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Shisha Smoking Banned in Dubai

DUBAI - The Dubai Municipality (DM) has banned the smoking of shisha in parks, beaches and recreation areas of the emirate, Wam reported on Thursday.

Khaleej Times reported on Wednesday that the civic body was planning to impose a ban or a regulation against shisha smoking in parks and beaches in a bid to protect public health.

The move comes out of Dubai Municipality’s interest to protect public health and improve the quality of life in line with the Dubai Strategic Plan 2007-2015.

Earlier, DM officials said the move was an extension of the existing smoking regulations introduced by the civic body
in May 2007.

Salem bin Mesmar, Assistant Director General for Health, Safety and Environment Control at the civic body said the decision is deemed a complementary step for the programme that is being carried out by the DM to regulate smoking at public parks, beaches and recreational places in the emirate. The decision was important as parks, beaches and recreational areas are visited by families and children.

The civic body has called on the visitors of these places to abide by the decision.

Dubai Municipality launched regulations against smoking in 2007 starting from shopping malls extending to public sports clubs, restaurants, cafeterias, hotels, hotel apartments etc.

In June last year, the DM put a ban on the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to youths under 20 years.

Also, last year, the civic body had announced stricter regulations on shisha centres to make the necessary changes. The grace period for the same to be implemented, ended in December last year. joy@khaleejtimes.com