Homeowners stand to save millions of dirhams in fees if an effort to standardise how property is measured succeeds.
Some developers include balconies, outdoor spaces and a percentage of common areas in calculating a property's size.
"At the moment, every developer measures completely differently," said Ron Hinchey, a director at the property services company Cluttons. "It's all over the place."
Even basic room sizes are in dispute. Some developers measure rooms from the centre of walls instead of from the surface inside the room, which can make a significant difference in the size of an apartment.
"I hear horror stories every day," said Myles Bush, the director of Powerhouse Properties. "People buy a 2,000 square foot apartment off-plan, then they get the measuring tape out and it's 1,500 sq ft."
The measurement inconsistencies have broad implications for homeowners. The data are often used to calculate association and facility fees, and the variations can affect the resale value of a property.
"You need a common practice so everybody knows what they are buying and what they are getting for their money," said Matthew Green, the head of consultancy at CB Richard Ellis in the Middle East.
The local chapter of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) and a committee of local executives have been working with the Real Estate Regulatory Agency in Dubai to create guidelines based on the UK system. A draft has been circulated within the industry.
It proposes the use of "gross internal area" to exclude outside space from calculations of floor area. In the UK, the standard is commonly known as "the carpet area", referring to "livable space" in a home.
The Dubai draft includes garages, hallways and stairwells in the gross internal area calculation but excludes open balconies, fire escapes, canopies and external structures such as greenhouses and storage areas. Rooms would be measured from the "internal face of perimeter walls".
"I certainly think it is a key step for a market to adopt standardisation," said Jim Drysdale, the director of Rics in the Middle East. "There is a potential for misunderstanding until you get one system that everybody buys into."
Standardising the measurement system would aid transparency and create more confidence in the property market, executives say.
"For a market to operate efficiently, you want to eliminate uncertainty," Mr Drysdale said.
Standardisation would also better reflect the real value of property.
"From a valuer's perspective, unless you have a standard code, it is very hard to compare one price to another," Mr Hinchey said.
The proposal is only under consideration in Dubai, but it could create momentum to implement standards in the other emirates.
"Logic follows that if it is accepted in one part, then we could see the same approach in other emirates," Mr Drysdale said.
The UAE is already moving towards uniformity. This year, the Government decreed that the property industry adopt the metric system from November 11.
At present, Dubai properties are often listed in square feet, while Abu Dhabi uses square metres. The change will have little impact on sales, but it will help the public to compare and evaluate properties quickly, executives say.
kbrass@thenational.ae
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
The%20specs
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
Understand What Black Is
The Last Poets
(Studio Rockers)
A German university was a good fit for the family budget
Annual fees for the Technical University of Munich - £600
Shared rental accommodation per month depending on the location ranges between £200-600
The family had budgeted for food, books, travel, living expenses - £20,000 annually
Overall costs in Germany are lower than the family estimated
As proof that the student has the ability to take care of expenses, international students must open a blocked account with about £8,640
Students are permitted to withdraw £720 per month
Results
United States beat UAE by three wickets
United States beat Scotland by 35 runs
UAE v Scotland – no result
United States beat UAE by 98 runs
Scotland beat United States by four wickets
Fixtures
Sunday, 10am, ICC Academy, Dubai - UAE v Scotland
Admission is free
No more lice
Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
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The biog
Born: near Sialkot, Pakistan, 1981
Profession: Driver
Family: wife, son (11), daughter (8)
Favourite drink: chai karak
Favourite place in Dubai: The neighbourhood of Khawaneej. “When I see the old houses over there, near the date palms, I can be reminded of my old times. If I don’t go down I cannot recall my old times.”