Dubai: Expatriates who wish to go for recreational fishing in Dubai must be residing in Dubai, a senior official from Dubai Municipality has said.
Individuals who want to go fishing must obtain a licence from the municipality for recreational fishing — whether it is along the coastline or in leisure boats.
"A fishing licence is a requirement for individuals prior to conducting [any] fishing activity. The fishing licence will be given only to those who have their residency visa issued in Dubai and are living in Dubai," said Engineer Mohammad Abdul Rahman Hassan, Head of the Marine and Environmental Protection section at Dubai Municipality.
Hassan added that no fishing licence would be issued to those who have their visas issued from another emirate and are living in another emirate.
"Even if the residency visa is issued in Dubai no fishing licence will be given if the person is living in another emirate," he said.
Equal conditions
He said that the same law is followed across other emirates, adding that Emiratis who have their passports issued from Dubai can fish in Dubai.
"If people have their residency visa issued from another emirate they must be living in Dubai to be given fishing licence from Dubai. They must prove to us that they are living in Dubai," he said. He added that those who caught fishing without a licence will be fined.
Hassan said fishing is only allowed in specific areas as authorised by Dubai Municipality. "This is to ensure the management of fishing operation and strict implementation of the Federal Law No. 23 of 1999 on the Exploitation, Protection and Development of Aquatic Resources in UAE and the Federal Law No. 24 of 1999 for the Protection and Development of Environment."
He said that applications for licences should be attached with documents such as copies of passport, vehicle registration, driving licence, labour card (for expatriates), residence plan or rent contract (for expatriates) and two photographs. "The service is free of charge," he said.
Hassan urged the public to stick to the rules. "The sea is the same all over the emirates and there is no difference in the kind of fish in the sea. The aim is to protect marine life and to monitor the issue," he said.
Hassan Ali, an Egyptian, who has his residency visa issued in Dubai but lives in Sharjah, said he received a fine from Dubai Municipality inspectors because he was fishing in Dubai.
"I paid more than Dh,1,000 as a fine for fishing without [a] licence," he said. Ali said he paid the fine and applied for a fishing licence at Dubai Municipality but his application was rejected because he lives in Sharjah.
Ali believes that this is unfair. "Sometimes I go with the family to the beach in Dubai and I like to fish on the seaside but I got caught twice," he said.
Do you fish? Have you tried applying for a licence? How convenient was the process? Which is your favourite fishing spot in the UAE?
Ali said on one of those occasions the municipality inspector was kind and did not issue him a fine but the second time he had to pay the fine.
Quick take
For further information about obtaining fishing licence in Dubai contact: 8004567, or info@dm.gov.ae,
www.dm.gov.ae
Email marabdulla@dm.gov.ae
