Clampdown on unsafe Ramadan tents in Ajman and Sharjah

SHARJAH // Civil Defence chiefs in Ajman and Sharjah will inspect unlicensed Ramadan tents and take action against those found to be in breach of fire-safety rules.

Owners of tents deemed to be unsafe can face fines ranging from Dh1,000 to Dh10,000, said Lt Faisal Mohammed Al Sheiba, head of emergencies and inspections at Ajman Civil Defence.

All tents are required to meet criteria on size, capacity and emergency exits, which must be marked clearly in Arabic and English.

Lamps and bulbs should be fixed at least 40 centimetres away from the tent's fabric and air-conditioning units should be at least 1.5 metres away from the tent.

Qualified electricians should be brought in to ensure an electrical circuit breaker is installed and loads are regularly monitored.

Officers will also visit restaurants and cafes to raise awareness of food safety during the holy month.

Staff from Sharjah Municipality will visit restaurants in Rolla, Al Nabba, Al Qasimia and other neighbourhoods to warn people about the risks of eating food sold by street vendors.

In both emirates, decorative lights have been installed along main roads, at mosques and Government buildings. Most minarets have been decorated with different coloured lights and the traditional "Ramadan Kareem" greeting, a spokesman for Sharjah Municipality said.

"The decorations will stay for the whole of the holy month and, towards Eid, other kinds of decorations will be put up," he said.

Sharjah Police have placed cannon at nine locations around the emirate, including Sharjah Cultural Palace, Al Juraina, Al Sari Mosque, Al Nour Mosque at Sharjah Waterfront, Al Talla, Al Mirgab and Musallah Al Badee. They will be fired to announce iftar each day, in a signal that will be broadcast live on TV and radio.

Police will also hand out water, juice and food to those at the nine locations.

* Yasin Kakande