Thursday, Mar 13, 2014
Dubai: Residents have resorted to self-medication to be able to sleep due to the constant construction taking place at night.
Dr Salem Bastaki, an Emirati resident of Palm Jumeirah, has been unable to sleep at night for five months due to construction work late into the night.
“I was unable to sleep so I went to a doctor who prescribed sleeping tablets. I take them on Thursday night, because although I do not want the side effects to affect me on weekdays, I need to rest,” he said.
Dubai Municipality has set the limit for construction work during the day, from 7am to 8pm, at 55 decibels. The noise limit can be compared to everyday noises, as an average bird call is recorded at 44 decibels, while a large electrical transformer is at 50 decibels.
However, the rule does not apply to free zones, such as Palm Jumeirah, and it is the responsibility of the developer to have their own set of regulations.
“The noise goes on constantly for seven days a week, and although it does not affect me during the day while I am at work, I do not understand how they have the permission to construct at night,” said Bastaki.
Due to the constant noise, Bastaki’s wife now suffers from fatigue. Bastaki added that he intends to continue taking the sleeping pills until the project is completed, even though that may take at least another five months.
“I have no other alternative than the sleeping pills. I need to be alert during the week, so that means I should at least have one night’s sleep - even if it is induced by pills,” he said.
Other residents across Dubai have also taken action against the noise level caused by night-time construction.
“It has been impossible to get some peace and quiet so I decided to invest in a good pair of headsets that were designed to block out sound. [The headset] is so strong that I have trouble hearing my alarm clock or the phone ringing, so I use it only at the weekend when I do not expect any important phone calls from work,” said Jamal M., who lives at Al Barsha 1.
A senior official from Dubai Municipality told Gulf News on Wednesday that construction companies can request permits to carry out their work at night up till the early hours of the morning as long as they are below the decibel range.
“In the last year, we have not granted permits to companies that want to construct in areas that have many surrounding buildings. We do not want to disturb the neighbours nearby, and now grant permits to construction sites that are away from the city,” said Marwan Mohammad, Head of Engineering Supervision Section, Building Department, Dubai Municipality.
By Mariam M. Al Serkal Senior Reporter
Gulf News 2014. All rights reserved.
