New strict rules on the serving of shisha in hotels in Dubai have come into effect, with one-, two- and three-star hotels no longer able to offer it.
Towards the end of 2014, Dubai Municipality’s Public Health and Safety Department had signalled its intentions to allow only four- and five-star establishments to allow the smoking of shisha.
Furthermore, it said hotels would have to apply for a permit to serve shisha, and will only be able to offer it in open spaces, such as outside the hotel or on the rooftop.
According to Khaleej Times, hotels with up to three stars have now begun implementing the ban, which came into effect on January 1.
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Marwan Al Mohammed, director of public health and safety at Dubai Municipality, told the newspaper that his department will intensify inspections on these hotels.
Authorities will be able to fine hotels AED10,000 for their first violation and AED20,000 for a second. They also have the power to revoke trade licences and visas for repeated violations.
Khaleej Times also reported that the trade licences of 125 shisha shops in the emirate have been revoked for failure to meet the deadline for meeting new anti-tobacco regulations.
This follows warnings that they were not adhering to the laws relating size and location which came into force in February this year.
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