The Ajman Government has introduced a new law to address the issue of abandoned vehicles, aimed at elevating the emirate’s urban landscape and promoting sustainable environmental practices.
Law No. (5) of 2024 requires all individuals and entities to take responsibility for the maintenance and storage of their vehicles. It is strictly prohibited to abandon vehicles in public spaces, as this can negatively impact the emirate’s image.
According to the law, an “abandoned vehicle” is any motor vehicle that is left unattended in a public area for a prolonged period, causing harm to public health or safety, damaging the emirate’s aesthetic appeal, or violating environmental regulations.
As per this law, the Municipality and Planning Department is authorized to identify and impound abandoned vehicles. A vehicle is deemed abandoned if it remains unattended for seven consecutive days from the date of initial identification by an authorized official.
To oversee the management of abandoned vehicles, the law establishes an “Abandoned Vehicle Disposition Committee” with responsibilities including cataloguing, inspecting, and assessing the abandoned vehicles’ condition, verifying the reasons for confiscation, addressing claims and objections, and notifying relevant authorities and vehicle owner.
The law provides a comprehensive framework for handling abandoned vehicles. Vehicle owners will be notified to claim their vehicles, while any known creditors are informed to take necessary legal action within 30 days of notification.
In cases where owner fails to reclaim the vehicle or creditors fail to take legal proceedings within the specified period, the committee will prepare a final list of abandoned vehicles for public auction. The law provides an opportunity for the owner to reclaim their vehicle before the auction is settled, but this requires the owner to pay all associated fees and fines incurred up to the date of retrieval.
