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No compensation to traders hit by metro construction work

DUBAI — The murmurs among some traders of certain areas in Dubai hinting at compensation for ‘loss of business’ as a result of the construction work of Dubai Metro's underground stations, will not be considered, a Metro official told Khaleej Times recently. According to Abdul Majid Al Khaja, Director of Metro Department of Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA), 'the question of compensation does not arise. It’s not done here this way.”

By Zaigham Ali Mirza

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Published: Sun 30 Apr 2006, 10:48 AM

Last updated: Mon 13 Nov 2023, 4:12 PM

Some of the owners of commercial outlets at locations (Rigga in particular) where construction for the metro stations is under way said recently that the activity will have a considerable impact on their business and it would be appropriated if they were compensated for the same.

“The rents have been skyrocketing. And if under these circumstances our sale goes down, say due to inconvenience to our customers, we would be nowhere,” said the owner of a textiles outlet in Rigga. He said there were other shops affected by the activity, and some of the traders were of the opinion that something should be done to protect their interests.


Responding to a query on the issue, Al Khaja said: “The system of compensation works both ways. In Dubai, the owner(s) of an under-construction building are not penalised or asked to compensate the concerned department for whatever public utilities are affected or damaged due to the works.”

Elaborating further on the issue, Al Khaja noted that the business establishments whose owners feel negatively affected by the construction works of the metro today will benefit the most tomorrow in terms of appreciation in the areas commercial value.

He, however, sought to quell popular misconception that the construction work for metro stations will disrupt traffic and commercial activity in its vicinity.

“The work on the station in Rigga, for instance, is limited to the two rows of barrier between the road, and the footpath is and will remain intact throughout the construction period,” he explained.

Al Khaja noted that the junction near BurJuman will be converted into a major roundabout and the authority will ensure the capacity of the existing infrastructure is not compromised on. He said motorists would be able to bypass the roundabout if they wished by using the Al Seef road from another junction (where Strand Cinema once stood).

Motorists would be the first to see the signs of the beginning of the project's execution — the diversion of roadways in the vicinity of the sites. Al Khaja revealed that services such as electricity, water, drainage, and telecommunications, are already being relocated at the 320-metre Rigga work site. The diversions at BurJuman, he said, would be in place by July 2006.

The 10-metre corridor for the metro’s viaduct, running along the Shaikh Zayed Road will save the city a lot of inconvenience.

Al Khaja said that the corridor was reserved for the metro way back in the 90s and has been kept free of any service lines. Responding to a query he said that the distance between the highway (Shaikh Zayed Road) and the towers along the road is wide enough not to disrupt construction work on any upcoming buildings in the area.


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