30 per cent of food outlets in Dubai violate rules during Ramadan

Numerous cafes and restaurants found to be cooking and selling food outside their premises.

DUBAI // A third of food establishments in the emirate open during Ramadan have failed to implement rules for displaying and selling food during the holy month.

All outlets in the emirate were warned in advance that displaying and selling food outside their premises was banned but, after inspections during the first week of Ramadan, 30 per cent were found to be breaking the rules and were closed.

Some of the establishments were also found to be unhygienic and operating without a licence.

During Ramadan, cafes and restaurants that do not have sufficient space inside their outlets, cook inside but display iftar snacks outside to do some brisk trade from those breaking the fast.

Sultan Ali Taher, head of the food inspection section at Dubai Municipality, said: "We circulated the safety and hygiene instructions to all the food establishments doing their business in Dubai before the month of Ramadan.

"For checking if they were implemented, we carried out inspections in the first week of Ramadan during which we found 70 per cent of them practised what we instructed.

"Some 30 per cent of the food establishments were found to be in violation and were asked to stop business until they fulfil the requirements.

"Out of this 30 per cent, most of them were running businesses without the proper permit from the municipality, while a few of them failed to comply with health requirements."

The municipality also carried out inspections on Ramadan tents set up for breaking the fast. Ten per cent were found to be not complying with the rules.

The municipality's food inspection team is continuing inspections throughout the month of Ramadan.

The public can notify the team of any offences they see by calling 800 900.