How to help build a better community

Ryan | UAE | October 10, 2015

Living in a growing and mixed community is always a challenging and interesting experience. While our cultural differences may be in fact our own unique charm, our small mistakes can be highly offensive towards others. So what can we do to guide or correct some behaviors ? Posting photos on social media is not the answer.

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Why that is not a solution ? Since I have contacted Abu Dhabi Government Contact Centre and i have obtained the following general rules of public photography:

Don’t take pictures of governmental or military organisations. If you want to take pictures of the locals, make sure you ask first, especially with women.
For more information contact directly to: Mariam Ahmed Al Nuaimi : Email: MAALNuaimi@tcaabudhabi.ae

Obviously i have also contacted Mariam, and to my very specific question i have received the below quoted reply  :

Taking photos of people’s private property can not be posted on any social media or advertised without their permission.

But this story has a happy ending after all. Abu Dhabi Goverment Contact Centre followed up with me, just a few days ago, and added that there is a solution if i want to help the (Abu Dhabi) community. It is my pleasure to pass the message to the Ruwais Housing Complex community:

Regarding your request kindly note that you can download CityGuard mobile application where you can take photos and share it with the relevant authorities to take actions. 

For more information please visit the below link: 

CityGuard is a mobile application offered for free to all Abu Dhabi residents, be it UAE nationals, working expatriates, or visitors to the Emirate. CityGuard allows the public to report incidents and submit complaints related to the Abu Dhabi Emirate directly to the government. With its slogan “Your City, Your Community, Your App” CityGuard aims to increase civic participation and collaboration between the public and the government in order to improve the Emirate at all levels.