Dubai Municipality steps up efforts to ban smoking in public

Dubai: Dubai Municipality has announced the fourth phase of its programme to ban smoking in public areas.

The new regulations target ‘entertainment and recreation places', which includes billiards and snooker halls, internet cafes and electronic games halls.

The municipality signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Dubai Sports Council, to implement this phase in public sporting areas, including youth clubs.

Venues wishing to have a smoking area should apply for a licence from the Department of Economic Development, and need to be no less then 2,000sq ft hall area) and have a playing area of 1,500 sq ft.

Smoking in these areas has been prohibited since May 31, 2008.