Abu Dhabi Municipality Removes 150 Casual Ads, Issues 15 Warnings, Violations

The Abu Dhabi City Municipality (ADM), through the City and Madinat Zayed Municipal Centers, has carried a crackdown on casual ads and posters affixed to lighting poles, bus stops, public & private facilities and roundabouts within the geographical environs of Abu Dhabi Island and Madinat Zayed. The campaign targeted all sorts of makeshift ads placed by individuals, companies or establishments without obtaining proper permits from the concerned bodies. Such ads mar the city’s landscape. The campaign has succeeded in removing more than 150 unlicensed advertising signs, and served 15 warnings/offences each bearing an amount of AED1000 against violators.

The campaign underscores the commitment of the Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities – Abu Dhabi City Municipality to protect the urban appearance of cities and suburbs from all disfiguring elements. It also underlines the importance of abiding by laws and regulations governing the use of public facilities, streets, and R/As by community members. It stresses the importance of obtaining permits and proper approvals from the concerned parties, and that such ads have to bear a specific identifying theme licensed by the relevant bodies.

As for measures taken against violators abusing public facilities, buildings, lighting poles and front elevations by affixing ads for vacancies, or promoting certain services, the Municipality shall issue offences against violators of the Public Appearance Law No 2/2012 and the Public Realms Regulation. They will be slapped with fines that have to be settled within 30 days. Defaulters will be referred to the Public Prosecution for further actions, and advertisers have to remove their ads with an immediate effect.

The Municipality calls on all community members to comply with the terms and conditions of posting advertising ads and posters in streets. They have to source proper permits to avoid being entangled in offences, as the Municipality is keen on boosting partnership and cooperation with the community in protecting public realms and the urban outlook of cities.