DUBAI // Hundreds of dilapidated buildings in Dubai are being torn down because they are a magnet for crime, a security risk and a threat to health and safety.
The municipality has demolished 145 in the past three months and will begin destroying 400 more in coming weeks.
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The rundown properties are a cover for crime ranging from drug and substance abuse to sexual assault, violence and murder, police and municipality officials say.
"In cooperation with Dubai Police, we found these locations were being used for criminal activity," said Jaber Ahmed Abdullah Al Ali, the acting head of the municipality's Building Inspection section.
"In some buildings we found that murders took place, illegal substances such as alcohol were hidden and criminals used them as hiding places."
Colonel Jamal Al Jallaf, the deputy director general of Crime Monitoring Affairs at Dubai Police, said abandoned buildings posed a security concern for several reasons.
"These houses are, in many cases, used for activities such as storing illegal products, fights between teenagers or housing for illegals," he said.
Police also say teenagers gather in abandoned buildings to use drugs or inhale butane, and there have been cases of physical and sexual abuse.
"That is why we always seek to eliminate these houses and are working closely with the municipality on the issue," Col Al Jallaf said.
When police patrols spot an abandoned house they notify the municipality, which sends registered letters to the owners giving them a month to institute repairs.
The municipality also advertises in newspapers two weeks before demolition, calling for action to be taken. If the owners fail to act by the deadline, demolition engineers move in.
Owners must pay the cost of the demolition and 20 per cent of the administrative expenses.
The cost of demolition is measured per square foot and depends on location. If the owners fail to pay for the cost of demolition, development of the land is frozen and other businesses they own may also be affected.
Those whose buildings are demolished can rebuild on the land, provided strict guidelines are followed.
"Many structures were left for up to three years without any maintenance," Mr Al Ali said. "Owners must take responsibility for their properties and maintain them regularly and make sure to lock them well."
He said the most common reason for abandonment was a lack of responsibility, and some property had been the subject of court cases related to inheritance claims.
"You have to also consider what type of negative image this is for the city, such buildings that are a health hazard and home to criminal activity," he said.
Mr Al Ali said he hoped action taken by the municipality would "scare" the remaining building owners into action. "In a few days' time, we will send the next batch of warnings to the owners of the remaining buildings left abandoned. If we do not get a response we will again begin demolishing," he said.
Craig Plumb, the head of research for the Middle East and North Africa at the property services company Jones Lang LaSalle, said demolitions were part of the cycle of life in the property market.
"If you look at property markets in other mature cities like London and Hong Kong, it is a common recycling process," he said. "It is normal that as Dubai grows, some buildings will reach the end of their lifespan.
"These buildings have obviously been in a state of disrepair for a long time and the municipality has been in negotiation with building owners who should be using the opportunity to improve and refurbish the land. It is reasonable for the government to say the buildings are an eyesore and a potential hazard.
"It is also an opportunity for popular areas such as Bur Dubai and Deira to have new buildings. It helps to keep the city as a whole vibrant."
Members of the public can report abandoned buildings to the municipality by calling 800900.
melshoush@thenational.ae
* With additional reporting by Wafa Issa
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Hidden killer
Sepsis arises when the body tries to fight an infection but damages its own tissue and organs in the process.
The World Health Organisation estimates it affects about 30 million people each year and that about six million die.
Of those about three million are newborns and 1.2 are young children.
Patients with septic shock must often have limbs amputated if clots in their limbs prevent blood flow, causing the limbs to die.
Campaigners say the condition is often diagnosed far too late by medical professionals and that many patients wait too long to seek treatment, confusing the symptoms with flu.
The Ashes
Results
First Test, Brisbane: Australia won by 10 wickets
Second Test, Adelaide: Australia won by 120 runs
Third Test, Perth: Australia won by an innings and 41 runs
Fourth Test: Melbourne: Drawn
Fifth Test: Australia won by an innings and 123 runs
Specs
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Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Emirates exiles
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Jonny Macdonald
Abu Dhabi-born and raised, the current Jebel Ali Dragons assistant coach was selected to play for Scotland at the Hong Kong Sevens in 2011.
Jordan Onojaife
Having started rugby by chance when the Jumeirah College team were short of players, he later won the World Under 20 Championship with England.
Devante Onojaife
Followed older brother Jordan into England age-group rugby, as well as the pro game at Northampton Saints, but recently switched allegiance to Scotland.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
WHAT ARE NFTs?
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are tokens that represent ownership of unique items. They allow the tokenisation of things such as art, collectibles and even real estate.
An NFT can have only one official owner at one time. And since they're minted and secured on the Ethereum blockchain, no one can modify the record of ownership, not even copy-paste it into a new one.
This means NFTs are not interchangeable and cannot be exchanged with other items. In contrast, fungible items, such as fiat currencies, can be exchanged because their value defines them rather than their unique properties.
The specs: 2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE
Price, base / as tested: Dh263,235 / Dh420,000
Engine: 3.0-litre supercharged V6
Power 375hp @ 6,500rpm
Torque: 450Nm @ 3,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.4L / 100kms
Trolls World Tour
Directed by: Walt Dohrn, David Smith
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Rating: 4 stars
Ipaf in numbers
Established: 2008
Prize money: $50,000 (Dh183,650) for winners and $10,000 for those on the shortlist.
Winning novels: 13
Shortlisted novels: 66
Longlisted novels: 111
Total number of novels submitted: 1,780
Novels translated internationally: 66
Types of fraud
Phishing: Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
Smishing: The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
Vishing: The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
SIM swap: Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
Identity theft: Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
Prize scams: Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
* Nada El Sawy
DAY%20ONE%20RESULT
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match info
Manchester United 3 (Martial 7', 44', 74')
Sheffield United 0
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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Draw
Quarter-finals
Real Madrid (ESP) or Manchester City (ENG) v Juventus (ITA) or Lyon (FRA)
RB Leipzig (GER) v Atletico Madrid (ESP)
Barcelona (ESP) or Napoli (ITA) v Bayern Munich (GER) or Chelsea (ENG)
Atalanta (ITA) v Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
Ties to be played August 12-15 in Lisbon
The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: seven-speed PDK dual clutch automatic
Power: 375bhp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh332,800
On sale: now