After several months of suspension of bars, restaurants, cafes, and tourist service facilities across the UAE Capital that offer shisha (hookah) services, the Department of Economic Development in Abu Dhabi has finally allowed these facilities to resume operations.
However, these facilities must strictly adhere to safety measures in the capital in support of the country’s efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
SOON: Shisha Services to Resume with COVID SAFETY Rules in Abu Dhabi
In a tweet, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said: “The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development has permitted licensed restaurants, cafes, and tourist service facilities across Abu Dhabi to provide shisha (hookah) services in line with precautionary measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19.”
As per the rules released by ADDED, only single-use shisha equipment, and pipes will be allowed in use, smoking areas are to be isolated, the number of cleaning shifts in all smoking areas is to be increased and shisha sampling before serving will be banned.
Here are the rules to be enforced in these facilities:
- Only single-use hookah equipment and pipes are allowed for use.
- Hookah sampling by servers is not allowed.
- There needs to be isolated smoking areas in all facilities.
- Cleaning shifts must also be increased in these smoking areas.
.@AbuDhabiDED has permitted licensed restaurants, cafes and tourist service facilities across #AbuDhabi to provide shisha (hookah) services in line with precautionary measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/dpdpjLHBWX
— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@admediaoffice) January 3, 2021
Starting March 12, 2020, the UAE had banned cafes and restaurants across the country from serving shisha as a precaution against the spread of coronavirus.
Meanwhile, in July, Dubai authorities lifted the ban on smoking areas and allowed restaurants to start serving shisha.
Shisha has been one of the common practices observed by residents in the UAE during social gatherings. It is similar to the use of cigarettes (or tobacco) but smoked using a water pipe instrument.
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