Noise pollution keeping JBR residents awake

It is 10.45pm and a Harley Davidson Sportster revs its engine before thundering down the road with a voluminous roar that few wouldn’t envy.

However, for the hundreds who reside at Jumeirah Beach Residence in Dubai, the hog’s throaty growl marks yet another sleepless night thanks to the noise in the area, most specifically down that The Walk.

The much sought after residential district has a blog for inhabitants to take their concerns to the online forum and hash out a solution as a united front.

Follow the blog and the endless complaints of disturbing night prowlers is clear, with no resolution in sight.

Said one community member, NadJBR: “The residents mainly get noise and pollution from motorbikes and cars driving by 20 times to show-off their wheels.”

Numerous other complaints similar to the blogger’s plight emerged online and in person when Emirates 24|7 headed down to the area to listen in.

Cars zipped by, music boomed from rolled down windows, as horns blared – either to get the traffic to move faster or to impress.

“I live in the Amwaj residential block, paying a premium to get a view that overlooks the sea. But little did I know that it would become the bane of my existence with noise levels from reaching such a high pitch that sometimes it even drowns out the TV,” said Ashraf R, a JBR inhabitant since 2008.

He added: “It is reasonable to say that JBR is a community-based neighbourhood, meaning people are going to throng here by the dozens to stroll down The Walk. But surely it can be turned into a simple pedestrian-only stretch, rather than having cars gunning down the road?”

Footing a solution

In fact, blog on and many other community members reiterate Ashraf’s suggestion of turning The Walk into a foot traffic only zone post-10pm.

Another blogger, who goes by the name HotChilliPepper said: “I have been living in JBR since 2007 and overlook The Walk. My apartment is at a high level but I still suffer from the noise. Rimal is the worse area affected, as any activity there last at least until 2am. Imagine how babies, sick and old people feel? And this is not counting those people working early in the morning.

 “The issue gets worse on weekends.”

Contact the Dubai Municipality and a source there says it is not a problem they handle, but one that should be tackled by the traffic police.

Approaching the authorities in question has also been attempted, with HotChilliPepper saying: “When we contacted the police, they said it was a common complaint from all residents and a solution is difficult to achieve.

“Common sense should prevail. This is a residential area and the same rules as in other parts of Dubai should prevail.”

“Imagine that the first access is only for the Le Meridien area. The second access should exist for the guests at The Ritz Carlton. The third access should be for Al Fattan and Hilton hotels. The fifth and sixth are for the other hotels, which include Soiftel, Movenpick and The Sheraton. Cars could go to the roundabout and back but not cruise in the Walk. This would reduce pollution as a whole,” one blogger says.

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