SINGLE EXPATS CAN’T RESIDE IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS: OFFICIALS

Expatriates living in Al Mawaleh area were rounded up by the Royal Oman Police after complaints to officials

MUSCAT: Single expatriates working in industrial areas should stay far away from residential areas, Municipal Council and Shura Members said on Tuesday.

This comes after a property in a residential area, which was being used to house single expatriates, was raided by the Muscat Municipality (MM) and other authorities for violating local laws.

“A team in coordination with Oman Public Prosecution and Royal Oman Police raided a residence for single expatriates in a residential neighbourhood in Al Mawaleh for violating Article 31 of Local Order No. 23/92, which prohibits housing of workers in residential areas,” read a statement issued by Muscat Municipality.

Shura Council member Ali bin Salim Al Jabri said, “There are social and ethical problems when a large number of single expats stay together.

“They create trouble in residential areas. For example, if they host a party or a gathering in a public space, it becomes full of expats, which creates problems for the owner of the home, especially if he has visitors coming from far-off places.

“Secondly, there are ethical problems related to the presence of expats in residential areas,” he added.

Municipal Council members stated, “It is not permissible to build complexes or buildings for workers or bachelors in residential or commercial-residential areas, and it is not permissible to build a complex that combines family housing with housing for singles.”

Salem Al Ghammari, a Municipal Council member at Muscat governorate, noted, “Some foreigners are creating problems in society. Our customs and traditions differ from theirs. Sometimes, their conduct is contrary to our societal norms. The solution is to build labour-designated campuses in every governorate or in every wilayat. If this can’t be done then they have to choose a specific street to accommodate workers.”

Earlier, the municipality had stated that it was planning special housing complexes for single expatriates living in Oman.

An official of the Public Affairs Committee of Municipality Council, had remarked, “We are planning this in Bausher, Amerat, and Mabella. The municipality is moving ahead with the design of these complexes, and tenders will be announced once the design is completed.”

The municipality has started coordinating with the concerned agencies for this purpose, and three large plots of land have been identified in Bausher, Amerat, and Mabella.