ABU DHABI // New regulations for heavy building machinery and cranes mean all contractors and building companies must acquire a municipality-backed safety certificate before work can begin.
The law, already in place, requires building and demolition companies to present "technical testing certificates of their equipment" provided by third-party inspectors before a licence can be issued for the machinery.
"These procedures ensure a high degree of safety and establish the actual worthiness and optimal use of equipment," said Salah Al Sarraj, the acting executive director of town planning at the municipality.
The authority developed the regulations with the Abu Dhabi Police.
These rules will help avoid equipment accidents such as the one that caused major traffic congestion on Hamdan Street in July. A crane collapsed, with more than 25 safety offences, including defective equipment and inadequate supervision, being blamed.
The new regulations will also require companies to regularly test their equipment and perform routine maintenance. If a crane defect is found by municipal inspectors, the owner will be fined.
Penalties will be doubled if a second offence is registered with the municipality.
The authority will also order all equipment operators to receive some qualification training.
jthomas@thenational.ae
Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Who is Mohammed Al Halbousi?
The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.
The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.
He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.
He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.
He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
