The Dubai Municipality's latest statement regarding the free-zone status of Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT) has marred the hopes of several thousands of residents who were under the hope of gaining housing fee exemptions.
According to an official at the Municipality, the status of JLT needs to be clarified by a decree, and that free zone claims by a developer does not imply exemption of housing fee for its residents.
The Head of Housing Fee Section at the Dubai Municipality, Abdullah Hashim, confirmed that JLT is not officially a free zone.
The residents of towers in the 'mini-Manhattan' around the man-made lakes by Nakheel have been questioning about housing fee exemption to the developer.
"Although several areas have been claimed to be free zones, they are not free zones. Media reports had stated that the free zone areas are exempt from housing fee, and JLT has been wrongly named as a free zone. But, we never said that, and this has created lot of confusion. None of the buildings there are considered to be part of a free zone," Hashim said.
He added that municipality is however, waiting for a list which could clearly stipulate the areas designated as free zones. The concerned authorities are likely to come up with such a list shortly.
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