Abu Dhabi bans shisha in seaside cafes

Shisha lovers who used to puff their time away while enjoying the serenity of the azure Gulf water will no longer be able to do so when a law banning shisha smoking at seaside restaurants in Abu Dhabi is enforced shortly.

Authorities have told owners of the more than 10 restaurants and coffee shops at the Abu Dhabi luxurious Corniche to completely stop serving shisha when they renew the licence of their facilities. They warned the investors that their “places could be shut permanently in case they fail to comply with the new rule”.

The decision by the Abu Dhabi Municipality is in line with new rules banning shisha and all other types of tobacco at restaurants and coffee shops inside and near residential areas as part of a federal law issued in 2009 to ban smoking in closed places.

Under the new law, municipalities will stop giving licences to new cafes while those who opt to stay in residential areas will have to strictly comply with the new rules intended to protect the public health.  Authorities said inspectors would make regular visits to cafes to ensure they abide by the new regulations.

“The shisha ban at the Corniche restaurants and cafes will be enforced at the end of this year when the licences of their investors expire,” said Khalifa Al Rumaithi, Director of the public health section at the Abu Dhabi Municipality.
 
 
 

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