Abu Dhabi launches awareness drive for safety of residents

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport, in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority, has launched a safety awareness campaign targeting residents, property operators, contractors and owners of all residential properties, with the aim of reducing the phenomenon of random housing in the Emirate by educating people on how to implement safety measures and comply with licences and procedures for appropriate uses . This initiative is part of DMT and Civil Defence’s commitment to helping developers and end users of residential properties stay safe.

The campaign aims to promote a safety culture about the dangers of improperly modifying properties or failing to periodically check safety equipment. DMT and Abu Dhabi Civil Defence sent direct messages to residents, operators and owners to emphasise the importance of compliance with regulations, with a series of awareness videos on how to implement safety measures and rules for changing property specifications.

DMT and the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority called on residents to comply with laws regarding documentation and modification of property specifications, and to ensure that all security and preventive safety procedures are followed, such as providing clear and fluid exits in the event of a crisis, providing and reviewing fire extinguishers, and smoke and heat detectors for early warning systems.

The ongoing cooperation between DMT and Abu Dhabi Civil Defence emphasises the need to implement the safety standards and requirements stipulated in DMT’s “Abu Dhabi International Building Codes” and the Civil Defence’s “UAE Fire & Life Safety Code Of Practice”, which covers the maintenance of existing buildings and contains minimum requirements for buildings in terms of maintenance, equipment. These requirements cover remediation, protection against natural hazards, fire safety and safe and sound maintenance.

As part of its commitment to society, DMT is focused on defining the requirements for safety and damage prevention measures in accordance with DMT’s and the Civil Defence regulations, which embody the Abu Dhabi government’s vision and goals of establishing a common framework to serve all parties involved in the building permits and regulation of all construction and urban development projects in the emirate.

Recently, the Joint Committee for Security and Safety, represented by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, the General Command of Civil Defence at the Ministry of Interior, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company “ADNOC”, the Emirates General Petroleum Corporation “Emarat” and the Emirates National Oil Company “ENOC”, launched its national awareness campaign under the slogan “Commit...Get Protected”.

The campaign is part of the Committee’s qualitative initiatives to raise awareness of fuel stations users in UAE of the safety and security indicators and the correct methods and conduct to be followed at service stations, especially during the process of filling vehicles with fuel to protect their safety, and the safety of the service providers.

The campaign, which embodies the strategy of UAE and the vision of the leadership in raising the rate of security and safety in society, and protecting the lives of individuals who are the focus of sustainable development, aims to reduce the risks and damages that may result from the wrong practices during filling fuel such as smoking, using electronic devices or ignoring any leakage or vehicle malfunction, opening the hood of the vehicle, or moving without making sure that the vehicle refueling process is complete.

The Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) was established by Law No. 30 of 2019 and is the entity responsible for managing the urban planning and transport sectors, and three regional municipalities.

As the entity responsible for supporting the growth and urban development of Abu Dhabi Emirate, the DMT guides, regulates and monitors urban development activities. The expert authority improves municipal work to provide comprehensive services and creates higher living standards for residents through the supervision and management of the municipalities.

The DMT ensures the highest standards of safety, security, sustainability and technological developments of land, air and maritime transport networks of the Emirate, in line with the highest international standards and UAE legislation.