Abu Dhabi Police hand out food instead of fines

Abu Dhabi Police switched gears on Sunday and distributed Ramadan meals to surprised motorists who are used to getting fines from the law enforcers.

Scores of police cars and large food-packed vans were deployed at traffic signals and major road junctions to hand out food boxes just before sunset when Muslims were about to break their fast.

The boxes carried the words ‘iftar saem’, Arabic for ‘a meal for the fasting Muslim’, and were handed out randomly to drivers stopped by police.

“That was really a very good gesture by police,” said Imad Badawi, a Palestinian public sector employee. “When they stopped me, I was worried before I saw the smile on their face and the meal box handed to me.”

A police spokesman said meal boxes would be distributed to the public throughout the holy month of Ramadan.

“It is a religious gesture from the Abu Dhabi Police towards Muslims and is also intended to ensure that we interact with the public. We want to give the impression that policemen are not just for keeping the law but they are also active members of society,” he said.