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Crackdown on shanties in RAK

Ras Al Khaimah Municipality Director-General Mubarak Al Shamsy said the settlers were given warnings to vacate the shacks and look for decent accommodations.

He, however, noted that the municipality would be taking stringent measures to see that the settlers are evicted and the wooden houses demolished.

A senior officer from RAK Police said in order to ensure security the police are going to work hand in hand with the municipality to see that these ramshackle houses are demolished and the violators punished because they have been ignoring police warnings.

These ramshackle houses are commonly seen in several areas of Al Oraiby. This settlement was started a couple of months ago by some Asians who took to this arrangement as an easy way to beat the spiralling rents across the country.

Besides having an adverse impact on residents, such structures also affect the beauty of the emirate. “It is all because of the unchecked rise in rentals,” complained Abdullah Al Oweid, a resident of the area.

“After failing to find accommodation at reasonable rents, many Asian workers find it convenient to set up their own small houses by using tin plates and logs of wood. They build these small houses in the various neighbourhoods, causing lots of disturbance and risks to the families residing in the vicinity,” said Al Oweid.

Rahman Abdul Malik complained that the presence of so many bachelors among the family neighbourhoods is an issue that should be dealt with quickly.

“Besides, the presence of such houses does not go along with the big urban and tourism developments taking place in Ras Al Khaimah. On the other hand, a larger role should be played by the families that reside in the different neighborhoods of Ras Al Khaimah,” said Al Shuhhy.

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