SECURITY BEEFED UP AFTER BRAWLS AT COMPLEX

A tense atmosphere hung in the air at Living Legends at the weekend, with residents eager to see the end of a stand-off between construction contractors and security staff employed by the developer.

Owners of about 200 villas there have had problems with access to newly built villas.

Master developer Tanmiyat Global has boosted security at the complex – with close to 60 guards on site at any one time – after fights between workers from contracting company Delta Emirates and security staff.

It is also installing licence plate readers from Sunday to bar access to unauthorised vehicles. But it is not enough for residents such as Frederic Paille.

“I don’t feel safe at all,” he said. “I’ve seen men climbing over walls to get to villas. We have real concerns about security.

“There was a delay getting water and electricity, and the street lighting is poor. There is construction material everywhere and the streets have not been cleaned properly.

“I am going on vacation, so a neighbour will watch my villa while I’m away.”

Yasir Fareed, customer relationship manager at Tanmiyat, said the issues put new owners in unnecessary conflict with his company, but they are doing all they can. “We have called the police – but the new owners were just told to lodge a complaint with the police station.

“They could see about 300 to 400 labourers surrounding the villas. Then the threats against owners increased. One woman was surrounded by nearly 200 labourers, it was intimidating and she was panicking.”

Delta Emirates said that almost all its labourers will be off-site this week.