Ajman: Ajman Municipality has begun the implementation of smoking ban in public areas and the ban on issuance of commercial licences to coffee shops in residential areas.
The move is in line with President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan's decision on banning smoking and the sale of tobacco and its products in public areas.
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Yahya Al Rayaysa, Assistant to Director General for of the Commercial Licensing Department at the municipality, said the department has already started taking the necessary measures to implement Shaikh Khalifa's decision on smoking ban and amending rules related to licensing coffee shops near residential buildings.
He added that the department was waiting for the issuance of the executive regulation of the anti-tobacco law issued by the President with regard to ban smoking of sheesha in coffee shops located within residential districts or near residential buildings.
Al Rayaysa said the department has suspended the issuance of new licences for coffee shops within residential areas, following the issuance of the anti-smoking law, and started to send official letters to the owners of licensed coffee shops giving them a grace period to move their cafes from the populated areas.
The department had earlier issued a decision banning smoking in shopping malls and public utilities while taking sever punishment against violators.
He said the department's move is part of nationwide efforts to provide healthy environment, protect public health and improve quality of life in the country.
