the two-bedroom flat in Shaikh Rashid Colony. In 1978 I used to pay Dh9,000. The rent that I will be paying at the new place will be Dh45,000," he said.
Residents who are planning to shift to the new accommodation said that they are glad that their struggle for alternative accommodation had paid off.
"Families who were interested in moving to the new location were asked to give their decision to the board and the Dubai Real Estate by November 20.
Those who do not wish to shift were given June 30 as the last date to vacate," said Abdul Kader who was full of praise for the Rent Committee.
Fortunate
The family conducted a full length market survey before opting to book a flat at the new accommodation in Muhaisnah.
"We forwarded our application for the alternative accommodation to the board from where the papers were forwarded to the Dubai Real Estate. Our market survey led us to opt for the accommodation. We are fortunate to have landed a two-bedroom apartment for just Dh45,000 in a new residential block in Dubai. It is unbelievable," Abdul Kader said.
Abu Baker, the watchman at the new residential blocks in Muhaisnah, said that he has been receiving many evicted families dropping in just to check out the apartments.
"Majority of the families were those who had been living in Shaikh Rashid Colony in Al Qusais and Karama. Some of them grumble that the small rooms do not justify the rent but there are others who sound relieved to have found a place to live in Dubai," he said.
Nadeem, an Egyptian standing in the dimly lit corridors of block 2 at Shaikh Rashid Colony, said: "I have been residing here for 20 years. Obviously I will feel sad to vacate but then life goes on. I plan to go for the alternative accommodation provided to us. The most important thing that I would like to highlight is the fact that the government has shown consideration to the middle income group."
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