Bachelors evicted from more areas

Decree by ruler of Sharjah means single male workers must leave residential areas meant for families only.

SHARJAH // Bachelors are being evicted from three more Sharjah neighbourhoods by municipality inspectors.

Single male workers living in Al Shabha, Umm Khanour and Layyah are being moved out as the areas are set aside for families only.

The latest evictions come a week after hundreds of bachelors, mostly from south Asian countries, were ordered to leave their homes in Halwan and Samnan.

Sultan Al Mualla, the director general of Sharjah Municipality, said yesterday most of the homes occupied by workers in Halwan and Samnan were empty. Utilities had also been disconnected.

"Those who persisted in staying in the area do not have any services like water and power," Mr Al Mualla said. "They will have to leave soon as well."

Bachelors living in older commercial buildings, which often have flats above shops and other businesses, have also been told to leave.

Villas in all five neighbourhoods will be repaired where possible and set aside for Emirati families. Homes beyond repair will be pulled down.

Flats in commercial buildings will be rented out to families of any nationality.

The municipality and the department of planning and survey have also been ordered to put in a strip of trees to separate the commercial buildings from Emirati villas.

Mr Al Mualla could not give an exact time for repairs and demolitions.

The move to evict bachelors from was prompted by complaints from Emirati families who said their privacy was being compromised.

After a call by one family to the Ruler of Sharjah on a local radio show, Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed issued a decree to remove single men.