News
Dubai Police to add Dh196m smart patrols to its fleet
A total of 400 Ghiath smart patrols worth Dh196 million will be added to the Dubai Police’s fleet over the next five years, Lieutenant-General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, commander-in-chief of the force, said. The made-in-UAE patrols will hit Dubai streets soon.
The Ghiath is one of the first cars to be fully manufactured in the UAE. It is produced by Emirati carmaker W Motors.
The cars will be manufactured at W Motors’ headquarters in Dubai Silicon Oasis.
These smart patrols have a 360-degree camera and eight exterior surveillance cameras. There’s a facial and licence plate recognition system in each car.
The patrols also boast of an integrated 16-inch central screen and a powerful onboard computer linked to the main control centre.
Each car has a custom-built drone box with an advanced drone on board.
We are proud to launch the Ghiath Smart Patrol in partnership with Dubai Police.
The first batch of highly advanced security vehicles was delivered during the World Police Summit at Expo 2020 with a further 400 Ghiath Smart Patrol to join Dubai Police fleet in the coming years. pic.twitter.com/zXrnE1UzEv— W Motors (@WMotors) March 17, 2022
The police chief said the fleet will soon be expanded to include unmanned vehicles, bicycles, e-vehicles, rapid intervention vehicles and rescue vehicles. A prototype of the Ghiath made its debut at GITEX.
Lt-Gen Al Marri made the announcement during the official launch of the second generation of the smart patrol in partnership with W Motors and Safe City Group.
He confirmed that the first batch of 10 vehicles has been delivered during the World Police Summit at Expo 2020.
“The features and capabilities of the Ghiath are exactly in line with our requirements and allow us to stay at the forefront of international security vehicle standards.”
Ralph R. Debbas, founder and chief executive officer of W Motors, said: “We are proud to have delivered the first Ghiath smart patrols to Dubai Police. This is a milestone not only for W Motors, but for the UAE’s automotive industry as we pave the way for manufacturing high-tech and pioneering vehicles locally. From design and engineering to innovative software development, with Ghiath we have created a state-of-the-art security vehicle that is now ready for duty.”
News
Crackdown on Illegal paying guests: Dubai’s new shared housing law takes effect with fines up to Dh1m
Dubai’s new legislation governing shared accommodation officially came into effect on August 26. Applying across the entire emirate, including free zones and special development zones, the comprehensive framework is designed to eliminate dangerous, overcrowded, and unauthorised partition rentals while establishing formal licensing standards for communal living.
What qualifies as shared housing?
Under the law, shared housing is defined as any residential property where individuals or families occupy private designated living spaces while sharing common facilities like kitchens, bathrooms, and dining areas.
Who is permitted to rent out shared units?
The new framework strictly bans unauthorised subletting by tenants. A primary tenant can no longer rent out individual bedrooms, partitioned spaces, or bed spaces directly to roommates or third parties.
Only the following entities can legally offer shared housing:
- Registered Property Owners: Leasing spaces directly to occupants under formal contracts.
- Licensed Management Companies: Authorised operators contracted by the owner to run and lease the property.
- Licensed Operators Subletting Master Leases: Approved commercial entities leasing an entire property from the owner to sublet authorised units to tenants.
Penalties for violations
Authorities have introduced strict financial and operational consequences for non-compliance:
- Initial Fines: Dh500 up to Dh500,000, depending on the severity of the violation.
- Repeat Violations: Fines double for repeat offences committed within one year, capped at Dh1,000,000.
- Operational Sanctions: Authorities may suspend operations for up to 6 months, revoke commercial licenses, cancel permits, disconnect utilities, seize equipment, or order the direct evacuation of non-compliant properties.
Grace period & tenant protection
- Compliance deadline: Existing shared housing operators and property owners have until August 26, 2027, to obtain permits and bring their properties into full compliance.
- Protection from sudden eviction: If an operator’s permit is suspended or cancelled, authorities can grant occupants an interim stay period to secure alternative accommodation rather than facing immediate eviction.
Approved property/resident categories
The regulation permits shared accommodation across six distinct property types:
- Residential apartments
- Detached/standalone houses
- Residential complexes
- Mixed-use buildings
- Attached / adjoining houses
- Multi-storey buildings
Permitted occupant groups include families, single men, single women, university students, government personnel, and private sector corporate employees. Corporate and student housing provided directly by employers or educational institutions does not require individual tenancy contracts.
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