Dubai prepares for smoking bans

The Dubai municipality has issued a comprehensive guide to help businesses to ensure they are in compliance with new anti-tobacco laws due to come into force on Jan. 21, according to a story in the Khaleej Times.

Under the new law, smoking will not be allowed in restaurants with floor areas under 1,000 square feet. The smoking areas within restaurants will not be allowed to exceed 50 percent of the dining area and should not be such that nonsmokers are obliged to cross them. The doors to smoking areas have to be automatic, and shisha preparing areas have to be separated from food preparation areas. Each smoker has to be provided with 20 square feet of space.

The working hours of cafés and shisha shops are stipulated at from 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. And these businesses are banned from selling tobacco products to those under 18 years or delivering them to unauthorized places.

More generally, smoking is banned at the entrance to, and in, public buildings, including health facilities, entertainment or gaming areas, offices, cinema halls, meeting and conference halls, shopping centers, canteens and places of prayer.