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28 March 2024

Tamweel Tower tenants stripped off alternative accommodation

Dubai firefighters and civil defence personnel at the scene of the fire. Photos by Majorie van Leijen

Published
By Majorie van Leijen

Tenants of Tamweel Tower will not be reimbursed the Dh10,000 they were required to pay in advance for the alternative accommodation.
 
Tenants who lived in Tamweel Tower, the 34-floor residential building in Jumeirah Lakes Towers that partly went up in flames on November 18 this year, have been informed that the one month of accommodation that was provided to them will not be reimbursed.
 
"The temporary accommodation of 30 days as per the insurance policy is for owners staying in the apartment. Tamweel is fighting on our behalf to include the tenants as well. Owners who are releasing the tenants based on this 30 days accommodation period are requested to take the above into consideration," was informed in an email from Tamweel Owners Association to the residents of Tamweel Tower today.
 
On Monday November 19 all residents of Tamweel Tower received an email from Tamweel, stating: "As you are aware, the Owners' Association has obtained Property All Risks cover from Arab Orient Insurance Co. This cover includes reimbursement for cost of alternative accommodation, subject to a maximum of AED 1,485,520 for all residents together.
 
As hundreds of owners and landlords were left homeless after the fire they flocked into the hotel apartments provided to them. To their surprise an initial payment for the accommodation -Dh10,000- had to come from their pockets, which meant a heavy financial burden for some.
 
However, as an urgent process of reimbursement was promised residents felt comfortable reaching out to their last resources, using credit card, loan or money put aside for other purposes.
 
"We have not received that money until today," says a furious tenant. "And now we heard that we will not be reimbursed at all. We are on our own as tenants."
 
According to the same tenant the insurance company has clearly mentioned that the accommodation would come to both tenants and owners in the email, which may be proof of a breach of law.
 
Indeed, the previous email states: "The apartment owners and / or tenants will have to settle the bill with the respective hotels and claim reimbursement through SNS along with the supporting documents."
 
In addition, all residents –tenants included- received instructions about the accommodation per SMS on the same day. In this SMS it is mentioned: "You will be required to pay AED 10,000 at check in for the apartment and do retain the receipt for reimbursement of the insurance amount."
 
At this point no comments on the matter have been retrieved from the parties involved by this website.
 
On the process of reimbursement Tamweel Owners Association informed in the email:
 
"These bills will be collected after the insurance come with the report and accepts the damages of Tamweel Tower. That is the legal process. Payment of the same will be done after it is processed by the insurance company."