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More Affordable Homes as Abu Dhabi Targets Illegal Partitions

City plans affordable options and legal shared rentals to curb unsafe villa partitions

  • Publish date: Wednesday، 23 July 2025 Reading time: 1 min read
More Affordable Homes as Abu Dhabi Targets Illegal Partitions

Authorities in Abu Dhabi are ramping up efforts to tackle the issue of illegally partitioned villas — and no, it’s not just about evictions. They’re actually looking at long-term, realistic housing fixes too.

Here’s what’s happening:

Why All Eyes Are on Villa Partitions

Following Dubai’s recent crackdown, Abu Dhabi has started inspecting older villas and flats where tenants are splitting rooms and sharing space without proper contracts. Think: multiple families in one villa, with makeshift walls and hush-hush rent deals.

That’s not gonna fly anymore. The Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) is stepping in, calling for official tenancy contracts and cracking down on shady sublets.

But It’s Not Just About Kicking People Out

Instead of going full hardline, Abu Dhabi’s taking a more balanced approach. The city is working with developers to boost real affordable housing options, including worker accommodations and budget-friendly units under the Value Housing Programme.

They're even considering turning older buildings into shared units — legally — as long as they meet safety and regulation standards.

What’s the End Goal?

With Abu Dhabi’s population expected to boom by 2040, the city’s planning ahead. The goal: safe, formal housing that fits different income levels, not just new shiny apartments for the wealthy.

Landlords and tenants are being reminded: register those leases. Campaigns like “Your home, your responsibility” are making the rounds, and skipping formalities could cost you — with fines and suspended tenancy services.

Bottom Line

Abu Dhabi’s not just cracking down — it’s building up. With inspections, awareness drives, and a push for legal shared housing, the city’s trying to phase out illegal villa partitions without leaving low-income residents stranded.

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