RAK, UAE, September 18, 2008: Advertisers in Ras al Khaimah are facing tough new rules after the emirate issued a law to restrict the use of adverts and clean up offensive material.

RAK Municipality said Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed, the Ruler of the emirate, has issued a law to ban adverts that were inconsistent with Islam and Emirati culture and contained incorrect use of Arabic. The law, which also restricts where adverts can be displayed, will replace a 1988 ruling.

"One can spot advertisements everywhere. On roads, wooden adverts are blocking driver visibility and government buildings are made dirty with papers of advertisers " some for massage services," a spokesman said.

Under the law, at least half of the words on an advert must be written in Arabic and all language should be compliant with Islamic and Emirati culture. Grammar must be correct and nudity and morally offensive content are banned.
The law also bans advertising on places of worships, fences, electricity poles, traffic lights and trees, and government departments and parks unless approved.

Adverts must be licensed by the municipality, and advertisers must gain written permission from landlords to display them on buildings. Advertisers must now wait up to 10 days for approval and any appeals will take a further 15 days.