UAE | Traffic and Transport

Owners of cars abandoned on streets face Dh500 fine

Next time you go on vacation, ask someone to clean your car lest you should be fined. The warning came as a Dubai Municipality official asked residents not to "abandon" their cars in public.

  • By Ashfaq Ahmed, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 00:00 August 15, 2006
  • Gulf News

  • Vehicles like these that are left in public spaces in a dirty condition will be removed by the authorities and only returned on payment of a fine.
  • Image Credit: Gulf News archive

Dubai: Next time you go on vacation, ask someone to clean your car lest you should be fined.

The warning came as a Dubai Municipality official asked residents not to "abandon" their cars in public areas, including roads and in open parking lots.

Any "abandoned" vehicles left on the road will be confiscated, taken to the municipality scrap yard, and will only be released on payment of a Dh500 fine. They will be auctioned off if they are not claimed within six months.

The Environment Department at the Municipality confiscates abandoned vehicles.

Tariq Al Khajah, Acting Director of Contracts and Purchasing Department at the municipality, said that about 1,000 to 1,400 cars are confiscated by the municipality every year.

"At an average 300 to 400 vehicles are reclaimed by their owners while about 1,000 unclaimed vehicles are auctioned every year," he said.

Hassan M. Makki, Assistant Director of the Environment Department, said that abandoned vehicles are an eyesore and ruin the aesthetic look of the city. They also pose a risk to public health and safety.

"The removal of abandoned vehicles aims to ensure that vehicles do not hinder routine waste collection and cleaning operations," he said.

Removal also prevents accumulation of litter and waste around abandoned vehicles and frees up parking space taken up by these vehicles.

An "abandoned" vehicle refers to a vehicle, which is not roadworthy (wrecked, dismantled or in irreparable condition) or does not have a valid registration or has been lying in an unused or abandoned state in a public space for a period exceeding 30 days.

As per Local Order 11 (2003) the municipality is authorised to remove abandoned vehicles from streets, public parking lots and public spaces.

Parked dirty vehicles are inspected and if applicable, a notice of removal sticker is applied. If the vehicle is not claimed within 15 days of the removal sticker being put on, it is removed to a scrap yard.

Removed vehicles are kept at the municipality scrap yard in Al Ghusais and then auctioned off if they are not claimed within six months.

Makki said that residents should dispose of their vehicles by giving them to scrap dealers and should not abandon them on roads.

Keep it clean: Covered vehicles will also be targeted

Residents who go on vacation and have to leave their cars on roads should ask some one to keep it clean. Multistorey parking lots can be used for this purpose.

It is also not allowed to leave cars covered with cloth or plastic covers.


Your comments


We people living in Dubai should know how ever much we develop this place, it's always going to be termed as a Desert. Believe me, I live in an area which is practiaclly a desert and I get my car washed and polished from the service center and get it home and after a few hours it gathers dust and sand like its not been washed for a week! Leaving cars for over a month can get a vehicle very dirty even to touch it if its not cleaned. Someone needs to remind officials that Dubai is a sandy area. Building towers and making roads doesn't make it free from sand. No one can help the dust gathering on the cars. Even people would be covered in dust if they stand out for 30 mins!!
Muhammed
Dubai,UAE

I am very pleased with the decision of DM (Keep City Clean). And about taking care of the vehicle while on vacation, from my point of view there is no any area that isn't operated by the privare cleaners, so those who leave for vacation can also appoint the same kind of private cleaners. Thanks!
Bharat
Dubai,UAE

I suggest all flats should have a parking lot. It's impossible to keep cars clean when one is on vacation. Or else they should allow people to cover the car properly. I think that is a fair deal.
Benjy
Abu Dhabi,UAE

It is a Good rule. It is not right that owners leave damaged and old vehicles dumped in public places for others to pick up. Also they should be cleaned over a few days if they are left in open places. However people should be allowed to cover their vehicles when they go on holidays for more than a month. It is advised by car manufacturers that vehicles should not be left exposed in sunlight as it will spoil the car.
Chetan
Dubai,UAE

I think it is another way to make some more earnings from the public.
Sam
Dubai,UAE

My suggestion is for the municipality to provide speacial clean yard services to help the vacationers keep their cars safe and tidy till they come back. Instead of being fined they can charge some basic payment in terms of days or months. It is unfair. I left my car well and clean before travelling and parked in our residential area which I am paying for per month, but don't have anyone to clean it for me.
Mohammad
Dubai,UAE

It's a nice idea but the muncipality has to monitor the car for a month. If it exceeds a month then ok. Othewise it should be left alone.
Moid
Dubai,UAE

It's good in some senses but bad in others. Is there any alternate facility provided for residents in case they leave on vacations? I am of the view that the administration must reserve spaces for the parking of cars of those who are away for a month or so. They might charge some nominal amount for the service. But when there is no space available to park other than street parking and if there is no authorised cleaning alternate service available where the poor resident has to go. In fact the idea of covering the vehicle is a good one, this could be the signal showing that the vehicle is not abandoned.
Balwinder
Dubai,UAE

I don't feel it is wise think to fine. What if the person has gone to their home town and has no one to take care of the car. It's the only way of making money, by introducing new systems for fines. It makes life difficult in Duabi with increase of rents, parking fines, tickets and now one more.
Lavina
Dubai,UAE

I agree but in the meantime the authorities should provide parking spaces for expats who are going on vacation with a nominal charge.
Mohammed
Dubai,UAE

Surely this is a welcome move by the municipality. Some people don't clean their car at all.
Shareeq
Dubai,UAE

It's a good adea to fine those people. People in Sharjah will not suffer anymore from parking there cars. However there is a disadvantege in not allowing people to cover their car.
Mohammed
Sharjah,UAE

I think it is another way to make some more earnings from the public. What do the people have to lose when they are already left with nothing. Whether it's an issue of vehicle's parking, rent or anything thing else.
Elk
Sharjah,UAE

I highly apprecite the concern of Dubai Muncipality to ensure people to keep their cars clean. I also agree that it is our duty to keep the city clean for better atmosphere. But I think that it's not enough to do so. I feel Dubai Muncipality has many other aspects to look at and also have the duty to ensure that people staying in this country should have a comfortable life style and not have tensions with the law introduced of fines. In the last few years we often read in the newspaper that a new law has been introduced with so and so fines.
Bhagwan
Dubai,UAE

This problem can be solved by introducing a new technology called "VIRTUAL REMOTE CLEANING". It means car owners can virtually clean thier car from their home country.
Shajeer
Dubai,UAE

Another way to make money from peoples earnings. Who can you ask to wash your car? The guys who used to wash for 5Dhs a day are being picked up by the Police. So should i ask my Neighbour (Manager Sales) to wash it hmm...Good idea!
Usmaaanz
Dubai,UAE

I think the laws are a bit too stringent. Contribution to risk of health and safety is not an issue. There are more health risks due to accomodation sharing than due to cars. Why don't they decrease the rent? The authorities should pay more attention to other more important issues like road safety than parked cars.
Mahesh
Dubai,UAE

As stated by a few, I do agree with the above law. But I also disagree to the fact that cars can't be covered while someone is on vacation and it's totally impossible to allot a person to take care of someone else's car. As to this I agree with Edana's viewpoint.
Nevin
Fujairah,UAE

I live in Sharjah, Abu Shagra area. It's beyond anybody's tolerance that the residents never get a parking space near their apartment owing to the used car traders that occupy the whole area for their cars. It's really difficult that most of the time I need to look around 3 to 4 kilometers in circles to park.
Prem
Dubai,UAE

I sincerely wish the same rules will apply to Sharjah, as the worst condition is found there, especially in the Abu Shagara area where hundreds of dirty, carnaged abandoned vehicles are occupying huge areas and in front of residential buildings. These not only damage the building looks but pose a serious hazard to the residents.
Mohamed
Sharjah,UAE

If vehicles are abandoned on road side parking, the municipality has full right to confiscate them within 30 days, but why on the resident's side? Then where can an owner leave his/her car on vacation, in a parking lot? Can you suggest some name where it is affordable in Dubai,ADH,SHJ? Please pass a law which is practical, not like the American saying, if you don't have bread then eat cake.
Shaikh
Dubai,UAE

This is a wise decision. I welcome it. We can find a lot of vehicles left stranded in nook and cranies of public parking lots. It occupies a spot for a long time and causes a lot of inconvienience for the rest of the people in search of parking. Even if the vehicle is kept neat and tidy, it should not be allowed.
Shameer
Dubai,India

I agree with Edana. I clean my car myself everyday and if i have to leave the country for vacations or a business trip who should I ask to clean my car? I think it's a bit too much.
Jack
Sharjah,UAE

Yes, this is a very good idea to fine the abandoned cars on the streets and in public parking spaces. Meanwhile the municipality can provide parking spaces for expats who are going for vacation with a nominal charge.
Anil
Sharjah,UAE

My suggestion is that authorities should take action against cars with no registration plate or export registration plate. They always look for public parking areas. If you go to Sharjah used car complex, you will find cars even on display on footpaths.
Zubair
Dubai,UAE

I think regardless of the aesthetic aspect of this move, the problem is that it might just be targeting any vehicles that are not clean even if they are pretty new. Moreover, there should be a distinction between cars that are stationed in outdoor residential parking lots and those on the main streets. People going on leave do not have much choice as to where to keep their cars in big cities such as Dubai or Abu Dhabi, and the authorities should take into consideration the fact that there are not enough spaces available for such purposes. Some patience would be most welcome in this high leave season.
Abder
Abu Dhabi,UAE

A very good move. It's very irritating to see these cars occupying parking spaces for months together and diminishing our chances of getting a parking space even further.
Lester
Dubai,UAE

I think it should not only be in Dubai. This should be implemented in all emirates so that those abandoned cars are removed in the parking area so that other people can use those slots occupied by the abandoned cars. This is a good decision by the authorities.
Blueshadow
Abu Dhabi,UAE

It's a good move to fine the offenders. If we do keep our vehicles uncleaned it will reflect badly on the clean city image.
Musthafa
Abu Dhabi,UAE

Yes, I agree and am so happy of your above law because I saw many dirty cars parked in different corners of the streets here in Dubai. It makes Dubai look dirty. How can visitors appreciate the beauty of this city if most of the cars owners are behaving like that. For others who use the car everyday without cleaning it, I hope they are also included of the fines.
Evelyn
Dubai,UAE

It's a very good decision! I live in Sharjah, and the area where I live is one of the worst places for getting a parking space. That's because there are numerous abandoned cars standing there for years, covering the whole parking area!
Sheharyaar
Dubai,UAE

"It is also not allowed to leave cars covered with cloth or plastic covers" You have got to be kidding? It is 45 degrees outside and it is humid. How can residents who go on holiday be expected to ask someone to clean their car? If the car is covered there is a very good chance the owner is coming back, the car is not "abandoned". I have seen numerous cars towed away this summer. Think of the fright its owners are going to get when they get back, all because they did not have someone to keep it spotless even when it was not being used.
Edana
Abu Dhabi,UAE

  • Rate this article
  • Average reader rating (0 votes) 0 Stars
Tools

Emailing an article to friend is a simple way to share a news item. Your friend will receive an email with your name and email address as well any personal message you choose to send.

The information you provide on this page will not be used to send unsolicited emails.

This service is not intended to encourage spam, and action may be taken against individuals who maliciously enter personal details of another individual.

Share this article

More from UAE Traffic and Transport

  1. Abu Dhabi issues traffic safety guidelines for Eid

  2. Free parking for nine days in the capital

  3. The Metro just got longer

  4. Personalised Nol cards to be rolled out online

All articles in Traffic & Transport

More from UAE

Gulf News
Popular in UAE
Readers' pictures
Your pictures

Readers' pictures

A Selection of the best Gulf News reader pictures this week

Latest news
Community Reports

More from Community Reports

Weather

More from Weather