UMM AL QUWAIN // Tenants in Umm Al Quwain say they are having to curb spending on luxuries as their rents keep increasing every year.
Despite this, they still say property is much cheaper there than other emirates.
Shaima Mohammad, 35, an Iraqi history teacher, had lived in UAQ for 25 years.
She said she a few years ago she lived in a three-bedroom house that cost her Dh9,000 per year.
“Last year, the rental price rose to Dh20,000, and this year it rose to Dh35,000,” she said.
So, she has downsized to a one-bedroom apartment that costs her Dh12,000 per year.
“I took a special price because the owner is my friend, but its original price is Dh18,000,” Ms Mohammad said.
As well as rent, the high costs of electricity and water bills is also having an affect on her finances.
“In order to meet the basic needs for living, especially the education of my son, I have had to cut back on my medical treatments for diabetes and high blood pressure.”
Amaal Abdulhaq Al Terdiri, 27, is a Sudanese housewife who moved to UAQ three years ago with her family from Abu Dhabi due to the rising prices of rents.
She said she pays Dh27,000 for a three-bedroom apartment, which has risen from Dh25,000 last year.
The Sudanese housewife said that the increasing prices of rents is also meaning they have to reduce spending in other areas.
“We used to travel each summer to Sudan, and because of the rise of rental costs we haven’t been home there for three years.”
She also says they only spend on necessities now, rather than luxury items.
Fasalu Pathiyarath Mannayikkal, 25, an Indian who works at an electronic shop, said: “Rising rent is my major problem because I earn a low salary of about Dh2,200 a month.
“I live with three tenants in an apartment that consists of three bedrooms that we pay Dh28,000 for. In 2013, it cost us Dh24,000.”
“I pay Dh300 a month for rent and another Dh450 on food and telephone payments and send the rest of my salary back home to my parents and brothers,” he said. “I heard that prices of rents will increase every year about 10 per cent and definitely this will affect my financial life.”
Abdulhamid Abdulrahman, 49, is an Egyptian social worker who lives in a two-bedroom apartment.
Mr. Abdulrahman said: “Last year I was paying Dh14,000 in rent and it’s now Dh17,000.
“Rising rental prices mean I no longer go to entertainment places. I have also had to postpone many of the projects I planned to do in my home country in order to meet the essential needs and send money back home to my wife, sons, and daughters, who are studying at university.”
Despite the rises, landlords inist UAQ is much cheaper than other emirates.
Nizar Shehada, 27, a Palestinian who owns a number of villas to let, said he had put rents up about 10 to 15 per cent this year.
“Most of UAQ’s residents stay in their homes because they won’t find cheaper in emirates outside UAQ,” he said.
Jaseem Ponissery, 28, an Indian IT engineer, said that he used to live in Sharjah where he paid Dh25,000 for a one-bedroom apartment.
“I moved to UAQ because it is cheaper than other emirates. Now I can afford to rent a three-bedroom villa for the same price I used to pay for my apartment in Sharjah.”
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