ABU DHABI // City chiefs will begin handing out fines to landlords who allow more than four TV satellite dishes on their rooftops.
From Sunday, after a grace period of a month, offenders face a fine of Dh2,000 for breaking the regulations, the state news agency Wam reported.
Abu Dhabi Municipality said those who failed to remove the dishes – even if they had paid the fine – would be referred to public prosecutors.
Saeed Al Hajeri, director of mobile inspection at the municipality, told the Abu Dhabi TV news programme Olum Al Dar that greater efforts to maintain the aesthetic appearance of the city were being made.
Mr Al Hajeri said landlords and property investors were limited by law to a maximum of four dishes connected to a central antenna system, which would still meet the needs of tenants.
“Those who fail to remove these devices and pay the fine will be referred to the public prosecution,” he said.
However, building owners said they had started removing them and many planned to do so to avoid fines.
Mahmoud Rashid, a security guard at a building on Najda Street, said: “We are aware of the notice and already we have ordered technicians to remove dishes within three days.
“I think it wouldn’t take more than two days to clean them all. There are very old dishes that were left for years and now they are completely jammed on to the rooftop wall and need to be removed,” Mr Rashid said.
Decree No 2 of 2012 bans the installation of more than four dishes on rooftops, or installing any satellite dishes on balconies, walls and garden fences.
“We have asked technicians to clear them all and instal four central dishes that could [satisfy the] requirement of all our tenants,” said Mr Rashid, who received warnings more than a month ago.
Mr Rashid said there were 80 flats in his building and 40 satellite dishes on the roof.
The municipality indicated that in many cases the dishes were improperly connected and poorly maintained, with cables strewn across walls.
“This can make it difficult for paramedics and other emergency response teams to gain access to homes,” it said.
Building maintenance technician Sachin Reddy said warnings were not new but nobody had acted upon them.
But this time it seems rules will be strictly enforced, he said.
“In some old buildings I have found more than 100 on a single rooftop as a person instals two to three different dishes to watch other channels,” Mr Reddy said.
The municipality also urged companies that instal and maintain satellite dishes to follow safety standards.
anwar@thenational.ae
