More than 21,000 warnings have been issued for buildings in Abu Dhabi that have failed to adhere to fire safety regulations.
Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority inspected 10,753 residential and commercial buildings and centres across the emirate between May and October this year.
These included 6,994 entities in Abu Dhabi city, 3,494 in Al Ain and 265 in Al Dhafra.
Inspections led to the issuing of 21,271 warnings for buildings that were found non-compliant with fire safety requirements.
It's pivotal to assess and enhance the safety and fire prevention standards in the emirate
Brig Gen Salem Al Dhaheri,
acting director general of Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority
Abu Dhabi accounted for 16,053 notices, while buildings in the Al Ain region and Al Dhafra were issued 4,212 and 1,006 notices respectively.
A grace period – the duration of which was not disclosed – has also been given to property owners to rectify non-compliance issues.
The Civil Defence said it will monitor the properties during this time.
The move aims to enhance fire safety standards across the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Brig Gen Salem Al Dhaheri, acting director general of Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority, lauded the initiative.
"It's pivotal to assess and enhance the safety and fire prevention standards in the emirate," he said, adding that intensified efforts made by the authority and its strategic partners have made the initiative a success.
The scheme began with inspections of residential buildings, businesses, and industrial zones, focusing on essential safety measures.
Buildings are required to install fire detectors and fire alarm systems, while maintaining service contracts with Civil Defence-approved companies, among other requirements, he said.
Field inspections also revealed that owners and investors are actively rectifying previous violations.
In an interview with Al Fujairah Radio in May, Lt Col Amir Al Otaibi, deputy chief of the inspection scheme, said the initiative was designed to examine and highlight potential hazards in buildings.
Building owners that do not adhere to fire safety regulations will face fines of up to Dh50,000, he said.
For severe non-compliance, buildings will be temporarily closed until all issues are rectified.
Civil defence teams responded to more than 3,000 incidents in 2022, according to Ministry of Interior figures.
There were 2,169 building fires, a three per cent increase from 2,090 in 2021, and a 10 per cent increase from 1,968 in 2020.
The majority of fires took place in residential areas, with villas and apartments accounting for 1,385 of the incidents.
A further 256 fires occurred in commercial buildings, 153 on farms, and 122 at public service facilities.
The figures did not include information on deaths or injuries.
Emergency services responded to about 860 fires last year in Abu Dhabi.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
