The Emirate of Sharjah has cleared an entire suburb of single men, most of whom were reportedly living in “unsafe” and “overcrowded” villas. Bachelors and labourers have been the victims of a crackdown by authorities on “unruly behaviour” and excessive noise, according to reports.

Local news reports suggest that many of the single men were Asian and living in old and “uninhabitable” villas. Gulf states are often accused of enforcing racist policies which discriminate against their huge, mainly Asian, migrant populations. It is not uncommon for malls to not allow single men entry, a policy which disproportionately affects foreign workers who leave their families in their home countries to work in the region.

The Samnan suburb in Sharjah is now apparently completely free of single men. Local residents reportedly expressed their support of the decision, with many describing the bachelors and labourers as being a nuisance, and even dangerous.

“Previously, in the evening and on weekends, this area would have been flooded with noisy workers with their unruly behaviour,” one resident said, according to UAE publication The National.

“It has been really quiet here; my children can play on the street without fear from workers who used to live in many of the villas near us,” another said.

Labourers are only allowed to reside in the industrial areas of the Emirate, and anyone found violating this rule will be relocated.