Dubai: The entry of children below 18 is prohibited in Ramadan tents after 9pm when shisha is served and tent managements have the right to request identity proof, Redha Salman, director of Health and Safety Department at Dubai Municipality, said.
“The owners of the tents should completely separate the smokers’ area from that of non-smokers’ or prevent smoking and the provision of shisha until 9pm,” Salman said in a press release.
“After that, smoking and offering shisha is allowed, provided there is no presence of pregnant women and children under the age of 18.”
Salman explained that the management of the site is responsible for placing the permit in a place clearly visible. In addition, they need to place a warning sticker at the entrance to the Ramadan tent or hall, saying that people under the age of 18 years are not allowed entry.
Also, the use of single-use (disposable) shisha pipe is mandatory as directed by Dubai Municipality, and emergency exits must be in place at all times.
Only hotels with four stars and above as well as big halls are permitted to set up Ramadan tents in Dubai, he said.
The civic body announced that it has approved 20 permits for Ramadan tents and halls and smoking of shisha is allowed after 9pm in these facilities.
This is in accordance with the provisions of Federal Law No 15 of 2009 on Tobacco Control and its Executive Regulation No. 24 of 2016 on the procedures for control on issuing permits for smoking in Ramadan tents, it said in a press release.
Permits are issued only to those facilities that meet all the conditions and requirements for the service, said Salman.
“Other than these tents with Ramadan permits, the only places where shishas area allowed during Ramadan are the ones that have their regular permit to serve shishas,” he told Gulf News.
Coffee shops and restaurants that do not have a regular permit for serving shishas are not allowed to do it during Ramadan as well, the official clarified.
He said the site for Ramadan tents must have the construction approval of the licensing body, and the developer in the case of free zones. It should also meet all the health and safety requirements for smoking sites and offering shisha.
The area allocated to each person in a Ramadan tent is about two square metres. The health and safety department requirements include providing the descriptive plan that shows the number of persons based on this formula.
Salman said the Health and Safety Department is conducting intensive inspections of Ramadan tents and halls to ensure compliance with the municipality requirements.
