Mold behind wardrobe in Dubai apartment: who to call?« Back to Previous Page

That's a classic problem here, caused by condensation from your air conditioner meeting the cooler surface of an exterior wall. The wardrobe traps the humid air, creating a perfect environment for mold. The first step is to pull the furniture away from the wall to allow air circulation and assess the full extent.

You should notify your building management immediately. Under Dubai regulations, they are responsible for the building's structure and envelope. They need to inspect it to determine if the issue is due to a pre-existing leak in the wall or poor external waterproofing, which is their responsibility to fix. If the mold growth is extensive or you see evidence of water intrusion, a professional inspection is necessary to identify the species and the moisture source.

For treatment in our climate, simply wiping it is not enough; the humidity will cause it to return. Remediation involves containing the area, physically removing the contaminated material (like cutting out affected drywall), HEPA vacuuming, and antimicrobial treatment. A proper company will use moisture meters and thermal cameras to find the source and provide a post-remediation verification report, often with lab data, to confirm it's resolved. Addressing the underlying cause, like improving room ventilation or having the AC serviced to adjust its humidity removal settings, is crucial for a permanent solution.