Free parking, food safety inspections, and beach patrols activated to manage Eid Al Adha crowds.
Free public parking for the first three days of Eid, along with 239 inspectors deployed on field duty and 35 veterinarians assigned for livestock checks, are part of a wide-ranging Eid Al Adha readiness plan announced by the Sharjah City Municipality.
The municipality said public parking across Sharjah will be free during the first three days of Eid, except for paid parking zones that operate throughout the week and on public holidays, which are marked with blue signboards. Smart parking zones in tourist and key commercial areas will remain chargeable around the clock via the Sharjah Digital platform and app.
At the same time, the municipality has stepped up inspection and monitoring campaigns covering food outlets, barber shops, beauty salons, beaches, public parks, and Eid prayer grounds to ensure public safety and maintain health standards during one of the busiest holiday periods of the year.
Obaid Saeed Al Tunaiji, Director General of Sharjah City Municipality, said 35 veterinarians and veterinary assistants have been deployed at the Sharjah Livestock Market and Sharjah Abattoir to inspect sacrificial animals before and after slaughter.
The veterinary teams will carry out blood tests and detailed examinations to ensure livestock are free from disease and safe for human consumption. Inspections include pre-slaughter visual checks as well as comprehensive post-slaughter assessments covering all parts of the sacrificial animals.
The municipality has also conducted extensive disinfection campaigns at livestock pens and quarantine facilities under its supervision to ensure only healthy animals enter the emirate through official entry points.
In addition, awareness visits have been organised at alternative livestock purchasing sites to promote public health and safety standards.
As part of the intensified Eid inspection drive, 61 inspectors have been deployed to monitor restaurants, bakeries, confectionery shops, and other food outlets expected to see heavy crowds during the holiday period.
Authorities said the inspections aim to ensure food is prepared and served in line with approved health regulations and technical standards, while also educating workers on proper hygiene and food safety practices to protect consumers.
Men’s barber shops and women’s beauty salons are also under increased supervision, with 32 male and female inspectors assigned to ensure services comply with health regulations and that only approved products and sterilised tools are used.
Al Tunaiji said the municipality has also deployed 239 inspectors to conduct field inspections, awareness campaigns, and take legal action against violators, particularly illegal roaming butchers operating outside approved slaughterhouses.
He warned that unlicensed butchers pose serious health and environmental risks, as animals slaughtered outside authorised abattoirs are not subject to veterinary inspection and may expose consumers to infectious diseases.
The municipality also stressed that such butchers lack the medical expertise required to assess whether meat is fit for consumption and may fail to comply with Islamic slaughter requirements.
Inspection teams will also monitor random markets and other practices that could negatively affect public safety or the emirate’s appearance.
Sharjah’s beaches and public parks are expected to see large crowds during the Eid break, prompting the municipality to increase inspectors and lifeguards to ensure visitors follow safety guidelines and to enable swift response to emergencies.
Meanwhile, specialised teams and equipment have been deployed to prepare Eid prayer grounds across the city, including land levelling, parking arrangements, cleaning operations, and pest control campaigns to ensure a safe and healthy environment for worshippers.
Residents have been urged to comply with municipal regulations and safety guidelines during the holiday, and to report any complaints or observations through the municipality’s 24-hour call centre on 993.
