UAE legal Q&As: What can be done about noise from adjacent football pitch?

Residents in Dubai complain about a football pitch that was built after they moved into their home and another reader asks about helping a friend who is in jail over debt.

My wife and I moved into our Dubai apartment four years ago after choosing it because it was perfectly located for our jobs. At first it was great but, after six months, the owners (a major property developer) built a huge, enclosed football pitch in the communal area, complete with floodlights. We are now in a situation where the noise is constant, from 5pm to 9pm every working day, and all day until 10pm on Thursday and Friday. The pitch is within a few metres of all the apartment blocks that surround it and the buildings amplify the sound. Even with all our windows closed, we have to turn the television to almost full volume to hear it properly over the cheering and clapping. The lights are so bright they shine through our window blinds. I have approached property management many times and have written to them but they refuse to take action. We also asked for another apartment on the same development, with no success. Do we have any legal recourse to have this blight removed, or sue for breach of contract? Our contract says that we are assured peace and quiet. We’d rather not sue because we like the area otherwise and don’t particularly want to move.

There is no kind of law suit that can be filed in this case as the noise you are describing is the result of a service provided by the developer at a facility outside of your building, and not owned by your landlord. Residents in the area are entitled to use this public service. If there are terms and conditions in your contract to ensure a quiet atmosphere, they will no doubt refer to maintenance works that must be carried out at respectable times so as not to disturb anyone. Your only recourse, aside from trying to end your contract early and moving, would be to file a noise pollution complaint with Dubai Municipality, which will assess whether decibel levels are above normal levels. Contact 04 2064859 or via email: [e-mail].

A friend is in a Dubai jail right now after he was arrested for not paying his Dh80,000 loan to Dubai Islamic Bank. He had not paid for almost six months as he lost his job. I really want to help him so is there any way I could help out? Could I help pay back the loan amount even though I’m not the one that took the loan?

Yes, of course. You can simply approach the bank and offer to pay the amount, or you can simply pay in court or at public prosecution and then obtain an authenticated letter to say you have paid the amount. The letter can then be submitted to court to get your friend out of jail.

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