UAE | General
54 years of service to the people
Originally established in 1954 with only three staff, dubai municipality now employs over 12,000 people.
- By Mariam M. Al Serkal, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:47 October 16, 2008
- An aerial view of the Dubai Municipality building in Deira, Dubai. The municipality was established in 1954 and was originally located in the Customs Department. After moving to various locations it has been located on Bani Yas Street since 1980.
- Image Credit: Asghar Khan/Gulf News
Dubai: From a plain looking two-storey building with only three employees, Dubai Municipality has come a long way. Today it has over 12,000 employees working with the latest digital and online technology in an impressive building located at Bani Yas street.
Since its establishment in the 1950s it has served has as a backbone for the development of the city as we all see it today.
Dubai Municipality was established in 1954, when the late Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum issued an order to set up a small administrative body in charge of a few civic works that were required at the time. Such civic works included catering services, maintaining health, hygiene and public cleanliness, in addition to regulating construction activities.
It used to operate in a single room at the Customs Department, as then it came under its authority. However, once the municipality was made into an independent entity in 1957, it then shifted into its new office at the Deira Old Souq with three shops in the ground floor. Later on, another floor was added as a residence for the traders.
The staff of three were headed by Kamal Hamzah, who was the first Director General.
Throughout the 1960s, the Municipality were responsible for organising car parks, abattoirs, issuing and renewing professional licenses, public health services, development and maintenance of roads, bridges, public parks and the establishment of retail and wholesale markets. The Municipality's offices were later shifted from the Creek to another building in Al Maktoum Street in 1964.
Expanding control
In 1974, Shaikh Rashid issued a new decree that established Dubai Municipality as a corporate body with all areas within the emirate's borders coming under its jurisdiction, that would report directly to the Ruler.
As per the decree, the municipality would have a municipal council and an administrative apparatus to implement the policies and instructions laid down by the council.
As the civic body expanded, so did the number of employees. In order to cater to expanding projects that it undertook, the municipality shifted its location in 1980 to its present location at Bani Yas Street.
Dubai Municipality has spread its wings dramatically since its inauguration, and currently employs over 12,000 people in 33 departments at its headquarters, which is known to be one of the city's largest buildings. However, the municipality has not forsaken its origins and, in commemoration, converted its first building into a museum in 2006.
Known as the Dubai Municipality Museum, which was under renovation from 1999, it showcases several rare manuscripts such as some of the royal decrees issued by the late rulers, in addition to copies of old administrative decrees and orders of the former and present officials. Some of the photographs at the museum show one of the meetings of the first municipal council, the public library in 1962, the Clock Tower roundabout in 1963, the flame (Al Shola) roundabout in 1969, and the construction works of the Shindagha Tunnel in 1975.
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