DUBAI // Artistic expression or public nuisance?
Graffiti and spray-painted scrawls can be seen in many of Dubai's oldest neighbourhoods - on decrepit and abandoned buildings, electricity substations and walls.
Some residents say graffiti and meaningless writing in public spaces are an "eyesore" in a city known for its squeaky-clean image. Last week, tags were sprayed on a bridge in Dubai Marina, leading residents to call for action.
"It is not art," said Kevin Mullarkey, a Dubai-based architect, after he found graffiti on one of the bridges leading from Dubai Marina to the Jumeirah Beach Residences.
"It is sheer and utter destruction of public property. The first thing that greets visitors in Paris is the tremendous amount of graffiti. Paris has beautiful sculptures and they are constantly defaced," he noted.
A portion of the bridge's sides were repainted after Mr Mullarkey registered a complaint with the area's developer.
"It doesn't happen here as much as elsewhere. But now is the time to act before it increases," he said, adding that those caught in the act should be heavily fined.
Hetal Pawani, the founder of The Jam Jar, an art studio and gallery, agreed that meaningless scribbles on walls should be frowned upon.
"It is like throwing rubbish on the street," she said. "Technically, they should be fined or at least warned. It is an eyesore if it is just scratches on the wall. If someone did that on my villa, I would be mad."
Graffiti as art was almost non-existent in the emirate, she said.
Ms Pawani said graffiti art across the world has been used to express rebellion or social commentary.
"I am for graffiti that is officially done. It is an artistic expression. But, it is not nice to just destroy public spaces," she said.
Another resident said graffiti has its place in the urban landscape.
"It is too premature in Dubai to make it a problem," said Pauline Forte, a resident of Tecom, where paintings on construction sites are a common sight.
"They are writing on construction site walls. It is not real graffiti, which is colourful. I am against graffiti on historic monuments. But, I find it quite funny to see them on construction walls. It is not a big deal," she said.
Dubai Municipality said its inspectors regularly noticed graffiti in both residential and commercial buildings and particularly electricity substations.
"Kids use them as paintboards," said Khalid Mohsin Al Aamry, head of operations and cleaning services at the municipality's Waste Management Department.
"They should not do this. They should be more responsible because they are living in the city and should keep it beautiful."
However, his department has not issued any fines so far.
"We cannot catch these people. It is very difficult," Mr Al Aamry said. "If we catch someone, we will warn them against it. We cannot fine them directly."
During the municipality's routine environmental education in schools, officials speak to children on these issues, he said.
