SHARJAH // Emirati families living in Samnan said their neighbourhood was quieter and felt safer after single men were relocated from unsafe and overcrowded villas last week.
The residential area close to Sharjah city centre was mostly home to UAE citizens, but many of the villas were rented to large numbers of labourers or expatriate families.
The houses were often dilapidated and dangerously overcrowded, with up to eight families sharing a villa in some cases.
Sharjah Municipality acted to evict single men and families illegally sharing villas last month, after complaints by residents. Villas deemed inhabitable will now be demolished, while the better ones will be repaired for use by Emiratis in need of emergency housing.
“Four villas near me have been cleared. The one across from me had no less than eight families sharing one house, now there is only one family living there,” said 52-year-old Abdulrida Hussein, who has been living in the area with his family since 1978.
The father of four said that the municipality carried out inspections and refused to renew tenant leases for villas where there were groups of single men or more than one family.
“The municipality does not allow bachelors to live here. However, families are allowed to stay provided there is only one in the house,” said Mr Hussein, a retired soldier.
Those breaching the law were told to visit the municipality to coordinate how they would leave their homes.
More than 275 eviction notices were served since last month, according to Omar Al Shariji, assistant director of Sharjah Municipality.
Overcrowded housing can be a serious health and safety issue. In Dubai last month, two people were killed in a fire at a flat where 22 men lived. An Indian worker at a cafeteria in Samnan said the number of single men in the area had fallen drastically.
“A lot of the workers who lived here have voluntarily left, they didn’t want trouble with the law and relocated to other areas, mainly in the industrial areas,” said M A, 24.
“There are still workers here, but if you lived here before, you would notice the huge difference.”
Emirati Aqeel Al Mazroui said the move had left families feeling at ease.
“My neighbourhood has seen a good cut in the number of bachelors and families crowded into villas,” said the legal counsellor, a resident of 36 years.
“We hope the municipality continues its work to clear this area and devote it to Emiratis as it was ordered.”
In April 2012, the emirate’s Ruler, Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, issued a similar decree ordering single men to leave the suburb of Halwan after complaints by Emirati families who were worried that the men were peering over their villa walls and into their homes.
That same month, single men living in Al Shabha, Umm Khanour and Layyah were also told to move out because the areas were being set aside for families.
Many of the workers were relocated by their companies to Ajman and Umm Al Quwain.
tzriqat@thenational.ae