Coronavirus: Road cameras catch motorists breaking stay-home orders in Dubai

New measures by the city's police will see those not employed in essential sectors facing fines

Sanitation workers from Tadweer spraying a pedestrian crossing in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Dubai Police activated speed cameras across the city to detect motorists who do not comply with the stay-home advisory during the national sterilisation drive.

From Thursday evening until Sunday morning, the UAE government urged residents to remain indoors between the hours of 8pm and 6am, to allow municipality workers across the Emirates to carry out disinfection procedures.

Over the weekend, Dubai residents went on social media to say they had been flashed by road cameras, despite adhering to the speed limits.

And, on Friday, Dubai Police retweeted a video carried by Dubai Media Office affirming that it had adjusted the speed cameras in the emirate to catch those breaking the rules.

The authority said those that are employed in essential sectors, such as workers in the healthcare sector, would be exempt from fines.

Earlier, residents were informed that they would need permits to leave home during the nationwide sterilisation programme carried out by Dubai Municipality and Abu Dhabi Municipality.

People were advised to obtain a clearance for urgent work as well as to purchase food and medicine by logging on to the move.gov.ae website, launched by the emirate's Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management.

On Saturday, Dubai Police also posted a video on Twitter praising the efforts of emergency response workers. The 50-second clip showed police and ambulances responding to calls across the city. Dubbing them “heroes”, it ended by urging residents to stay home and stay safe.