Dubai Cracks Down on Unsafe Worker Housing After High-Rise Fire

Following a high-rise fire, authorities are evicting migrant workers from makeshift partitioned apartments to improve safety.

A Hidden Crisis Exposed

In late July 2025, Dubai launched an aggressive campaign against illegally partitioned and overcrowded apartments, largely occupied by low-wage migrant workers. The immediate trigger? A high-rise fire in June displaced over 3,800 residents living in makeshift, compartmentalized units—some hosting up to seven people per flat—a glaring risk to life and public safety.

Lives in the Shadows

Among those affected was Hesham, a 44-year-old Egyptian salesman, renting a "modified closet" in a two-bedroom flat converted to house nine men for $270/month. The spaces were fraught with hazards: exposed pipes, flickering lights, flimsy partitions.

Another worker, Ebony from Ghana, lived in a cramped plywood loft bed where even standing upright was a challenge. After being evicted, she and many like her were relocated to single rooms accommodating 14—or more—tenants.

Legal Mandates vs Ground Realities

By law, employers must provide housing for workers earning less than $400/month. However, informal employment circumvents these rules, leaving many without formal recourse.

Rising Rents and Growing Vulnerabilities

Dubai’s booming real estate market has priced affordable housing out of reach. With average rents for one-bedroom apartments at $1,400/month, low-income workers are pushed into substandard, high-risk housing.

 On-the-Ground Realities

A Telangana-origin worker expressed rising financial strain after being forced into legitimate housing—costing four times more. Areas like Satwa, Rigga, Karama, and Muraqqabat—densely populated and affordable—are hotspots for the crisis.

Steffen Hertog, a Gulf labor expert, warns that the crackdown is straining an already precarious community, uprooting workers without providing sustainable alternatives.

Government Response & Gaps

Dubai Municipality insists inspections are meant to ensure safety and “enhance quality of life” for tenants—but offers no clear plan for rehousing evicted workers.

Safety vs Equity: A Complex Matrix

While dismantling unsafe housing is vital, the lack of affordable alternatives raises concerns. Without minimum wage protections, unions, or a welfare safety net, evicted laborers face homelessness—even as they contribute to Dubai’s wealth and infrastructure.

Potential Pathways Ahead

• Affordable housing initiatives: With plans to build 17,000 lower-income units underway, there’s hope—but execution is key.

• Employer accountability enforcement: Even informal employment must be regulated and tied to safe cornerstones like housing.

• Legal support and awareness: Workers need access to rights information and legal aid to navigate both housing and labor issues effectively.

Conslusion

The government crackdown is a step toward ensuring urban safety—but its success depends on complementary social measures. Without them, the drive for order risks exacerbating vulnerability among the very workers keeping the city running.