Random Public Ads Under Municipal Attention
• Random and unlicensed advertising continues despite repeated removal campaigns
• Illegal advertising publications burden municipal efforts
In response to the negative phenomena and irregularities that impede the efforts of Muscat Municipality in Muscat governorate to create an aesthetic urban environment free from eyesore and pollution, Muscat Municipality continues to alert the public to avoid random public advertisements
This phenomenon causes an eyesore as the random advertising ads spread in front of traffic or when they are installed randomly on buildings or other public facilities and plots. The Municipality therefore emphasizes that these practices are contrary to local Order No. 25/93 on the regulation and control of advertising, as well as local Order No. 23/97 on the protection of public facilities, which requires all individuals who have installed such advertising and promotional posters for their own business to remove them in order to avoid violations.
Ahmed al Kindi who is an employee in Muscat Municipality in Bousher said that ads and other advertising prints has become apparent in the public, and this poses an extra burden on the Municipality to remove. Yassin Al Lawati, who is head of Investor Relations department at the General Directorate of investment and economic development in Muscat Municipality referred to the local order no. (25/93), which explained the general laws to regulate and control advertising, such as the definition of advertising, the identification of ads exempt from licensing and the places where
Khalid bin Hamad Al-Rahbi, director of the urban inspection department at the General Directorate of Muscat Municipality in Bousher, said: "the Directorate in general and the department in particular receive a lot of reports, whether through calls or through social media sites or through Muscat Communication Center, complaining about illegal random ads, like:
1. Distributing advertising publications in front of mosques and houses of worship, which is contrary to Article 7 (1).
2. Placement of publications in state`s properties and buildings, which is contrary to Article 7, Paragraph
3. Distributing advertising leaflets in public parks, sidewalks and surrounding fences, which is in violation of Article 7 (3).
The legal articles enacted by the municipality on the regulation and control of advertisements stated that " any advertisement may be placed or made only after obtaining a permit from the municipality, with emphasis on preventing the publication on mosques, places of worship, archaeological buildings, cemeteries and surrounding fences, and any state`s properties and buildings".
The advertisement shall not cause obstruction of pedestrians or traffic, damage or wear of its light signals and shall not cause damage to any kind of extensions, services, plantings, disability of the means of rescue or ventilation or damage to others, and shall not interfere with the organizational nature of the city or neighborhood and shall not offend the public appearance. In conclusion, the municipality of Muscat relies on the community to cooperate and abide by the obligations as such practices are illegal and random.