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From rent disputes to 24/7 maintenance, they were the go-to solution for UAE residents until the early 2000s
Photo: KT Archives
If you moved to Dubai in recent years, you probably haven’t heard of it. But in the past, the word natoor was on everyone’s lips.
Natoor means builder in Arabic. But make no mistake, these sailors were not ordinary laborers with menial jobs. These people used to have a lot of power.
Before facility and property management companies existed, natoors called the shots in real estate. Not only do they hold the keys to those hard-to-find vacant apartments, but until the early 2000s, they were the first choice of tenants.
Whether it’s a rent dispute with your landlord or a leaking tap, you’ll also turn to your natoor for help. Residents keep their natoors with a good sense of humor, giving them frequent tips (baksheesh) and gifts from their hometown to make sure they are on top of things.
But the natoors lost their utility and glory as rapid development transformed the city from a backwater port to a bustling metropolis with some of the tallest residential towers in the world.
Although natoors still reside in many buildings in Old Dubai, their influence has waned over the past decade. “It’s not the same as it used to be,” Nagarajan said, running freckled hands through his thinning silver hair, recalling his heyday.
“There was a time when we were in high demand. Property hunters were willing to pay us up to Dh400 to show them an apartment. Once the deal was done, we got a good commission. We profit from our network of technicians, electricians, plumbers and car cleaners. Those days are long gone,” said Keralite, 62, who has worked as a natoor in a building in Al Karama for 20 years. year.
In a nondescript building a few blocks away, another natoor, Mohammad Sadiq, 57, also lamented the development.
“We were realtors in the past—I made enough money to buy a used car between 2004 and 2006. Now I supplement my income by washing other people’s cars.”
Natoors usually pay Dh1,000 to Dh2,000 per month. Their work requires a great deal of behind-the-scenes work to ensure buildings remain functional and comfortable for users.
“Our role goes beyond doing maintenance work and caretaker duties. We act as a bridge between landlords and tenants. Today, property management companies require a series of documents to screen potential tenants. We do this intuitively,” Sadiq said. “We’re rarely wrong.”
A father of two, Sadiq moved to Dubai in 2004 from Hyderabad, India. Around 2007, I was asked to be a substitute for natoor who hadn’t returned from leave. I took a chance. Fifteen years later, I am still serving tenants in the same building. Many things have changed since then. Over the years, our income has decreased and so has our respect. “
Natoors started losing land in the early 2000s, when a six-year property boom created a gap between supply and demand, leading to the rise of facility and property management companies.
“Suddenly, the city is full of trendy high-rise buildings and requires the services of a property management company to remove the hassle and worries that tenants or homeowners may have,” said a manager at a property management company in Dubai.
“Providing 24/7 maintenance and security services to hundreds of residents while collecting and processing rent and security deposits is beyond the boundaries of the state. We fit the bill perfectly.”
Photo: Mazhar Farooqui
As Dubai’s real estate market bucks the trend, natoors are slowly being forgotten. Now, they are relics of the past.
“We have no chance,” quipped Mohammad Arshad, 34, a sailor at Nadal Al Hammar’s complex. “It’s an unequal competition,” he said, drawing an analogy between someone in the industry and a property manager. “We’re like old Nokia phones, they’re the latest version of the iPhone.”
Originally from Pakistan, Arshad came to Dubai about 13 years ago and has been managing the same building ever since. He gets emotional when he reminisces about the old days.
“I joined with a salary of Dh1,200. It usually stays largely the same because I make almost as much money from other sources. We used to only get 5% from rental commissions, which was the norm Yes. Again, I’ll charge anything between Dh50 and Dh100 to show the apartment to potential tenants. No one pays us anything now. My salary has been raised to Dh1,500 but that’s not the same as Our workloads are not commensurate.”
In addition to their day-to-day duties, rescuers working in poorly maintained buildings say they must perform a range of other tasks, such as breaking up fights and prying open elevator doors to free trapped residents.
“Janitor, security guard, handyman, we play many roles at the same time,” said a natoor in a three-story building in Meena Bazaar.
“Today, all new buildings have uniformed security guards. They do a good job of keeping the community safe, but do residents know their names?” He hung the question in the air, then answered it himself. “No,” he said contemptuously. “It’s different for nators. Everyone in the building knows our names.”
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