Abu Dhabi: Vendors without the appropriate trading licences have been warned against selling products to residents following a recent raid by municipal officials on street hawkers and peddlers in the capital.
The raid targeted areas in the Mussaffah and Al Mafraq industrial areas, and was aimed at protecting the welfare of residents and maintaining the capital’s aesthetic appeal, the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City announced in a statement sent on December 28.
Maintaining the general appearance of the capital is a key concern for the municipality, which regularly runs campaigns to combat graffiti besides cleaning up public spaces and encouraging the planting and preservation of trees. In addition, officials also inspect outlets under their jurisdiction, such as parlours and salons, to ensure that customers face no public health or safety risks.
Mussaffah area and Al Mafraq are common gathering spots for hawkers, who sell everything from food items to clothes, toys and electronics. In addition, barbers and tailoring services are also offered. These activities, undertaken without the required permissions, result in the unregulated disposal of waste, plastic and paper on the streets. In addition, they pose a risk to customers, who are catered to by unlicensed barbers using unsterilised equipment.
During the raid, municipal officials coordinated with a number of government entities, including the Abu Dhabi Police, the Abu Dhabi Centre of Waste Management (CWM), the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (Adfca), the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) and the Department of Economic Development (DED).
Teams worked to confiscate items for sale and those found to be defective or hazardous to public health were destroyed by the CWM. The areas were also cleared and cleaned by the CWM. Other usable products were taken for use by the ERC.
The municipal statement added that similar raids would also be conducted in other areas within the capital and its suburbs.
