Tamweel Tower was burnt down in Nov 2012. (Image: @HaniAlawadhi)

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Dissatisfaction continues amongst residents of Dubai’s Tamweel Tower, who were displaced following a fire in the building in November 2012.

The building was destroyed in a fire in November 2012; forensic authorities at the time had claimed a cigarette had caused the accident that led hundreds of residents to look for hotel accommodations and second homes.

While initial reports had suggested the building – co-owned by the Owners’ Association and Tamweel – was inhabitable for at least eight months following the incident, homeowners in the tower are yet to receive any formal confirmation that restoration work will commence over a year after the fire.

A homeowner who requested anonymity told Big Project ME: “We were owners of two apartments in the building, and the only compensation we received from Tamweel’s end was the deferring of EMIs on our home mortgages.

“The thirty-day hotel accommodation immediately following the incident was helpful, but we have had to pay for our own housing following the hotel stay,” continued the source. “Homeowners who took mortgages from other banks have had to pay for their EMIs.”

The source appreciated Dubai Municipality’s cooperation since it became the immediate authority for all planning requests late last year.

A report published in The National says the Municipality has released approvals for repairs to the tower; the owners’ association however is yet to receive authorisation on tender documents from Tamweel.

“One signature matters,” said the source.

Tamweel remained unavailable for comment on the issue.