Muscat – Muscat Municipality has stopped issuing new licences for cleaning and polishing vehicles in residential and commercial buildings.

Decision No 44/2022 was taken after an assessment of the negative impact of such activities on public health, besides an increasing number of complaints from residents of such complexes, the civic body stated.

‘The decision was made due to the inconvenience that this type of activity causes to the public and urban environment, either in the form of noise pollution, odour or water leaks which result in breeding of pests and insects.’

Alternatives

Muscat Municipality said it has approved such activities at fuel stations throughout Muscat, in addition to industrial areas.

For existing establishments, the municipality said it is granting them five years to rectify their status.

‘Existing establishments can continue provided they use dry cleaning equipment, in accordance with

Article 87 of the health requirements in administrative decision No 219/2019 regulating health requirements for activities related to public health,’ the municipality stated.