33 Dubai cafes shut for shisha offences

Dubai’s authorities decided to shut down 33 coffee shops after they were caught involved in massive offences including smoking shisha in closed places and allowing children in, to be with their families, an official was quoted on Monday as saying.

Municipality inspectors visiting such places to ensure compliance with the regulations also fined many cafes a total Dh700,000 for serving persons under 18 years of age and other offences during the fasting month of Ramadan,  said Marwan Al Mohammed, Director, Public Health Division at Dubai Municipality.

“Our inspectors decided to shut down 33 coffee shops and fined themfor massive violations including allowing customers to smoke shisha in closed places inside their shops, serving minors under 18 years old and allowing customers to bring in their children.

“This is a serious violation of the rules,” he told ‘Emarat Al Youm’ daily.

He said those cafes are located in various parts of Dubai and that their names had been sent to the Department of Economic Development (DED) to carry out the closure decision.

Al Mohammed said other cafes were penalised for failing to put notices barring minors, allowing children to accompany their families and serving shisha without permit.

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