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28 March 2024

Bur Dubai, Karama, Nahda: Where do the children play?

Published
By Sneha May Francis

Finding an affordable apartment is one thing, but getting one that offers enough facilities for every family member is another.

Residents in Al Nahda along the Dubai-Sharjah border complain that most buildings there do not provide any facilities for their children’s recreation.

“Yes, we have the standard swimming pool, gym, Jacuzzi and sauna, but nothing for the kids,” said Neelima, who has been living in the area for the last two years.

“We allow the children to either play in the corridors or in the main reception area. It’s not ideal and does inconvenience other residents, but we don’t have a choice.”

The proximity to the Al Nahda pond park is what attracted many families to the area, but with Dubai weather playing spoilsport for a good part of the year, indoor play areas are in demand.

Another resident in the same building, Peter, complained that kids are often found running around the parking lot.

“It’s very dangerous. Parking areas are not for children to play. But if you tell their parents, they say they will monitor them.”

Their building management has even posted notices in the main reception area warning parents against allowing their children to run around in the parking lot.

It’s not just their building, you’d find children in many apartments using parking lots and main reception halls to entertain children.

“I always find nannies and toddlers in the main reception area. Kids are either running around or playing with their toys. At one time it even started looking like a play area,” added Sija, who lives in Muhasinah.

Another parent reasoned that using alternative spaces was unavoidable because children cannot be holed up within the apartments for too long.

“They are kids. They need to go out and play. They can’t be holed up in their apartments,” she argued.

“The building owners must take an effort in converting one area exclusively for children.

“You can’t always take them to the mall play area, which is so crowded over the weekends.”

A quick call to a few real estate agents in the area proved that finding an apartment that offered a play area wasn’t easy.

“We can offer you a 2BHK but there is no children’s play area,” confirmed an agent.

The issue isn’t drastically different in other residential areas like Bur Dubai and Karama, where finding affordable accommodation supersedes issues like play areas for children.