26 street vendors fined in Abu Dhabi drive

During inspections conducted in Al Mafraq labour area and Western region, 36 street vendors were fined. - Supplied photo

The Department of Economic Development (DED), Abu Dhabi, has launched a campaign in Al Mafraq labour area to combat street vendors.
Ahmed Tarish Al Qubaisi, acting Director of DED's Commercial Protection Directorate, said that the campaign in Al Mafraq labour area (ICAD 2) resulted in 26 fines, the seizure of five vehicles and the destruction of a large quantity of seized goods including clothes, vegetables and fruits.
In the raid in the Western Region, Al Qubaisi said 10 fines were issued and a large quantity of goods promoted by street vendors was destroyed.
He said the campaign is launched in cooperation with the municipalities of Abu Dhabi and the Western Region, police stations of the Western Region and the Suburbs as well as the Waste management Centre as the goods sold by street vendors can badly affect consumers because they are not subject to health and quality controls and are sold without a licence.
Al Qubaisi said that some of the negative trends in the emirate are the result of wrong, illegal practices by individuals or even some licensed traders who are not aware of the laws and regulations that control commercial activities.
"The joint committee formed from various government bodies to combat the phenomenon of street vendors has sent its recommendations to the Executive Council of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi including stringent penalties of increased fines, the deportation of violators in addition to developing alternative markets for this kind of labourers," Al Qubaisi said.
Al Qubaisi said that according to the Entry No. 116 of the Table of Violations applied by the DED's Commercial Protection Directorate, a street vendor is the person who displays goods in the street to sell them to pedestrians in various areas of the city without any permission or licence from competent bodies.
He called on citizens and expatriates not to deal with such vendors and to report such cases directly through the toll free call centre 800555.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com