DPM starts digital allocation of rural farms

Abu Dhabi City Municipality – The Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities has made a new achievement in the digital transformation drive of municipal services by Renew License farms online through its Smart Hub.

The Technology Committee at the Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities is progressing ahead with the digital with the aim of achieving 100% transformation of all municipal services by the end of this year. The policy is undertaken in implementation of the directive of the Government and bring happiness to people. The rising chart of online services indicates the solid progress made towards achieving the ultimate goal on time.

Salim Rashid Al Kutbi, Head of Rural Farms Streamlining Committee said citizens can now carry out Renew License to rural farms without visiting any municipal offices. “Clients can just log on to the Smart Hub of the Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities (http/smarthub.adm.gov.abdhabi) and obtain all their needs in a hassle-free manner. The Hub also provides to citizens a full database about the conditions of using rural farms and obtaining permits in this regard.

“The Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities is providing the online services through its Smart Hub covering breeding farms, camel farms and seasonal farms.

“To ensure justice and transparency in allocating rural farms, the Municipality will enter names and details through a smart system that allocates farms randomly without any intervention from municipal employees,” he added.

Ahmed Abdul Samad Al Hamadi, Director of IT Planning, Abu Dhabi City Municipality, said that all community members interested in availing digital services are required to register once only in the unified Smart Pass. Afterwards, they can avail of all online services on offer.

“The Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities is making regular progress in making in transforming regular services into online services and the rate has so far exceeded 84.7%.

Hussein Al Gelani, Director of Real Estate Registration Department at the Abu Dhabi City Municipality, called on citizens to abide by the specific uses of the rural farms as per Law No.73 of 2015, and especially the environmental and health standards. In addition to preserving the general appearance of the rural farms, and not to use them for other purposes. Al Gelani expressed his hope and confidence in the contribution with the Abu Dhabi City Municipality in this regard.

“All types of rural farms, whether owned or leased for long or temporary contracts, are subject to the conditions, specifications and standards specified by the law, which state that rural farms cannot be used for random storage of materials or negative practices damaging to the environment or urban landscape. The law also states that the temporary rural farms shall be evacuated only through the full coordination with the authorised body responsible for the management and control of the rural farms,” said Al Gelani.

The law classified the rural farms according to the purposes of their use, including:

• Rural farms for breeding: The designated and leased land is used for breeding a specific species of animals such as camels, sheep, goats, to be used in sports or meet various social needs.
• Rural farms for camel racing: The designated and leased land is used for breeding camel racing.
• Seasonal rural farms: The designated and leased land is used for Camel breeding, organising sports, social, service or leisure activities. Such activities must be from the beginning of October until the end of April of each year, unless other circumstances hinder such activities.

Dr. Salim Mohammed Al Ameri, member of the rural farms committee, stressed the importance of providing many conditions to the rural farm’s lessee, including but not limited to:

• The tenant must be a UAE National.
•  21 years old at least
• To own or undertake to own a number of animals allowed in rural farms for breeding
•  Must prepare the rural farm with the number of animals after three months from the date of entry into force of the lease.
• All animals shall be registered in the system of identification and registration of animals in the Emirate.
• Must not be a lessee of another rural farm unless it is proved that the number of animals owned by him exceeds the allowed limit in his rural farm, or breeding a different animal’s species, or for geographical and social reasons. Grazing farms excludes from this condition.

The Abu Dhabi City Municipality called on rural farms tenants’ lessees to build housing facilities or services, in addition to animal breeding facilities upon obtaining the necessary license from the Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities according to the categories of rural farms and its requirements, including:

• Rural farms for breeding and camel racing: It is necessary to build fences, barns, house area for each rural farm, service facilities for animal breeding, and a house for rural farm’s workers. 
• Grazing and seasonal farms: Porta Cabins may be used and tents may be erected to accommodate workers or for hospitality, shades, and temporary fences for animals.

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© Press Release 2018