Mould risk in a UAE home starts at around 55% relative humidity, and summer nights can sit above that. Gulf News (28 July 2026) reported forecast humidity in the UAE of about 45% by day and about 60% overnight, that mould needs about 55%, and that 40 to 50% is the range to aim for. So an AC-cooled home that looks fine in the afternoon can still be damp enough at night for mould to take hold in bathrooms, wardrobes and around AC lines.
The numbers from Gulf News (28 July 2026)
In its article on whether humidity is building up in UAE homes and who needs a dehumidifier, Gulf News gave these figures:
- Forecast daytime humidity of about 45%.
- Forecast overnight humidity of about 60%.
- Mould growth from about 55%.
- A target of 40 to 50%.
- The cheapest dehumidifier it cited cost Dh115.
The article named bathrooms and ceilings as places mould appears. A basic home humidity reader will show where your own home sits against those figures.
Where UAE homes get damp
AC condensate. An air conditioner removes moisture from the air and drains it away. If the condensate line blocks, the water has nowhere to go and the area around the unit stays wet. MUMTAZ names a blocked AC condensate line as one of the moisture sources it looks for. The National (27 March 2025) and Khaleej Times (30 May 2026) both covered AC mould, and Khaleej Times reported that mould can build up in AC filters, ducts and coils.
Bathrooms. Showers put moisture into the air. A room with no working extract, or failed silicone around the bath or basin, lets it settle. Gulf News listed bathrooms and ceilings among places mould shows.
Wardrobes. The National (15 November 2017) described a Dubai flat where furniture and clothing went mouldy each year. It reported about 60% humidity overnight, almost 70% in the bedroom and 88.5% measured at an AC vent. That was one home in one year, not a rule, but it shows how a closed, cool room can run damp. Gulf News (28 July 2026) pointed to wardrobe corners, where air barely moves.
Cold walls. Where cold AC air meets a warm, humid external wall, moisture can form on the surface. MUMTAZ calls this cold bridging.
A note on one claim
Khaleej Times (30 May 2026) quoted Justlife, an AC services company, saying up to 30% of homes may have AC mould. It is a company that sells AC cleaning, so treat the figure as its own estimate, not a survey.
After rain
Khaleej Times (29 April 2024 and 11 April 2026) carried advice for homes after rain or floods: fix leaks, dry out quickly and keep windows shut for 24 to 48 hours after rain. If a wall or ceiling stays damp after rain, look for the leak.
What you can do yourself
- Keep humidity between 40 and 50% where you can, using the AC and a dehumidifier if needed.
- Keep the bathroom extract working and wipe down surfaces after showers.
- Leave a gap behind wardrobes and do not pack them tight.
- Check around the AC unit for water stains or drips.
- Dry laundry outdoors or in a ventilated space.
If mould is already visible in more than a small patch, or you cannot find the damp, an inspection is more useful than wiping. If anyone at home is worried about symptoms, see a doctor.
What MUMTAZ does
Mould inspection, AED 299 incl. VAT. It includes:
- An inspection of the affected rooms by a MUMTAZ surveyor
- Finding the moisture source, such as a blocked AC condensate line, failed silicone, cold bridging or a room with no working extract
- A photo report of what we found and what needs to change, including any fix that belongs to the landlord or the building
- A written remediation quote, so you know the price before any work starts
It does not include laboratory sampling or species identification. If you go ahead with treatment, home mould treatment is priced per affected room: AED 840 for one room, AED 1,155 for two and AED 315 for each room after that, VAT included.
We look at the AC condensate line, silicone, cold bridging and extract. Read about our mould and fungus remediation and AC mould and coil disinfection. Teams work in Sharjah and Dubai.