(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The trade licences of 125 shisha shops in Dubai have been revoked after they failed to meet the deadline for complying with anti-tobacco regulations.
A ban on shisha services in hotels with up to three stars also has come into effect in the emirate.
The trade licences of errant shisha outlets were revoked by the Department of Economic Development (DED) on the recommendation of the Dubai Municipality. "We had sent a list of about 125 shops to the DED to take action. All their (trade) licences were blocked," Marwan Al Mohammed, Director of Public Health and Safety at the municipality, said.
The action follows the implementation of the federal tobacco laws from September last year. Errant shisha outlets were given till the end of 2014 to make the necessary changes so as to abide by the rules.
The cancellation of the trade licence does not mean these shisha joints have downed their shutters. Al Mohammed explained that the shops "lose their legal status and will not be able to do any transactions with the government".
"We have found that this is a better way of tackling them as fines don't matter to such offenders. When their businesses become illegal, their survival itself is at stake."
Once a shop's trade licence becomes invalid, the firm cannot renew tenancy contracts, hire new employees or renew visas. "Basically, they can't do any official transaction. When they get hit like this, they will automatically come to us and implement the regulations," said Al Mohammed.
Since outlets do not immediately get to know about their revoked licences, the time they approach the authorities to regulate their status will vary. "When all of them don't come rushing together, it becomes easy for us also to handle things," he said, adding that a couple of shisha outlets have already approached the municipality after making the necessary changes to comply with the regulations.
Meanwhile, hotels with up to three stars have started implementing a ban on shisha services following the end of a December 31 deadline given by the municipality.
Regal Plaza, a three star hotel in Bur Dubai, which used to have a Garden Lounge on its terrace that served shisha from 8pm till 3am, has stopped the service. A hotel executive said the shisha service was stopped almost a month ago.
Al Mohammed said his department will intensify inspections to ensure that all hotels, except four and five star ones, have stopped serving shishas in their premises. Hotels will be slapped with a Dh10,000 fine for the first violation; Dh20,000 for the second; and if the violations continue, their trade licences and visas would be revoked.
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