Littering in Dubai beaches will now attract a fine of Dh1,000 while barbecuing in unauthorised public places and not cleaning up pets’ waste will invite a fine of Dh500 each.
Cracking the whip on those damaging the appearance of Dubai, the emirate will issue a fine of Dh1,000 on those sticking posters, ads and flyers without permission.
New fines introduced include those for causing oil leakage in sea, creek or ports (Dh3,000) and dumping pesticide cans in municipal garbage containers (Dh5,000).
Dubai introduced these new fines and hiked some of the existing ones in a major crackdown on litterbugs, betel leaf (paan) chewers, spitters and other offenders violating rules on waste management and cleanliness.
The emirate’s regulations from the last decade on littering, random waste disposal and other violations related to keeping the city clean and its environment safe will now be replaced with the new regulations announced on Tuesday.
The Dubai Media Office said Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, has endorsed the Executive Council’s Resolution No (14) of 2015 amending the penalties and fines on violation of Local Order No (11) of 2003 on Public Health and Safety of the Society in the emirate of Dubai.
The penalties and fines schedule attached to Resolution No (14) of 2015 revokes the penalties and fines schedule attached to Administrative Resolution No (30) of 2007. The new resolution seeks to preserve the civilised image of Dubai as (a) global city, it said in a Press release.
The amendment in the penalties and fines include wrong disposal of hazardous waste, building and demolition waste and industrial waste. Pursuant to the new resolution, improper disposal of wastewater is subject to a Dh100,000 fine.
Betel leaf chewers spitting in public places and people dirtying the streets with unauthorised car washing will also see their wallets lighter as fines for these offences have been hiked to Dh1,000 and Dh500 respectively from Dh500 and Dh100. It is understood that the Executive Council passed the resolution following a proposal from the Dubai Municipality which oversees waste management in the emirate.
More transparency
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Assistant Director-General of the Dubai Municipality for Environment and Public Health Services Sector Salah Amiri said the amendments in the law aimed at coping with the rapid developments in the city and making the penalty system more transparent to the public.
“As Dubai grew, a few fines were not available in our rules. We had to introduce them. There were other things which were not clear in our fine system. People would complain and ask for what they are paying certain fines. It was not clear for them. We had to clarify them, make clear definition of violations and penalties and make the system completely transparent.”
Certain violations and penalties such as spilling oil in the creek and waterways that damaged the environment also had to be properly defined and brought under clear legal framework, he said.
In certain offences, such as spitting paan, Al Amiri said, the fine was increased as people continued to violate the rules even after being fined. “We had to increase the fine from Dh500 to Dh1,000 for spitting paan. Still people are not cooperating with us.”
Earlier, the municipality had held awareness campaigns asking shopkeepers and shop owners to share the responsibility of keeping the city clean and to help give a positive impression of Dubai to its visitors and tourists.
By Sajila Saseendran
