Dubai Municipality has embarked on a plan to use drones to catch people littering. The municipality?s waste management department has already bought one drone as part of its trial phase.

"Since they are very cost effective, we expect to have two more drones later this year, which will carry out inspections across deserts and beaches," director of the Waste Management Department Abdul Majeed Al Saifaie. "We initially purchased the drone to monitor the landfill sites at Al Ghusais, Jebel Ali and Al Warsan, because as per regulations, they are allowed to reach up to 30 meters high," he said. "In this way, we save money and time as the inspectors do not have to drive around and also, the drones can reach up to places that our employees cannot get to," he said.

Many Dubai government entities have started using drones in various operations. The drones will also be used to monitor popular worker camp premises and surroundings in the emirate to ensure that they are not littered. However, the drones will not be restricted to monitoring dumpsites and development projects but are also set to inspect Dubai's beaches and deserts against offenders guilty of leaving their rubbish behind.

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority has also confirmed that it will deploy new high-end drones. The drones will be used for topographic surveys, thermal inspection and photovoltaic panel maintenance. The use of drones will reduce risks and costs enabling quick-response times and ensure accuracy, DEWA said.