UAE emirate bans satellite dishes

The Sharjah government has banned satellite dishes from buildings and instructed residents to subscribe to cable providers, website Emirates 24/7 reported on Sunday, citing the Arabic paper Al Khaleej.

People who fail to comply with the new rule face fines, the website added.

The call comes as part of a campaign by Sharjah Municipality to remove satellite dishes from balconies, windows and rooftops of buildings, the report added.

The Director of Sharjah Municipality, Sultan Abdullah Al Mualla said the ban was brought in to maintain the ‘aesthetic beauty of the emirate’.

The rule is not unique to Sharjah - some developments in Dubai enforce similar bans on satellite dishes, as well as people hanging laundry on their balconies.