Roadside food sellers and owners of dirty cars in Abu Dhabi’s sights
Roadside vegetable sellers, the owners of dirty cars, and unofficial advertisements are being targeted in a campaign aimed at smartening up the streets of Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi Municipality said fines would be given to those who trade without a licence and the owners of the dusty vehicles that brought down the appearances of their neighbourhood.
Car owners who fail to ensure their vehicles are cleaned while they are away face fines of Dh3,000 when they return.
Officials said those who went away for extended periods should have a friend or family member take care of cleaning their vehicle.
Inspectors handed out fines of Dh3,000 to almost 500 owners between April and July.
The municipality said it was seeking to “maintain the civilised appearance of cities and remove all distorting elements”. In the most recent sweep, 30 owners were fined.
The municipality said that motorists had been given three days’ notice to clean up their cars before the vehicle was impounded.
The previous notice period was 14 days.
“If the vehicle is not removed after three days, the municipality will tow it to the impounding yard to protect the general appearance of the city as they become a source of public nuisance due to the accumulation of dust and
waste,” a spokesman said last month.
Officers also said that people who sold food from the roadside – often fruit and vegetables from the back of vehicles – had been inspected and some had failed to prove the source of their products or that their goods were “fit for consumption”.
Municipal officials have also been tackling unofficial advertisements placed at the side of roads, to “maintain the urban appearance” of the city.
The clean-up campaign will run throughout the rest of the year on Abu Dhabi Island and the mainland “to ensure the highest standards of health and safety for all community members”, the municipality said.