Image: Getty Images/ For illustrative purposes
Dubai Municipality has rolled out a new smart application, Eltizam, designed to give selected government officials the power to detect and record public cleanliness violations, part of the city’s push to maintain its position as the world’s cleanest city.
The app grants judicial officer status to authorised personnel, enabling them to take photos, tag locations automatically and add notes when documenting breaches of regulations.
The initiative targets offences, from spitting in public areas and improper disposal of chewing gum to dumping waste in the sea and lighting fires in unauthorised places.
A milestone in Dubai Municipality’s digital transformation plans, Eltizam aims to strengthen regulatory enforcement while promoting shared responsibility between officials and residents for urban aesthetics, public health and environmental sustainability.
Eltizam launch key to making Dubai ‘the most beautiful and cleanest city in the world’
“The launch of Eltizam is a key step in Dubai Municipality’s mission to enhance the city’s cleanliness, sustainability, and quality of life,” said Engineer Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, DG of Dubai Municipality. “By empowering authorised officials with judicial enforcement tools, we are fostering a culture of responsibility and social engagement. This app reflects our vision of a pioneering city where technology and regulation work together to protect Dubai’s urban appeal and elevate its position as the most beautiful and cleanest city in the world.”
Bin Ghalita said public cleanliness was “not a technical issue alone — it is a civic value and a shared commitment,” adding that Eltizam underscored the role of both officials and citizens in shaping “a sustainable, liveable Dubai for generations to come.”
The first phase of the app’s rollout will focus on eight specific violations deemed harmful to the city’s image, including littering, draining vehicle wash water in undesignated areas, posting unapproved flyers, and failing to remove animal waste from public spaces.
Based on Dubai Law No (19) of 2024, which regulates judicial officer status in the emirate, the platform is intended to deliver faster enforcement, clearer compliance processes and increased community engagement.
For businesses, particularly those in tourism, retail and real estate, the initiative signals a strengthening of Dubai’s regulatory framework for public spaces, an element seen as critical to maintaining the city’s brand and investment appeal.
8 key ‘cleanliness’ violations
- Spitting in public areas
- Disposing of chewing gum improperly
- Littering in public spaces
- Dumping organic or general waste into the sea, beaches, creeks, or ports
- Draining vehicle wash water in non-designated areas
- Lighting fires or barbecuing in unauthorised places
- Posting flyers, advertisements, or printed materials that deface public areas
- Failing to remove animal waste from public spaces
Read: From waste oil to renewable biodiesel: Details on Dubai Municipality, BiOD’s new MoU
