Is AC mold making us sick in Dubai apartment?« Back to Previous Page

Persistent coughs and headaches are common symptoms of exposure to AC mold, particularly in Dubai's humid climate where condensation and leaks create an ideal environment for growth. The black spots around your vent are a significant visual indicator that should be addressed immediately.

Document everything: take clear, dated photos of the leak and the black spots. Note the duration of your symptoms in writing. Under Dubai rental law (Law No. 26 of 2007), your landlord is obligated to provide a habitable property and address maintenance issues affecting health. Send a formal written communication to them or the property management company, outlining the problem, attaching the evidence, and explicitly stating that the mold and water leak are impacting your health. Request immediate professional inspection and remediation.

Do not attempt to clean it yourself, as improper methods can aerosolize spores and worsen contamination. The proper method requires a professional assessment to identify the mold type and the full extent of the growth, which is often hidden within the AC unit or ductwork. Remediation involves containing the area, using HEPA filtration to remove spores, and fixing the underlying moisture source—in this case, the AC leak. A company with its own microbiology lab can provide the necessary testing to verify the mold type and confirm the cleanup was successful, which is critical for your health and for providing your landlord with verified proof of resolution.