Dubai Municipality fines 28 pest control firms for failing to comply with approved standards

The Dubai Municipality announced disciplinary action against 28 pest control companies for failing to comply with approved standards, despite having received prior instructions and guidance.

The municipality emphasised that disciplinary action is a last resort, taken only after all awareness-raising efforts have been exhausted.

It explained that there are now 283 approved and licensed pest control companies operating within an integrated system aimed at protecting public health and ensuring a safe and clean environment for Dubai residents and visitors.

The municipality confirmed that its inspection teams regularly monitor these companies through scheduled and random inspections to ensure compliance with approved regulations and policies.

Adel Abdullah Al Karani, Director of the Public Health Services Department at Dubai Municipality, explained that the launch of the Professional Diploma in Public Health Pest Control is the first of its kind to be accredited by the Ministry of Education and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai.

The diploma is designed to qualify and train workers in the pest control sector, which highlights the municipality's commitment to improving the efficiency of national and field personnel.

Al Karani noted that the municipality has strengthened its preparations for the upcoming winter season by providing workers with intensive training, preparing vehicles and equipment, and expanding the distribution of smart mosquito traps to 237 locations in lakes, watersheds and densely populated residential areas.

The Department focuses on combatting insects and pests that pose the greatest threat to human health, such as mosquitoes, rodents, snakes and scorpions. The specific pests targeted depend on the nature of the area and their seasonal spread.

In addition, the Dubai Municipality has adopted a range of eco-friendly technologies, including smart traps and monitoring devices to analyse pest spread patterns, as well as environmentally safe pesticides and bacterial tablets to target mosquito larvae in bodies of water.

The Department also uses digital maps and geographic information systems to predict outbreak seasons and implement early preventive measures.

Al Karani revealed that the municipality is studying the possibility of introducing sterile insect technology to combat mosquitoes. This modern biological technique involves releasing chemically sterile insects into the natural environment to prevent the production of new offspring, thereby reducing the number of pests in subsequent generations. He emphasised that it is environmentally friendly and completely safe.

Dubai Municipality receives service requests from the public via smart channels such as the 800900 call centre, the Dubai Now and Dubai Municipality apps, WhatsApp and the virtual assistant 'Faris', ensuring a rapid response and the processing of requests within the specified timeframe.

The Municipality indicated that pest control campaigns are evaluated using specific criteria, such as the number of sites covered, the percentage reduction in complaints, smart trap readings and customer satisfaction survey results. By the end of September 2025, the number of service requests had reached 31,639, with a completion rate of 99.61%.

Dubai Municipality concluded by affirming its commitment to the highest safety standards when using federally approved pesticides, as well as its continued use of technology and artificial intelligence to monitor and analyse pest data. This transforms pest control management from a traditional reactive approach to a proactive, smart one that safeguards human health and protects Dubai's sustainable environment.