No permission needed for weekend camping in desert

DUBAI Weekend campers do not require prior permission from the Dubai Municipality to pitch tents in the desert, a senior official told XPRESS.

The civic body has issued an order that those who go camping for long durations are required to pay a fee and obtain permission. This was stated by the Dubai Municipality in an order issued this week.

“We have found that there are people who would put up camping structures for several weeks and sometimes even three or four months without obtaining permission.

“If you are going only for one or two days you do not need permission, but those who stay in the desert for longer periods need to get approval. We will give them about two weeks after Eid and after that we will start taking action,” Jaber Ahmad Abdullah Al Ali, acting head of the building inspection section, told XPRESS.

As of now the civic body has not established any fine for the violation, but will demolish the temporary tents or structures which are set up in violation of its orders.

Al Ali said the municipality had received complaints about people misusing desert areas, being noisy and creating disturbances for others and the civic body wants to ensure that there is no such improper usage or inconvenience to the public.

“Whoever goes to the desert should keep it clean and not misuse it, other people should be able to enjoy it as much,” he added.

According to an administrative order on occupancy of desert land issued by the municipality’s Director General, prior permission must be obtained and the fee for such permits is 22 fils per square metre.

Users are allowed to occupy not more than 300 square metres at one time and permission will be granted for a maximum of six months.

The ordinance stipulates that the Dubai Municipality will be applying provisions regulating the temporary uses of desert land as provided in the Local Order No. 2 of 1999, and the administrative decision No. 310 of 2008.

Users must adhere to environmental and other regulations of the civic body.