Increase in rat numbers has Dubai tenants reaching out for pest control
▶ Rubbish left in the street blamed as vermin usually seen only in industrial areas are found in residential blocks
Tenants across Dubai are reporting an increase in the number of rats, with some seen in the upper floors of tower blocks.
Rubbish left in the street and vegetation allowed to grow unchecked is likely to be the cause, pest control companies say.
One resident claimed neighbours deliberately left food out for rats, to the frustration of other tenants. The rodents are most commonly seen in industrial areas such as Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
But residents of Silicon Oasis, The Greens and Garhoud said they have seen more rats in their homes and streets in recent months. Experts yesterday urged the public to report sightings to their municipalities.
Minerva Elmasry, 28, an IT consultant from Egypt, moved out of her apartment in The Greens in November, halfway through her annual contract, after she found rat droppings on the floor of her flat.
“I contacted the landlord to pay for pest control but he refused,” Ms Elmasry said. “I put traps in and around the apartment but I had to go to a pest control company, which told me there were a lot of holes in the walls that the rats were getting through.”
The problem persisted and she went to another pest control company for a second treatment of her home.
“The issue continued and I wasn’t able to sleep for a month with worry,” Ms Elmasry said. “In the end I had no option but to leave the apartment.”
Dozens of residents on the community’s Facebook page shared similar experiences.
Emaar, which built The Greens more than 15 years ago, installs traps and carries out regular pest control of communal areas. But tenants are responsible for having their own flats sprayed.
In Garhoud, Lydia Kocur-Aziz, 48, moved out of her villa near Dubai International Airport after similar problems, with rats often running around the home.
“The municipality came and laid poison down to deal with the rats,” Ms Kocur-Aziz said. “The problem continued, though.
“I found out that the previous tenants had moved out because of problems with rats as well. I was only told by neighbours when we were moving out.”
She reported the issue to the management company responsible for the property, who came out several times to deal with the rats.
“I was told the rats were from all the construction work around us and they were coming on to our property to get away from it,” Ms KocurAziz said.
A resident in the desert community of Dubai Silicon Oasis said she no longer used her garden after seeing rodents scurrying around.
“There has been a huge increase in the number of rats here recently,” she said. “I was sitting out my back garden one evening when I noticed a black thing running across the wall, I went back inside and came out again 10 minutes later and saw five rats.”
She said that since then her husband had trapped and killed 27 rats in six months, and that the problem had gone until recently.
“I was outside putting the Christmas decorations up when I saw a rat sitting on a chair,” she said. “I nearly broke the glass on the door because I was running so fast to get back inside.”
She paid for a pest control company to come to her property, but claimed her neighbours are not helping.
“I actually saw neighbours feeding the rats,” she said. “People need to get real and take responsibility.” Mohamad Harb, manager of Pro Shield Pest Control in Dubai said: “A lot of places that are close to industrial areas will have vegetation around the perimeter, to which rats are attracted.
“These companies will have contracts that require annual pest control, which should take care of the matter.”
Mr Harb said that Dubai Municipality could tackle the rodent population but that tenants should take responsibility too.
“People should invest in rodent bait stations,” he said. “They are small plastic boxes that can be placed on the floor with the bait inside it.
“You also need to make sure to keep the house clean and free of garbage, because that attracts rodents,” he said.
I was outside putting the Christmas decorations up when I saw a rat sitting on a chair Dubai Silicon Oasis resident