Abu Dhabi City Municipality strengthened its preparations for the new academic year by implementing a comprehensive programme of inspection, cleaning and improvement works in the areas surrounding educational establishments, with the aim of providing a safe and clean school environment and enhancing student safety as the academic year begins.
These efforts included an extensive cleaning campaign covering 191 educational establishments, alongside inspections of water facilities and improvement and maintenance works around 70 schools and educational establishments, enhancing the readiness of facilities and their surrounding roads and walkways to welcome students.
His Excellency Ahmed Fadhel Almehairbi, Director-General of Abu Dhabi City Municipality, said: “School readiness does not begin at the school gates, but on the roads leading to them and in the facilities students use every day. With this in mind, we have worked to prepare safe and clean school surroundings and verify the safety of water facilities, supporting students’ return to schools that are safe and ready to welcome them. These efforts form part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing quality of life and community safety, in coordination with the relevant authorities.”
Key Figures
• 191 educational establishments covered by inspection and cleaning works, comprising 139 schools, 47 nurseries and 5 universities
• 70 schools and educational establishments whose surrounding areas underwent improvement and maintenance works, including 27 on Abu Dhabi Island and 43 in mainland cities
• 254 kilometres of roads cleaned
• Approximately 700 kilograms of waste and debris removed
Water Facility Inspections at Educational Establishments
Inspections focused on three principal areas: water tanks, drinking-water coolers and swimming pools. A standardised checklist was used to verify facility safety, water quality, cleanliness standards, operational efficiency, and inspection and maintenance records.
Water tank inspections included checks on water quality, maintenance dates, and the structural integrity of tanks and associated pipework, while inspections of drinking-water coolers focused on their safety and efficiency, water quality and operating records.
At schools with swimming pools, inspections included checks on pool-water quality, chemical-testing records, the efficiency of filters and pumps, the availability of lifeguards and operating licences, and the safety of drainage channels.
Water samples were also collected to verify compliance with approved quality standards. Instances of non-compliance were documented and the necessary corrective measures identified, alongside efforts to raise awareness among operating companies and staff of the requirements and preventive procedures they must observe.
Extensive Cleaning Campaign
Abu Dhabi City Municipality conducted an intensive cleaning campaign covering 191 educational establishments, together with their surrounding roads and facilities, in preparation for welcoming students at the start of the new academic year.
Cleaning works included pavements, walkways, car parks and streets surrounding educational establishments, as well as the removal of waste and sources of visual blight. Streets were also washed using water tankers at locations where this was required.
The campaign resulted in the cleaning of 254 kilometres of roads and the removal of approximately 700 kilograms of waste and debris, contributing to improved cleanliness and the overall appearance of the areas surrounding educational establishments.
Omar Al Shehhi, Acting Executive Director of the Municipal Services Sector, said: “Our field teams worked to enhance the readiness of educational establishments and their surrounding areas by verifying the safety and quality of water facilities, improving cleanliness within establishments and on surrounding roads, and carrying out the necessary maintenance and rehabilitation works. Findings were also documented and corrective measures identified in coordination with the relevant entities and operating companies, helping to provide a safe and clean environment ready to welcome students.”
Improvement and Maintenance of School Surroundings
Improvement and maintenance works around 70 schools and educational establishments included pavement maintenance; repairs to potholes and areas of subsidence in asphalt surfaces; road and car park markings; refurbishment of parking spaces for People of Determination; and maintenance of directional signs, lighting and protective bollards. Trees at junctions were also pruned to improve visibility and enhance road safety.
The works included repairing and repainting 998 linear metres of kerbstones, applying 701 square metres of road markings, maintaining 77 directional signs, and carrying out maintenance on 204 square metres of pedestrian walkways.
Abu Dhabi City Municipality emphasises that efforts to enhance the readiness of educational establishments and their surrounding areas are not confined to the period preceding the start of the academic year. Its field and inspection teams continue to conduct follow-up visits and regular inspections, helping to maintain standards of safety, cleanliness and water quality at educational establishments across Abu Dhabi City throughout the academic year.