Dhs1 million fine for overcrowding residential units in Abu Dhabi

UAE: Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) on Thursday launched the ‘Your home, your responsibility’ campaign to combat overcrowding in residential areas.

As part of the inspection campaigns which will begin in the first quarter of 2023, violators are to be fined up to Dh1 million. As per Law No. 8 of 2019, a residential unit is deemed overcrowded when occupied in a manner that is out of proportion to its area and facilities provided.

The campaign, launched in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Civil Defense Authority, aims to protect community members from the adverse effects of overcrowding to improve the standard of living in the emirate.

It urged all citizens, real estate owners, and businesses to follow the law by limiting the number of people per residential unit and housing workers in residential areas designated for them, away from family homes.

Inspection campaigns will be conducted by the inspectors of the three municipalities of the Emirate.

The authority said residents can contact the municipal entities by calling 800555 to report instances of overcrowding and other breaches of the occupancy law.

It stressed that the awareness campaign will lessen the distortion of the city’s appearance, the lack of security and safety standards, and the general state of cleanliness within residences.