Abu Dhabi: A regulation that bans shisha from being offered near residential areas, schools and mosques in the emirate of Abu Dhabi has led to many popular outlets closing down over the past year.
Many restaurants and cafes have also removed the popular tobacco water pipe from their menus, much to the relief of residents.
The regulation, which is included within the UAE Federal Law No 15 of 2009 on tobacco control, states that establishments can only offer shisha 150 metres away from residential buildings, neighbourhoods, schools and mosques.
The deadline for establishments to adhere to this particular regulation was set by the Department of Economic Development (DED) for January 31 and a committee will soon work to assess the situation and ensure compliance within existing establishments.
“A shisha cafe used to be located behind my building on Hamdan Street. There was always a large noisy crowd there, which spilled out onto the pavement most of the time. A number of parking spaces reserved for residents were also used by these customers till late at night,” Mohammad Q, a long-term resident and IT executive, told Gulf News.
The cafe however shut down last year and Mohammad said it had been a positive development.
“The neighbourhood is more peaceful now. Moreover, many young children tend to play below their buildings in the late afternoons and evenings, and this is why I believe shisha outlets should not be located in places that expose children to smoke,” he added.
Another resident who declined to be named said that a shisha cafe had opened up on the top floor of his building in 2012, but this too had closed about six months ago.
Staff at some outlets that still offer shisha in residential neighbourhoods said they would comply with the deadline soon.
“You can come in until Friday evening, but after that we will only serve food and beverages to our customers,” a receptionist at a popular Muroor Road shisha cafe and restaurant said when this Gulf News reporter called while posing as a customer. She added that the change was a result of “some sort of ban” on offering shisha.
Other aspects of the federal law will also be strictly implemented, including banning individuals below the age of 18 years from shisha establishments, in addition to preventing the sale of shisha to them.
However, a fair number of restaurants in the capital’s residential neighbourhoods still offer shisha.
“We provide shisha but children are not allowed within our premises,” said a waiter at a cafe located in a building on Hamdan Street.
A cashier at another restaurant said they too provide shisha, and that he was not aware of any expected changes.
Dr Widad Al Maydour, head of tobacco control at the UAE Ministry of Health, said that the ban on locating shisha establishments near residential areas is one among a series of steps to reduce people’s exposure to harmful substances released due to tobacco use.
“We are also considering setting up a toll free number residents can call to notify authorities about establishments that flout the law,” she said.
Shisha smokers however said that they still had enough places to go.
“Even if some have closed, there are enough outlets still located in open areas far from residential neighbourhoods,” said N. Samir, 25, a graduate student.
She added that she understood the reasons behind the regulations.
“It can get quite loud, and customers definitely use up parking spaces. In fact, many of the spots near my house are taken up by people frequenting a shisha cafe located about 200 metres from my apartment building,” Samir said.
