Abu Dhabi sets Dh1,000 fine for hanging laundry on your balconies

In a move to improve the appearance of the capital, the municipality will first warn laundry offenders, and then fine those who violate the standards Dh1,000.

Hanging out your washing in Abu Dhabi could now land you a Dh1,000 fine.

ABU DHABI // Apartment dwellers in Abu Dhabi will be fined for drying their laundry outdoors.

In a move to improve the appearance of the capital, the municipality will first warn offenders, and then fine those who violate the standards Dh1,000.

The municipality has so far issued 146 warnings and the inspection teams have posted multilingual and educational warnings next to building lifts in an effort to inform residents.

Officials said hanging clothes on building faces, directly overlooking the street, mars the scenic appearance of the buildings and is unhygienic.

A recent three-day awareness campaign targeted residents Baniyas Musaffah and Mohammed bin Zayed City.

Posters calling on residents to cooperate in upgrading the appearance of the community were put up on building walls.

"The municipality is following up all warnings issued to occupants of buildings and villas to ensure their compliance with these instructions and laundry-drying laws," said Khalifa Al Rumaithi, director of public health at the municipality.

Residents are urged to either use electric driers, or place clothes-drying racks out of view.