Health hazard abandoned buildings earmarked for demolition in Abu Dhabi

More than 40 abandoned buildings deemed a blight on the Abu Dhabi landscape - and a potential health hazard - have been earmarked for demolition.

Abu Dhabi City Municipality has already started the process of tearing down the 44 eyesore properties, with work underway to remove the rest.

The municipality has said that they are among a total of 90 buildings across the capital, including 10 multi-level buildings, 66 villas, 10 government buildings and 4 private buildings in Al Mina, Al Karama, Al Mushrif and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Road, which have been identified as abandoned as part of an ongoing campaign to enhance the look of the emirate.

The municipality is calling on owners of abandoned buildings to seek permits for the demolition or rehabilitation of the problem properties as soon as possible.

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An Abu Dhabi City Municipality statement said: “The abandoned buildings do not reflect the aesthetic view of Abu Dhabi city, and fall short of the security, safety and public health standards.

“They also constitute a risk to the lives and safety of community members and occupants and have a negative impact from a social perspective on the district and other surrounding homes.”

The Municipality has warned owners they could face prosecution if they don't comply with orders to improve or demolish buildings.

33 offences were issued under the abandoned property article law and a further 11 under the failure to carry out necessary maintenance to maintain the safety of the building and public view this year.

Buildings targeted under the removal campaign include those abandoned for prolonged periods and which constitute an eyesore and have become a public burden due to issues such as accumulated dust and waste, growth of weeds and the breeding of insects and rodents.

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The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg

Anxiety and work stress major factors

Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.

A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.

Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.

One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.

It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."

Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.

“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi.

“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."

Daniel Bardsley

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