DUBAI, UAE — The Dubai Municipality has issued a strict warning to residents and motorists against abandoning their vehicles in public spaces during the summer vacation season, stating that violators will face a fine of AED 500 along with additional impoundment charges.
The civic authority emphasized that leaving dirty, unwashed cars in unauthorized areas negatively impacts the aesthetic appearance, environmental hygiene, and cleanliness of the city. To prevent enforcement actions, the municipality has urged holidaymakers to secure their vehicles properly before leaving the country.
Five Essential Safety and Maintenance Guidelines
To help motorists protect their vehicles and avoid penalties, the Dubai Municipality outlined five essential steps to follow prior to traveling:
- Clean and Wash: Thoroughly clean the vehicle before departure to prevent dust accumulation.
- Designated Parking: Park exclusively in designated, authorized parking spaces rather than isolated or deserted plots.
- Avoid Isolated Areas: Do not leave vehicles in open sandy areas, vacant fields, or roadside verges.
- Regular Maintenance: Ensure the vehicle undergoes routine maintenance and annual comprehensive cleaning.
- Use Vehicle Covers: Protect the car using high-quality, securely fitted protective covers and verify it complies with community parking regulations.
Notice Period and Impoundment Process
Field inspection teams operate year-round across Dubai to monitor public roads, public parking lots, and open sandy areas for neglected vehicles.
When an abandoned vehicle is identified, inspectors paste a warning notice on the windshield. The grace period specified in the notice typically ranges from 3 to 15 days, depending on the location and condition of the vehicle.
Official Enforcement Procedure: The Dubai Municipality, in coordination with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), identifies the vehicle owners using registration databases and sends text message warnings. If the owner fails to clear or clean the vehicle within the stipulated grace period, the municipality hauls the vehicle away to the official impound yard in Al Awir.
To reclaim an impounded vehicle, owners must pay the AED 500 municipal fine, alongside accumulated towing, storage, and administrative fees.
Additional Summer Safety Advisory for Private Pools
Alongside the vehicle maintenance warning, the Dubai Municipality has also issued a safety advisory regarding the use of private residential swimming pools during the summer vacation.
Parents and guardians have been strongly advised to maintain constant visual supervision over children while they are swimming. The municipality explicitly warned against distracting children with mobile phones or leaving them unattended, emphasizing that strict vigilance is necessary to prevent accidental drownings and ensure child safety.
