Ajman: The Ajman Municipality plans to hold a meeting with owners of coffee shops in residential areas to implement the ban on shisha in their establishments.
The municipality's Commercial Licensing Department has begun taking necessary measures to implement President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan's directive on banning shisha at coffee shops located within residential areas in the emirate.
Yahya Al Rayayseh, assistant-general for licensing affairs at the department, said efforts are being made to hold a meeting that brings together legal consultants and officials of the department to amend regulations related to licensing coffee shops in residential areas.
Licences
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 shisha at coffee shops located within residential districts or near residential buildings.
Al Rayayseh said the department would suspend the issuance of new licences for opening coffee shops within residential areas, and would send official letters to the owners of current 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 imposing severe punishment on violators.
He said the department's move is part of a nationwide effort to create a healthy environment, protect public health and improve the quality of life.
The meeting with coffee shop owners seeks to discuss the measures and mechanisms to implement Shaikh Khalifa's decision and prepare owners to implement the ban.
