Ajman homes still not connected to Fewa grid after six-year wait

Homeowners in Ajman are relying on expensive diesel generators as they wait for Fewa to link their properties to the power grid.

One of the empty residential building without power in the Al Rashidiya area in Ajman. Pawan Singh / The National

AJMAN // Homeowners in Ajman are still waiting for their properties to be linked to the electricity grid, six years after the emirate was hit by power-supply problems.

The Federal Electricity and Water Authority (Fewa) stopped supplying electricity to new residential towers and commercial buildings in 2008 as it struggled to meet demand amid rapid development.

Fewa began to gradually link properties to the power grid in 2010 but with connection taking up to two years, many owners are still relying on expensive diesel generators.

Properties without generators, or whose owners who cannot afford to run them, are left dark and empty.

A spokesman from Al Asima Real Estate in Ajman said three of its buildings in the Rashidiya neighbourhood had been closed for the past four years because of the lack of electricity.

“At first we used the generator but the diesel was so expensive and we were making enormous losses, so we decided to simply close them until we got electricity,” he said.

“We are waiting to see if the Fewa authorities give us electricity in the coming three months as our application has been in the queue for years.”

Irfan Mohammed, a manager at Al Ishba building in Rashidiya, said generators were stopped three years ago and the building closed down completely to ease huge financial losses for the owner.

“My boss is an investor from Pakistan who had a dream of making a successful business here but this did not happen,” said Mr Mohammed.

“He is now back in Pakistan and only comes to renew his visa and check to see if we have been connected to electricity.”

Mr Mohammed said the company applied to Fewa five years ago and was still waiting, despite assurances the property would be connected.

“Generators have problems from noise pollution to unstable power supply that can cause faults with most household electrical equipment such as air conditioners, lights and TVs,” he said.

Several buildings that relied on generators were affected by diesel fumes and smoke, said Mr Mohammed.

One resident in Al Sawan neighbourhood said diesel smoke had turned his home’s cream-coloured walls black.

“If it’s doing this to a wall imagine what it is doing to us?” he asked.

Demand for properties in the emirate is high, prompting estate agents to reopen empty buildings and install generators, with higher rents helping to cover the costs.

“All of our buildings with generators are now full and the only space we have to accommodate the many clients coming to offices seeking apartments to rent is to now reopen some of our closed buildings,” said the Al Asima official.

Some new homes have been connected to the grid. A recently established power plant is providing electricity to several buildings in Al Sawan, and some much-needed relief for residents.

A watchman at the Mohammed bin Ghaleta building said all of the flats were occupied shortly after word got out that power had been switched on.

“Many tenants who are daily visiting seeking an apartment are being turned away,” he said. “We have put up a big notice at the entrance announcing the building is full.”

Fewa did not respond to requests for a comment.