Five Palm Shoreline OAs granted RERA approval

Ongoing dispute between Nakheel and Shoreline residents regarding service charges is hoped to be resolved as OAs gain power. Photo: Shutterstock.

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Five of 13 owners associations on the Palm Jumeirah Shoreline in Dubai have been registered by RERA allowing them to finally review budgets for service charges and management of common areas among a list of other responsibilities.

The move is hoped to improve the standing of the OAs in the ongoing dispute with Nakheel over service charges and the tension still present due to the developer’s access restrictions for communal areas.

The state-owned firm had revealed plans to privatise the building’s pools, gyms and beach and had asked residents to submit paperwork to receive temporary passes to access the building’s pool and beach facilities which guests would be charged to enter. Homeowners argue they own the facilities while Nakheel has said it plans to charge residents over $1000 a year to access the building’s pool and gym facilities and to open the clubs up to outside members.

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But with the registration announcement, it still remains unclear whether the shoreline groups face the same restrictions faced by those interim groups who still rely on developers to issue cheques as they were not seen as legal entities.

Owners are however eager to control the budget and have planned meetings to discuss next steps.