Dubai Municipality closes down cafe; fines 74 others

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Dubai - The department conducted 200 inspection visits and found out that 74 cafes were violating rules

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By Staff Reporter

Published: Sun 19 Feb 2017, 3:03 PM

Last updated: Sun 19 Feb 2017, 5:10 PM

Dubai Municipality has closed down a cafe for providing smoking facility in the amusement and entertainment district and 74 others were issued fines.

"The Municipality has banned smoking in all places of entertainment in the emirate, which include billiards and snooker halls, electronic games areas and Internet cafes," said Eng. Redha Salman, Director of Health and Safety Department of Dubai Municipality.

He said that last month, the department conducted 200 inspection visits and found out that 74 cafes were violating rules and they were issued a fine of Dhs122,000, while 73 cafes were issued permits for having designated areas for smoking.

"The Municipality inspection campaigns on coffee shops in Dubai were being conducted to confirm they are abiding by the provisions of the Federal Law No. 15 of 2009 on Tobacco Control and its Executive Order No. 24 of 2013, after it came into force," said Salman

He pointed out that the Municipality will go according to plan for strict control and inspections in order to comply with the regulations, especially after the expiry of a deadline of six months, which was given to these establishments and cafes to change their status according to the terms and conditions approved in the Federal Law.

"Last month, the Municipality had spoken to the Economic Development Department asking it not to renew licenses of 119 cafés and closing their activities for violating the terms of the Federal Law on Tobacco Control," said Salman.

He also said that 571 cafés were issued fines during an inspection campaign carried out by the inspectors of the department to ensure their compliance to the Law, which contains several rules and regulations, notably the one regarding the area of the cafés.

"The law prohibits offering Shishas in cafés near mosques, educational institutions, clubs and residential areas; offering Shishas without permission; violating items in the permits; and the presence of children less than 18 years inside the cafés," said Salman.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com

Staff Reporter

Published: Sun 19 Feb 2017, 3:03 PM

Last updated: Sun 19 Feb 2017, 5:10 PM

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