News
‘Without Expo, weekends won’t be the same anymore’
Six months is a long time to get addicted to something. No wonder, Dubai residents got hooked on Expo. It served as their best getaway – more like a jaunt – especially during weekends.
With withdrawal symptoms kicking in after the curtains came down on Expo, residents will have to seek out new indulgences (read events and places) to whet their appetite for pleasure. This will be the first weekend without Expo.
We talked to a few people to know how they are planning to spend the weekend – minus the Expo. And as expected, we found them pining for Expo.
Vanshika Jashani, a school teacher and a frequent visitor to the Expo, said she used to detox from her work by visiting the world’s biggest fair. Now, with Expo gone, she will go back to the entertainment modes she resorted to before.
She says, “Weekends won’t be the same anymore. For the last six months, we never thought of looking for any sort of activity over the weekend. Expo was the one and only destination for us. But, from this week, we will again have to go to the malls or kids play area for our weekly entertainment.”
Her pensive sigh while she talked revealed how much the people of Dubai are missing Expo and sure, it’s going to take a lot of time to get used to the void.
Anuradha Prakash, another Dubai resident, said she was reeling under withdrawal symptoms after Expo drew to a close.
She said, “During Expo, we visited all live musical shows and even got to see international stars up close. Now, the weekends are going to be laidback and slow and will get over as we binge watch TV series.”
The Expo was what many dub as “once-in-a-lifetime event”.
Dubai is a hub of entertainment and has a lot to offer. We are certain it’s going to get easy as the days go by. Dubai with its vibrance will replace Expo nostalgia with fresh fun, cause the city exceeds expectations and always finds a way out to cheer up people.
News
Crackdown on Illegal paying guests: Dubai’s new shared housing law takes effect with fines up to Dh1m
Dubai’s new legislation governing shared accommodation officially came into effect on August 26. Applying across the entire emirate, including free zones and special development zones, the comprehensive framework is designed to eliminate dangerous, overcrowded, and unauthorised partition rentals while establishing formal licensing standards for communal living.
What qualifies as shared housing?
Under the law, shared housing is defined as any residential property where individuals or families occupy private designated living spaces while sharing common facilities like kitchens, bathrooms, and dining areas.
Who is permitted to rent out shared units?
The new framework strictly bans unauthorised subletting by tenants. A primary tenant can no longer rent out individual bedrooms, partitioned spaces, or bed spaces directly to roommates or third parties.
Only the following entities can legally offer shared housing:
- Registered Property Owners: Leasing spaces directly to occupants under formal contracts.
- Licensed Management Companies: Authorised operators contracted by the owner to run and lease the property.
- Licensed Operators Subletting Master Leases: Approved commercial entities leasing an entire property from the owner to sublet authorised units to tenants.
Penalties for violations
Authorities have introduced strict financial and operational consequences for non-compliance:
- Initial Fines: Dh500 up to Dh500,000, depending on the severity of the violation.
- Repeat Violations: Fines double for repeat offences committed within one year, capped at Dh1,000,000.
- Operational Sanctions: Authorities may suspend operations for up to 6 months, revoke commercial licenses, cancel permits, disconnect utilities, seize equipment, or order the direct evacuation of non-compliant properties.
Grace period & tenant protection
- Compliance deadline: Existing shared housing operators and property owners have until August 26, 2027, to obtain permits and bring their properties into full compliance.
- Protection from sudden eviction: If an operator’s permit is suspended or cancelled, authorities can grant occupants an interim stay period to secure alternative accommodation rather than facing immediate eviction.
Approved property/resident categories
The regulation permits shared accommodation across six distinct property types:
- Residential apartments
- Detached/standalone houses
- Residential complexes
- Mixed-use buildings
- Attached / adjoining houses
- Multi-storey buildings
Permitted occupant groups include families, single men, single women, university students, government personnel, and private sector corporate employees. Corporate and student housing provided directly by employers or educational institutions does not require individual tenancy contracts.
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