DUBAI // A two-week clampdown on illegal fly-posting in Dubai has resulted in 226 companies being fined and the removal of 500 kilogrammes of adverts and posters.
Inspectors from the waste-management department scoured the emirate’s streets between March 1 and March 15 taking down ads and handing fines to the companies responsible.
“It has been recently noticed that many illegal ads and posters have been spreading on walls, doors, parking areas and public squares, which negatively affect the hygiene and distort the appearance of the city,” said Abdul Saifaie, director of the waste-management department at Dubai Municipality.
“Inspections are carried out throughout the year, but we felt the need for a concentrated effort. Cleanliness and preservation of the city is an important part of the municipality’s work,” he said.
Offenders are fined Dh500, Mr Saifaie said. “The fine is doubled with each repeat offence.”
The campaign, which came about after a large number of complaints to the municipality from the public, aimed to educate people as well as clean up the emirate.
“This problem is threefold,” said Mr Saifaie. “It is an environmental issue due to the waste of so much paper, it is a health issue as the service is done by unskilled workers who do not take the proper procedures, and it is a security issue as these workers are usually unlicensed and may even be absconders or illegally in the country and you are giving them access to your home and family.”
The amount of fly-posting around Dubai is decreasing every year, Mr Saifaie said. “Nevertheless, we need to repeat campaigns to educate newcomers and visitors to the emirate about the need of keeping public places clean.”
The clampdown was welcomed by residents who have long complained about the number of posters, bills and advertisement cards left outside homes, on gates and even on cars.
“I installed a brand new aluminium gate as part of renovations for the house last year, now look at it,” said Ahmad Abdulla, pointing towards the once bronze-coloured gate that is now covered with the remains of dozens of half-torn stickers.
“I don’t understand the kind of mentality that sees no issue with vandalising people’s homes this way,” said the retired Emirati government worker, who lives in Al Rashidiya. “Many times I’ve called and yelled at the company for using such crude marketing tactics, but it makes no difference to them.
“I’ve complained to the municipality too, and it’s nice to know that something is being done.”
Mr Abdulla feels that because he was renovating his home he attracted the attention of companies offering a plethora of services from electrical and plumbing work, to air-conditioning repair and even drilling boreholes.
“It is a menace. At one point it got so bad that I was thinking to put up my own sticker telling people not to put theirs on my door. But then anyone visiting my home will think I’m crazy,” said the 62-year-old grandfather of six.
“Getting the stickers off is a chore as well. It takes time and it is tedious work, if you rush it you risk damaging the finish on the gate. It is an eyesore, but it is just too much effort to remove it.”
Mr Saifaie said companies should look at more modern ways to market themselves.
“There are countless cheaper, cleaner and more effective ways to advertise your service, like on the internet, for example.”
Residents can report illegal adverts and posters by calling the municipality hotline on 800900.
malkhan@thenational.ae
