Dubai landlords turning down Pinoys over 'smelly food?'
Some Filipinos in Dubai are claiming that certain real estate agents there are refusing to rent out apartments to them, partly because of the odor of a Filipino dried fish delicacy. According to a report of Gulf News on Thursday, watchmen in two buildings informed a Filipino couple — Rey and Cynthia Alfonso — about an unwritten "no-leasing-to-Filipinos" rule by landlords. The couple also said landlords are not happy with the Filipinos' tendency to overcrowd rental units. However, the couple said "it's a false generalization. In reality, no one wants to live in an overcrowded place." Gulf News said unrelated people may share a flat. However, the Dubai Municipality strictly enforces the one-family-one-villa rule. Violators can be fined Dh1,000 to Dh50,000, it said.