Dubai: Dubai Municipality has banned smoking shisha in parks, beaches and all public recreational areas in Dubai.
The move is part of the municipality's efforts to implement a smoking regulation programme in public places in Dubai, and stems from its keenness to protect public health and improve life quality for residents in line with the Dubai Strategic Plan 2007-2015.
The decision also complies with the decision of the Dubai Executive Council to launch a programme to regulate smoking in public areas and the directions of Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality, to implement the decision.
Salem Mohammad Bin Musmar, Assistant to the Director General of Dubai Municipality for Health, Safety and Environment Control, said the decision complements the prgoramme applied by the municipality since May 2007, especially since parks, beaches and recreational areas are visited by families with children whose behaviour and habits may be affected negatively by shisha smoking.
Dubai Municipality called on beach and park visitors to abide by the decision and cooperation with the attendants of these places for the best interest of everyone.
Do you smoke shisha? Do you mind if people around you smoke shisha? Will this initiative help people to quit smoking shisha?
Your comments
Shisha is part of the Arabic tradition. Maybe many people will be unhappy to hear this news that ban shisha in public areas. I like shisha and Arabic culture. I hope that I can re-visit Dubai one day.
Nazeef
Beijing,China
Posted: March 06, 2009, 14:28
Shisha smoking should should be treated like all other drugs!
Shaun
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 06, 2009, 14:09
I do not agree, asthere is a lot of smoke around the barbeque areas where families and children sit around, how much smoke would shisha add to it? besides it is open air.
Hassan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 06, 2009, 13:45
It was excellent decission but this one move to residential area also, we are facing this everyday.
Anandh
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 06, 2009, 12:50
I think it is a little harsh. I do smoke at home now, and have stopped going to places completely. I take care and follow all regulations. Banning shisha would mean no venturing out now. I wish if there was an exclusive recline for smokers only, where they can shop and spend some time, and also pursue health and fitness and no non-smokers may venture there.
Tarek Syed
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: March 06, 2009, 11:52
Its a great thing to ban all kinds of smoking at least from public places, and the use of "Naswar" and the "Pan" to be banned. Shisha condaminate the surrounding area with the smoke. Pan spoiling and make the area dirty every where. Thanking the authorities for the decision.
Zacharia
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: March 06, 2009, 10:25
I dont smoke shisha but i think on beaches and in parks people can smoke because its open area and others will not be effect by shisha
Taher Shaikh
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 06, 2009, 10:07
It was indeed an excellent decission from the municipality. I salute you
Carlo Laserna
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 06, 2009, 08:33
That would be a great move by the authorities, it's really not nice to see especially in public places where children can be everywhere, shisha is still a form of smoking.
Ben
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 06, 2009, 06:47
No, I do not smoke Shisha. Let's be more practical... even if i do mind, it's not going to make a world of a difference, as long as there are resources available, people will continue to smoke. ("Smoke as many as you want. They never get on your nerves.") No doubt it is a good initiative the Dubai Muncipality has taken, i do hope they can sustain to increase smokers awareness of the cumulative damage every cigarette smoked does to their health.
Albert Stephen
Chennai,India
Posted: March 06, 2009, 04:59
As a resident of Dubai for the past 15 years, and as a 'weekend shisha indulger', I do not agree with this law. I have, on several occasions, been sitting in a shisha cafe and have found myself having to hold my tongue from confronting some exceedingly irresponsible parents; who were partaking in shisha and cigarettes around their young children. On one occasion, a despicable young mother was holding her 6 month old baby in one arm, and smoking a shisha with her other. Why not set a law that bans such people from reproducing and forcing their infants to such tragic air abuse. In my opinion, if you are a respectable, well educated person, and you care for your family, then you shouldn't even be thinking of going to a shisha cafe, let alone complain about the obvious smoke.
Stacie Jackson
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 06, 2009, 03:07
