Sharjah: Al Qasba, an open-air waterfront destination of culture, cuisine and entertainment, has become the first outdoor venue in the UAE to ban smoking in public.
The areas around the canal, the crossover bridge and all the open spaces in Al Qasba have been plastered with anti-smoking messages on the ground, a few feet away from each other. With slogans such as ‘Breathe easily and live longer', ‘Don't burn yourself and your nation', ‘Life is precious. Don't smoke it away", and ‘Smoking is harmful for health', each message serves as a constant reminder to the keep the cigarette at bay.
Tables in the restaurants and coffee shops also have signs declaring the areas smoke-free zones. Only a handful of restaurants allow the occasional diner to puff away in a designated zone.
On a typical evening, as couples and young families make the most of the last of the cooler weather, a woman's voice can be heard over the speakerphone, politely reminding people that Al Qasba is now a smoke-free zone and smoking is only allowed in designated areas outside the area.
Saeed Islam, a Bangladeshi restaurant manager, says he's all onboard with this smoke-free concept. "Everyone who works in Al Qasba has been given instructions by the management to alert smokers of the change in policy. I don't know the exact amount, but I'm told that following warnings to smokers, fines and penalties will be imposed."
Although the no-smoking campaign was originally launched last January, the posters are a more recent addition, with visitors only now understanding and obeying the rules.
