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Buildings near Dubai metro track in Karama. Image Credit: Virendra Saklani/Gulf News

Dubai: Dubai Municipality has asked buildings overlooking Dubai Metro lines to beautify the exteriors.

Owners of these buildings were issued notices asking them to undertake maintenance works for their buildings, improve their appearance and undertake necessary painting works, the municipality said in a press release on Tuesday.

The move is part of the civic body’s campaign to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the city.

Engineers and inspectors of the Buildings Department are currently carrying out periodic inspection campaigns on existing buildings and facilities in general and on important vital sites in particular, said Layali Abdul Rahman Al Mulla, director of the department.

The purpose is to monitor all existing buildings and structures that need to improve their external appearance by performing the required painting or cleaning on its external facades to preserve the urban appearance of the emirate, she said.

The campaign also aims to ensure the sustainability of Dubai’s urban aesthetic appearance and the safety of citizens and residents of the Emirate and to achieve the strategic objectives of Dubai Municipality, “to promote urban planning policies and achieve a balance between land use and sustainable urban development.”

Al Mulla said the campaign will cover public services and amenities of the buildings and structures that are not committed to periodic preventive maintenance, distorting the public appearance and threaten the safety of their inhabitants.

Saeed Bin Humaidan Al Falasi, head of Building Inspection Section, said individuals and institutions need to contribute with the Buildings Department in maintaining the aesthetic urban appearance of the buildings by giving care to them and undertaking the necessary painting works or cleaning the external facades. He said the Building Inspection Section conducted periodic campaigns on the vital areas of the Emirate, particularly the areas overlooking the Red Line and the Green Line of the Metro and the owners of these buildings and structures were notified on the need to undertake periodic and preventive maintenance procedure.

He said the Section has also published awareness leaflets in newspapers and radio targeting these building owners. The official added that the Municipality will spare no efforts to correct the status of these buildings.

The process of applying for a license for maintenance work does not take more than two working days, he said.

The license is provided through the Dubai Building Licensing System through the contractors and maintenance companies accredited by the Municipality.

Al Falasi praised the role of the public who are proud of their emirate and report buildings and structures that are distorted to the public view.

He praised the role of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority and Dubai Police in supporting the Municipality in order to correct the status of all kinds of building violations. He also thanked the strategic partners of other service departments that support the Municipality in maintaining the aesthetic appearance of the city.

The official appealed to the public to cooperate with the Municipality to eliminate such irregularities by calling the toll free number 800900 to report them.