Abu Dhabi warns residents against installing illegal satellite dishes

Inspectors launch awareness campaign to reduce the number of fixtures and protect city's appearance

Abu Dhabi banned illegal satellite dishes in 2015. Ravindranath K / The National

Abu Dhabi Municipality has warned residents against installing illegal satellite dishes on balconies and rooftops.

Spot checks by inspectors in industrial areas such as Mussafah and Mafraq found several breaches of the rules.

Under municipality regulations, a building can only have four dishes and all other connections must run through them.

Officials have launched an awareness campaign targeting owners, investors and community members in the industrial areas to reduce the number of satellite dishes installed on balconies and rooftops and protect the public appearance of the city.

The municipality sent more than 5,000 text messages to business owners and community members urging them to abide by the rules.

It also posted several awareness images across its social media platforms warning residents not to clutter the exterior of buildings with illegal fixtures.

Posters outlining the regulations are a familiar sight in many buildings across the city.

Installing satellite dishes on balconies and hanging connection cables on building facades is also considered an offence.

Abu Dhabi Municipality imposed a ban on illegal satellite dishes in 2015 and warned anyone in breach faced Dh2,000 in fines and possible legal action.