A spate of fires in high-rises put the spotlight on what balconies are exposed, and home to.
Sure, the balcony offers a view, fresh air and a smoking zone, but as various Dubai government agencies have pointed out, it can also be a fire hazard.
But if you thought dust was the biggest nuisance on and from your balcony, think again.
Items may originate from the apartments above, as residents, deliberately or not, let stuff slip over the balcony rails.
"We found the housemaid of our fellow neighbour who was trying to escape, but landed on our balcony as her rope was not strong enough to land her further down," says Emirates 24|7 reader Faraz Ahmed, who by far dominates the ‘most bizarre’ category.
Sadly for the maid, Faraz kindly returned the lady to where she had come from.
Living creatures seem to be a common feature on balconies.
Several readers reported to have found different species of birds lying helplessly on their terrace.
"A falcon once landed on my balcony," writes Hassan Anwar.
"My maid was going to hang clothes outside and that's when she noticed the huge bird. When I got home I saw a huge hungry/thirsty falcon on my balcony."
The bird found a welcome home, as Hassan rushed it to the nearest pet store to collect the necessary falcon hand tools and some meat. It was not for another two weeks until the bird returned home.
"I noticed a huge ring with a number on its leg. I wrote down the number and called the police; they told me to call the Falcon Hospital and they would help me with finding the owner.
“I kept the bird for two weeks till I found the owner and gave it back. I miss the bird so much sometimes, I wish I didn't return it," Hassan says.
An Indian green parrot, an injured unknown bird and a bird egg are among the collections of other residents.
Less surprising but nonetheless worrying are cigarette butts. "I always find cigarettes on my balcony that people throw from their balconies above us," writes Zainab Rehman.
Cigarette butts have been said to be the cause of many residential fires, as the burning cigarette remains are thrown off the balcony and land flammable items stored on balconies.
Although it has been emphasised time and again that cigarette butts can cause great danger when thrown off the balcony, butts are found on many balconies and it proves difficult to trace the rightful owner. These items are rather found than lost.
Finally, there is the category called trash. Although this may seem straightforward, when it is the trash of a stranger landing on your balcony, some items may attract your attention.
"Once my wife found an undergarment and she wondered how careless people are,” wrote Faisal Mughal.
Equally shocking are used pregnancy tests.
"The test was negative," quipped the reader who sent that selection in.
"If I find something valuable, I expose it clearly on my balcony for a couple of days. If nobody comes to claim the item I dispose of it," says Maria Martin, a British resident living in a Dubai high rise.
"Nobody has ever come to pick things up," she adds.