Al Dhaid Farm Inspection: Unlicensed Clothing, Abaya and Carpentry Workshops Uncovered in Sharjah

Al Dhaid City Municipality has uncovered several unauthorised workshops running inside a farm in Al Dhaid, Sharjah. According to the municipality, the premises were being used to make women's clothing, tailor abayas and carry out carpentry, all outside regulatory supervision.

The operation was carried out in coordination with the committee for the removal of encroachments. It showed that agricultural land was being used for industrial and professional activities that are not permitted at the site.

Officials identified three separate operations during the inspection:

• A women's clothing workshop, equipped with specialised electronic machines for tailoring and automated embroidery. The equipment ran on computerised systems and software to produce designs, patterns and decorative details on fabrics and garments.
• An abaya workshop, dedicated to stitching and tailoring women's abayas.
• A carpentry workshop, used to make furnishings and furniture. It contained machines and equipment for cutting, preparing and manufacturing wooden products.

The municipality said spaces within the farm had been converted to house these activities, even though the premises are not designated for industrial or commercial use.

The inspection formed part of the municipality's continuing monitoring and enforcement campaigns. These are conducted with relevant authorities to identify violations, prevent unauthorised activity and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Al Dhaid City Municipality said it would continue field inspections to stop farms and other non-designated locations from being exploited for industrial and commercial purposes. It stressed that the campaigns will carry on in coordination with the Committee for the Removal of Encroachments and other concerned authorities.

Action and Guidance for Businesses

The municipality said legal and administrative action will be taken against any violations detected. No details were given on the specific penalties or on what will happen to the workshops found on the farm.

It also urged businesses and individuals to comply with the regulations and licensing requirements that govern commercial and industrial activities. In practical terms, the message is that operators should make sure their activity is licensed and that the site they use is designated for that purpose before work begins.

The municipality said the measures are intended to:

• protect public safety;
• safeguard the community; and
• preserve the city's urban appearance.

The case follows other recent regulatory moves in Sharjah, where authorities have set up a new committee to combat illegal residential practices and formed a high-level committee and inspection team to tighten rules on warehouse safety. Al Dhaid Municipality has also seized and destroyed 13 tonnes of unsafe food. Together, these steps point to sustained scrutiny of how land and premises are used across the emirate.