Dubai launches AI cameras to catch litterers, with fines of up to Dh500

Dubai: Dubai Municipality on Thursday announced the launch of a pilot project using Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered cameras to improve public cleanliness monitoring and speed up responses to littering violations, with fines reaching up to Dh500.

The smart camera system, part of the emirate's "Smart Waste Management" framework, represents a significant step towards maintaining Dubai's reputation for cleanliness while embracing cutting-edge technology to enforce environmental regulations.

Unlike traditional monitoring methods, the AI-enabled system analyses captured images instantly, displaying violations on interactive digital dashboards that allow field teams to take swift action, the civic body said.

The cameras have been mounted on several waste collection and transportation vehicles during the pilot phase, giving authorities a mobile surveillance network that covers roads, residential neighbourhoods and public areas throughout Dubai.

The system specifically targets illegal waste dumping near containers, on pavements and in public squares.

The system monitors a range of negative behaviours, most notably littering in public places, which carries a fine of up to DhD500, in addition to the improper disposal of furniture and bulky waste and other practices that harm the city’s appearance and lead to waste accumulation.

In a move to reinforce its status as the world’s cleanest city, Dubai last year launched a new app, ‘Eltizam’, to instantly report people breaking public cleanliness rules, from littering and spitting to illegal barbecuing and pet fouling.

The app launched by Dubai Municipality empowers selected officials with judicial authority to report violations on the spot, using real-time photo evidence and location tracking.

Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director-General of Dubai Municipality, told WAM that the new AI camera project forms part of a strategic approach aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of monitoring systems, supporting data-driven decision-making and developing sustainable policies to improve the urban environment.

He noted that the outcomes of the pilot phase will be evaluated ahead of any expansion of the system’s implementation.

Adel Al Marzouqi, Executive Director of the Waste and Sewerage Agency, said the system helps document violations accurately and accelerate corrective measures, while protecting community privacy in line with Dubai’s smart city and digital transformation goals.

“The project falls within Dubai Municipality’s efforts to support the Dubai Integrated Waste Management Strategy 2041, enhancing the sustainability of public cleanliness and quality of life, and reinforcing the emirate’s position as a leading global city in sustainability and innovation,” the civic body stated.