Coughing kids, black mold on wall: who to call Dubai?« Back to Previous Page

Black spots behind furniture on an exterior wall are a classic sign of condensation-related mould growth, extremely common in Dubai due to the high humidity and constant cooling. The wall is likely a "cold bridge," where the outside heat meets the cooled interior air, creating persistent dampness.

While the term "black mould" is often used for Stachybotrys, many common black-coloured moulds like Cladosporium or Aspergillus are more frequent. All can cause respiratory irritation, coughing, and worsen allergies, especially in children. The priority is to stop the moisture source and properly remediate.

Contact your building's maintenance management first. Under Dubai's strata laws (Jointly Owned Property law), the building's exterior walls and common structure are typically the responsibility of the Owners' Association or building management. They should address the potential insulation or sealing issue on their side to prevent recurrence.

For the existing growth, do not attempt to clean it yourself, as disturbing it can release a high concentration of spores. A professional indoor health company with certified mould remediation expertise should handle the removal. They will contain the area, use HEPA filtration, and safely remove the contaminated materials. The key difference is a company that can provide a lab report to confirm the mould type and verify the spore count is back to a normal level after cleaning, ensuring it was done correctly. This diagnostic step is crucial for your family's health.