Dubai's Battle Against Overcrowded Housing

Healthier Living in Dubai: Why Overcrowded Housing is Dangerous?

Dubai's city administration has taken significant steps to tackle illegal partitions and overcrowded housing, which has been welcomed by healthcare professionals. The aim is not just to enforce housing regulations but also to reduce public health risks. Overcrowding not only causes discomfort but can also lead to severe physical and mental health issues.

Physical Health: Respiratory and Skin Issues in Everyday Life

In dwellings where many people share a single room, respiratory infections like flu, bronchitis, or even tuberculosis are common. Poor ventilation increases humidity, promoting mold and bacterial growth. Existing diseases like asthma or diabetes can worsen in such environments.

During the summer months, overheating raises the risk of dehydration, fainting, and heatstroke in unventilated rooms. Many residents drink less to avoid frequent bathroom trips, exposing themselves to even greater risk.

Skin problems have also become more common: cramped environments, shared hygiene tools, and wet floors create ideal conditions for various infections. Common complaints include fungal skin diseases, bacterial infections like impetigo, and bedbug bites.

Mental Health: Without Peace, There's No Recovery

Mental health is also significantly affected by overcrowding. Lack of personal space, constant noise, and absence of privacy can cause stress, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Residents often feel tense, exhausted, and emotionally unstable. Some report that their home no longer feels like a refuge, and they cannot fully relax.

Healthier Environment, Fewer Illnesses

Doctors argue that reducing overcrowding not only improves individual quality of life but also eases the burden on the healthcare system. Prevention is crucial here: if adequate space, ventilation, and hygiene are available, the incidence of infections and chronic diseases significantly diminishes.

Dubai's municipal efforts are thus about more than enforcing laws – they are about protecting people's health. Measures aim to ensure that every resident has a safe, livable environment where physical and mental well-being is a fundamental requirement, not a luxury.

(The article is based on warnings from Dubai doctors.)