Building Inspection Section carried out 40,000 field visits in 2013 to ensure that laws, regulations and systems with regards to buildings are duly followed.
In its continuous crackdown on violators of building regulations in Dubai, the Dubai Municipality recorded nearly 5,000 violations in 2013, the Building Department of the civic agency said on Wednesday.
Making changes and additions to the buildings were the major violations recorded, Acting Director of the department Marwan Abdulla Al-Mohammed said in a statement.
The official said the Building Inspection Section carried out 40,000 field visits in 2013 to ensure that laws, regulations and systems with regards to buildings are duly followed.
“During these visits, our inspectors issued 29,676 technical reports and based on them, notifications were sent regarding 4,804 violations to the owners who failed to abide with laws, regulations and building systems,” he said.
He said around 2,590 violations were registered for making changes without gaining permit, and the likes.
According to him, a total of 2,214 violations were registered for making additions to buildings without permits.
The municipality has been taking strict measures against owners who have illegally sublet their villas, housing multiple families and bachelors in various parts of the emirate. Owners of many such buildings have also committed violations such as making partitions and additions to the buildings without the permission from the municipality. Penalties for these violators include hefty fines and disconnection of water and electricity supplies.
Al Mohammed said utility services of 1,069 buildings that violated rules were cut while the services were reinstated in 611 buildings after the owners corrected the violations in 2013.
He said his department had been striving to maintain the fair appearance of the city of Dubai through the systematic visits to buildings located in various areas.
“The appearance of buildings has a pivotal role in making up the overall aesthetic beauty of the city. As Dubai is one of the globally preferred tourist destinations, this is our prime concern” he added.
Jabir Ahmed Al-Ali, head of Building Inspection Section, said the department planned to raise the number of buildings that corrected violations they were booked for in 2013.
Earlier this month, however, the municipality had warned owners of deserted buildings against demolition if they did not renovate and reuse the abandoned buildings.
