Following a city-wide action on the division of illegal rooms in Dubai, many low-income residents have suddenly found themselves without a roof on their heads. These temporary living arrangements – often were not enough enough to fit a bed and a fan – was never luxurious, but she was inexpensive, close to work and near significant transport links.
Now, the displaced residents are transferring to Sharjah and other nearby Emirates in search of cheap housing. While the fare outside Dubai may be reduced, the trading has been stable: long traffic, shared features, and emotional stress of starting.
“For many people, these partitions were not ideal,” a resident said. “But he worked. We had our place, our jobs nearby, and a community that understood our situation.”
That delicate stability has been interrupted. People are now spending hours every day, often returning to crowded houses where privacy is rare and basic features such as dedicated washrooms are shared between many people.
While the purpose of the crack is to apply safety standards and regulate housing practices, human costs become rapidly clear. For the affected people, the disadvantage is not just a place to live-this is a harm of a difficult-living balance between existence and dignity in one of the most expensive cities of the region.