Dubai

I have been living in the Al Nahda 2 area in Dubai for five years now, but I haven’t seen any progress in municipality work for landscaping on the sides of the roads, on service roads or small roundabouts in the area. While driving towards Al Nahda Pond Park, you can see that there is no greenery anywhere. And when you are driving towards Al Qusais Industrial area, you can only see a jungle of concrete and cars all around; nothing else.

In the past few years. I have seen that the southern parts of the city that were developed even after Al Nahda and Al Qusais are in a better condition than here. Every day while coming home after work, when I enter the Al Nahda area,I feel a bit sad.

Additionally, I don’t understand why there is only one park for the entire community. Whenever I step out of my house, I can either see cars on the road or sand around the buildings, as is shown in the pictures. I cannot go for a walk or step out with my family for a picnic in the park.

As far as other residential areas in Dubai are concerned, they are developed properly. The rents in these areas are similar to mine. Old tenants in my area are asked to pay an extra five per cent with every renewal. Then why is our community not developed? I love to visit my friends in another newly developed community. There are trees around and the place looks like home. But, the moment I am about to reach home, I feel saddened.

Some other things that bother me is that there is no pedestrian crossing or bridges on the main road in this area. Every day hundreds of people run across the road to get to the other side in order to shop. Many a times I have escaped from an accident when someone suddenly crosses the road in front of my car.

Many taxi drivers have a bad habit of making a sudden stop to pick up or drop passengers on the main road itself. They don’t use the bus stops or the designated areas. Both these scenarios are extremely dangerous. The authorities need to be reminded about this so they can take action.

Regardless of everything, I still have hope that our community will be green someday and there will be more parks for us to go jogging, take a walk with the family or sit with our elders. I hope the authorities take note and develop the area in the next five years or so.

The reader is a sales manager based in Dubai.

Editor’s note: The reader’s complaint was raised with the Dubai Municipality. However, despite repeated reminders, they did not respond.

Be a community reporter. Tell us what is happening in your community. Send us your videos and pictures at readers@gulfnews.com