Al Wathba residents welcome removal of ‘unsightly’ adverts and notices

In a crackdown on unlicensed billboards in streets in Al Wathba and Baniyas areas of Abu Dhabi, the municipal inspectors have fined 13 violators.

Abu Dhabi City Municipality has launched a campaign to combat the randomly placed advertising signs cluttering streets, public utilities and lampposts in Al Wathba. Courtesy Abu Dhabi Municipality

ABU DHABI // Residents have welcomed a municipality campaign to remove unauthorised notices and advertisements from public areas.

Under the law, anyone who puts up notices on bus shelters or building facades could be fined Dh1,000. Failure to pay the fine within 30 days will result in a court case.

The campaign is focused on areas in Al Wathba and Baniyas, where the problem is rampant. The municipality has issued 13 fines to date.

A municipality spokesman said the illegal signs marred the appearance of public areas and posed environmental dangers.

Residents applauded the crackdown, saying that illegal billboards and posters were detrimental to the appearance of the areas.

Al Wathba resident Hazim Mohammed said the posters often advertised substandard services.

“Such billboards and handwritten posters can be found on walls, lamp posts and narrow alleys of shops. Generally, these services are not authentic and authorised, so people should ignore them,” he said.

“I have seen many of them [signs] in the nearby Baniyas market and a few in Al Wathba market. If the Government is taking action against them, it is praiseworthy.”

Mr Mohammed said the advertisements were usually for room or bedspace rental, but they also promised treatments for pest infestations, hair loss and erectile dysfunction.

Mohammed Salem Ahmed, also a resident of Al Wathba, said the posters were misleading and targeted migrant workers and bachelors.

He said officials should take action against those who post the notices.

“Such advertisements must be banned. I appreciate the authorities who initiated inspections to clean the walls.”

The municipality has urged people not to put up illegal signs at public utilities, on lamp posts, at bus stations and on buildings or other facilities.