Rundown buildings along Dubai Metro route told to smarten up appearance

The owners of buildings along the main Dubai Metro line have been told to smarten up their appearance to make a better impression.

Dubai Municipality said owners would be receiving letters telling them to "improve their appearance and undertake necessary painting works".

Officials said they would "spare no efforts to correct the status of these buildings in order to maintain the aesthetic appearance".

The metro red line in particular runs through the old city, which is known for its bustling apartment blocks and balconies filled with washing and furniture.

And along the Al Quoz and Barsha sections many ageing buildings provide affordable accommodation for families.

Saeed bin Humaidan Al Falasi, head of building inspections, said the utilities authority Dewa, Dubai Police and members of the public had reported particularly run down buildings.

About 350,000 passengers use the red and green lines every day, which is expected to increase significantly during Expo 2020.

The National