Dubai steps up cleanliness in desert zones

Dubai - Drones to be used in audio awareness operations for the public in hard-to-reach areas.

It is that time of the year when desert trips see a huge spike and visitors as well hikers leave behind an ugly trail: barbecue residues, coal waste and other obnoxious trash.

The Dubai Municipality has intensified its efforts to clean up the mess in these areas, while implementing a comprehensive work programme that will continue until the end of April next year.

The sites being covered by the civic body include Al Qudra Street extension, Al Ruwaiya-3 area, Al-Warsan-2 and 3, Margham Street, tourist locations in Hatta, Al Qudra Lakes, Love Lakes, the area behind defense camp in Al Aweer, Lehbab-2 area, Tripoli Street, Wadi Al Amardi area, Wadi Al Shabak, Emirates Road, Amman Street in Al Khawaneej, Al Tayy area and all other open land areas in the emirate.

A team has been assigned to follow up the cleaning tasks of desert sites, consisting of 100 workers, 33 supervisory and control staff, and six desert bikes and 24 different additional mechanisms for transporting and collecting waste, said Abdulmajeed Saifaie, director of Waste Management Department.

Saifaie pointed out that the municipality is always keen to provide workers and supervisors with various equipment and means for storing waste and barbecue residues, in order to maintain the cleanliness of such sites around the clock.

“The municipality staff were able to collect and remove approximately 143 tons of general waste from the beginning of October until mid-November from these sites,” he added.