Municipality launches clean-up drive in Dubai’s old trading areas

Dubai — Shops and residential buildings in Dubai’s old commercial areas will get a facelift for the New Year with the municipality launching a massive clean-up awareness campaign on Monday.

Dubai Municipality officials explaining the clean-up campaign details to shopkeepers at Sabkha on Monday. — Supplied photo

The 10-day drive will focus on keeping the surroundings of the congested old commercial areas clean by spreading awareness about five major unhygienic and illegal practices, Director of the Waste Management Department Abdul Majeed Al Saifaie, who inaugurated the campaign on a busy street in Sabkha, told Khaleej Times.

“These include littering, spitting paan (chewing tobacco), drying clothes in balconies, smoking cigarettes in public places and sticking ads on the walls,” he said. Leaflets carrying logos that depict a ban on these habits were distributed to shopkeepers, shoppers and passersby.

This is the sixth consecutive year that the civic body is holding this campaign targeting specific areas of the city. With the commercial areas under the scanner, the slogan of the drive this time is “Say Yes to Cleaner Commercial Areas.”

“This time we have picked Sabkha, one of the most congested old business areas in Dubai to launch the campaign. Over the coming days, we will cover all old commercial areas like Ras Al Khor, Karama, Satwa, Naif, Gold Souq etc. The whole concept is to spread awareness to give a better image for this beautiful city,” he said.

Municipal inspectors will keep a watch on the progress of the drive and 10 cleanest shops will be rewarded. “We are not here to fine; we are here to spread awareness. We will also appreciate and honour the shops that are cooperating with us. We will reward 10 shops that keep the surroundings the cleanest,” said Al Saifaie.

Officials distributed leaflets to shopkeepers and explained to them the details of the campaign. They also took part in a drill showing how to clean up the walls plastered with advertisements. Shopkeepers were encouraged to discourage those sticking bills on the walls. An exhibition of photographs showing the ill effects of unhygienic practices was also held. -sajila@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE