Private Ramadan tents are banned: Dubai Municipality

Residents are allowed to set up tents within their home premises without the need for permits, a Dubai Municipality (DM) official clarified.
Khaleej Times previously quoted another municipal official announcing a complete ban on private Ramadan tents. However, a news report cited there is no blanket ban, quoting a senior official who said residents are allowed to set up tents within their own premises if they take necessary permits and follow regulations. When Nasser Al Shayea, Dubai Municipality's head of building inspection unit in Bur Dubai, was contacted again, he confirmed that private tents are banned for safety reasons.
However, Dawoud Al Hajri, CEO of the Planning Department at Dubai Municipality, clarified that small tents set within home premises are allowed without the need for permits.
Echoing Al Shayea's earlier statements, Al Hajri said tents outside land premises are completely banned to avoid road congestion and unsafe use of electricity.
"Commercial tent permits are only given to hotels," said Al Hajri. "We have no say on tents set within premises of people's villas, but we do not allow any construction outside their property."
Ebtesam Mohammed Alamri, head of Permits Section at the Building Department at the municipality, confirmed the information. She stated that no space restrictions are imposed on residents who want to erect the "simple and easily removable" tents within the premises of their villas.
She said the tents are allowed only across the holy month. Failure to remove the tents once the holy month is over can result in penalties. "Home tents are expected to be small. Therefore, they are left under the owner's responsibility.
"Ramadan tents is a social behaviour practised by UAE community for many years and we pay special attention by facilitating procedures for concerned parties to ensure public safety."
Permits for tents
Hotel owners are required to apply for permits at the municipality for commercial tents after getting approval from Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing. For charitable tents, permits are issued from the Building Department.
sherouk@khaleejtimes.com

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