ABU DHABI // The quality of workers’ accommodation in Abu Dhabi has vastly improved, say those living in them.
Dining, health, hygiene and sanitation have been upgraded at the Industrial City Abu Dhabi, and residents say they can hardly fault the centre.
In years gone by, labourers in the Icad camp in Mussaffah complained about food and hygiene.
“All facilities are good inside the camp and more, including a movie theatre and markets, are being constructed inside the Icad,” says Yaqoob Ali, a Bangladeshi resident who shares a dormitory with 10 others at Icad.
“Of late, I don’t find any need for new improvements inside the camp. Already all things are in place and new facilities are regularly being added.”
Residents at Al Mafraq Workers City 1 and 2 in Al Mafraq and Workers Village in Mussaffah say that while the camps had shown improvement in overall facilities, some still needed to improve the quality of food.
But those living in Icad have no complaints.
The centre houses about 26,000 people and was built four years ago as a “superior destination” for workers in Abu Dhabi.
It features supermarkets, public transport, money-exchange houses, restaurants, parks and vending machines. A cinema is under construction.
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Read part one of the series: A look inside UAE labour accommodation living conditions
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“Everything is good now and we are having no problem in the camp,” says electrician Mukhlis Mian, another Bangladeshi.
“In the evening we sit in the park, which is beautifully maintained. It’s a good place to unwind and we regularly go there.”
Earlier complaints by residents about the quality of food seemed to have been addressed.
“Food quality is good and I eat at the mess,” Mr Mian says.
Pakistani Ashfaq Ahmed says: “I have lived here for five years and also eat inside the camp, but I don’t have any problem.
“Before, there was some issues of improper food preparation inside the camp, like the bread wasn’t cooked properly. But now facilities have been upgraded, and I don’t hear anything from others either.”
The state news agency Wam reported in 2013 that Abu Dhabi had invested about Dh20 billion in 23 workers’ “cities”, which could house 385,000 people.
The Higher Corporation for Specialised Economic Zones (ZonesCorp) website says: “Within just 10 years, ZonesCorp has helped to shape Abu Dhabi’s industrial landscape through the development of six world-class, fully integrated industrial zones.”
The six zones are Icad 1, 2 and 3, Al Ain Industrial Cities 1 and 2, and Workers’ Residential Cities – all of which are in Abu Dhabi.
Zones planned include Icad 4, on the west side of Mussaffah industrial city, and Icad 5, at an unannounced location.
One Icad resident, Indian steel fixer Shakeer Ali, says there are plenty of facilities but it is expensive to live there.
Mr Ali says that goods and services inside the labour camps should be subsidised so that all workers can afford them.
He says tea and a 500ml bottle of water in the city cost Dh1 each – the same price as is charged in Icad.
“But those in the city earn Dh5,000 to Dh10,000 a month, while workers earn Dh600 to Dh1,000 a month,” Mr Ali says.
He says the exchange houses inside the camp do not give the best rates and workers generally go to the city to transfer money.
These things should be monitored to further improve services if authorities want to support workers, he says.
ZonesCorp and the Ministry of Labour did not comment.
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More coverage on this topic:
■ Expat workers' sacrifice for life outside UAE labour camps
■ Despite difficult conditions, labourers feel better of in UAE
■ Purchasing power: strong dirham helps South Asian expats back home
More from 22 March:
■ Special report: A look inside UAE labour accommodation living conditions
■ Life on Saadiyat: catering staff try to please different palates
■ Passport retention by UAE companies less common
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About this package:
The UAE has signed up to nine International Labour Organisation conventions to protect workers’ rights, and in 2006 was the first country in the region to enact a comprehensive anti-human trafficking law. These conventions spurred the Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) to improve the quality of life for 7,000 employees living in workers villages on Saadiyat island. While most workers say they are satisfied with life in Saadiyat Accommodation Village, many have voiced concern about the poor taste of the food. Despite criticism, the purchasing power of the dirham in Southest Asian countries remains a major factor in attracting expatriates to the UAE. Similarly, concerns over passport retention have decreased as the practice has become less common in the UAE.
anwar@thenational.ae
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Director: James Cameron
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ICC T20 Rankings
1. India - 270 ranking points
2. England - 265 points
3. Pakistan - 261 points
4. South Africa - 253 points
5. Australia - 251 points
6. New Zealand - 250 points
7. West Indies - 240 points
8. Bangladesh - 233 points
9. Sri Lanka - 230 points
10. Afghanistan - 226 points
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Favourite parkour spot in Dubai: Residence towers in Jumeirah Beach Residence
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Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
The bio
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
