Dubai residents complain about lack of lighting

Dubailand developer has yet to turn on street and traffic lights and residents say it gets dangerous as the streets are plunged into darkness.

Once the signals and lights are operating to the RTA's satisfaction, it will take over maintenance and operations.
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DUBAI // Residents in the parts of Dubailand that have opened say they have been left in the dark by the master developer, which has not switched on traffic or street lights throughout the giant development.

Dubai Property Group (DPG) has tried to improve the situation by putting barriers around a particularly dangerous junction that has experienced a rise in traffic since the Skycourt towers, with 2,300 apartments, opened more than six months ago.

Cars must make a U-turn instead of coming in from the left, which residents say has created a hazard.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said it worked with DPG to erect the concrete barriers, which keep traffic flowing one way. But they have already been moved aside to allow cars through.

"People are going the wrong way," said Haseeb Shaikh, a resident. "The barrier has been removed from the last lane so cars are squeezing in and out from one lane."

At night it is hard to see the barriers, which residents approach at speed, because of the lack of lights. "I have counted and seen the carnage from four terrible accidents there in the last six months," said Mr Shaikh, 36.

Maitha bin Adai, chief executive of the RTA's Traffic Regulatory Authority, said: "This action [of installing a barrier] was taken as a temporary solution until the developer completed all the procedures to make the signal operating."

It is unknown when DPG will switch on the lights.

"It's chaos at night," said Michelle Amarnath, 38, another resident.

"It's pitch dark by 8pm. I've not seen any accidents but my husband, who drives back at night, has seen some."

The RTA said the onus was on the master developer to install the traffic signals, which have to be approved by the authority.

Once the signals and lights are operating to the RTA's satisfaction, it will take over maintenance and operations.

DPG did not respond to requests for comment.

This article has been corrected since it was published. The developer of Dubailand is Dubai Property Group, not Dubai Holding.