DUBAI // UAE national football players took part in Dubai Police’s annual Ramadan firework education campaign.
Al Ain player Omar Abdulrahman, 23, said people must be aware of the dangers of fireworks, which are illegal in the UAE, and praised the efforts of the police Protective Security and Emergency Department, which has been spearheading the campaign.
Meanwhile, Al Wahda’s Ismail Mattar, 32, said that fireworks could have serious consequences and that there was a growing awareness of the use of them in football stadiums. Both players were at Nad Al Sheba stadium on Wednesday night as police handed out leaflets on their campaign.
Brig Abdullah Al Ghaithi, director of the department, said that the players’ participation would help to raise more awareness of the dangers of fireworks – especially during religious periods such as Ramadan.
There are six licensed fireworks companies in Dubai and it is illegal to buy or sell fireworks without a licence. But, sometimes, fireworks are used to celebrate the holy month. Anyone caught selling fireworks without a licence could be sentenced to a minimum of six months in jail, fined Dh10,000 or both.
Companies or people with licences to import fireworks cannot sell them or store them without permission from the police and other authorities. Last year in the emirate, more than 8,000 boxes of illegal fireworks were seized during Ramadan.
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