Dubai: Eid is coming up right around the corner, and with it, vendors are cashing in to sell these illegal products to residents.
The Ministry of Interior has announced that establishments who sell fireworks can face imprisonment for up to six months and a maximum fine Dh10,000, according to Article 65 of Federal Decree Law No. 5 of 2013 concerning firearms, ammunition, explosives and military equipment.
Brig. Gen. Hamad Ajlan Al Amimi, director-general of the Federal Criminal Police at the UAE Ministry of Interior, said that the purchase of crackers and fireworks is illegal all across the country, and only licensed establishments can import or trade in such items.
“Fireworks cause deaths, burns and disfigurement, as well as permanent disabilities. They also threaten the safety of community members and their property,” he said.
In 2016, Gulf News reported that a 15-year-old boy sustained a serious eye injury caused by a burst cracker.
The teenager was walking past a group of people celebrating Diwali in Bur Dubai when the accident happened.
The annual awareness campaign, which was launched ahead of the Eid Al Fitr celebrations, serves as a reminder of the dangers of fireworks.
Brig. Gen. Al Amimi said that police departments in the UAE are cooperating to prevent the use of fireworks by individuals, and although they conduct regular inspection campaigns throughout the year, their efforts are especially concentrated around the time of national and religious holidays.
Members of the public are urged to notify police immediately if they come across vendors who promote fireworks and crackers. All complaints will be dealt with in strict confidence.
