Oman calling time on shisha cafés

Municipal authorities in the Oman capital of Muscat are trying to get shisha café owners to abide by the opening hours set for them, which would mean their closing at midnight, according to a story in the Times of Oman.

This is not the first time that the authorities have appealed to café owners to abide by opening times, but many are said still to open after midnight.

One café worker was quoted as saying that his establishment remained open 24 hours a day. He said they closed only on the two days of the Eid religious festival.

The café had received municipal notices more than once, he added.

The latest letter informed café owners that they would be fined and their licences could be suspended if they were found violating the law.

However, the owners might feel that they are anyway smoking at the last chance saloon.

A complete ban on shisha cafés in Oman has been suggested by Majlis Al Shura (Consultative Council) members who voted to shut them down in view of the health risks associated with them.

Endorsing a health committee recommendation to stop issuing licences to new shisha cafés, the Majlis Al Shura members said that as a transitional measure, existing licensed shisha cafés would be allowed to continue to operate for a short while.