Dubai fines and warns businesses for breaking Covid-19 safety rules

Penalties issued because staff were not wearing face masks and physical distancing stickers were not in place

Dubai Economy closes down Day-to-Day supermarket for breaching Covid-19 safety measures. They shop had a flash sale, which caused crowds to gather. Courtesy: Dubai Economy

Five businesses were fined by authorities in Dubai for not adhering to Covid-19 safety regulations.

Inspectors from the Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection sector of Dubai Economy visited hundreds of commercial establishments in Warsan 3 on Thursday.

Penalties were issued against five retail stores in shopping centres because their employees were not wearing mandated face masks.

Inspectors also issued warnings to 10 businesses for failing to place physical distancing stickers on the ground, as required.

Overall, 711 establishments were found to be in full compliance with the precautionary measures set by authorities to prevent the spread of the virus.

The inspections were part of a larger campaign to prevent infection numbers from rising. The country saw an increase in cases over the past month with authorities saying people had become complacent with safety measures.

Officials asked consumers to report retailers seen ignoring rules by using the Dubai Consumer App, calling 600545555, or visiting the Consumerrights.ae website.

The authority reminded residents that strict action would be taken against any person or business found breaking the rules.

Last week, several restaurants and shops were shut down in the city after crowds flocked to take advantage of free meal offers and cut-price sales.

A video widely shared online showed shoppers spilling out on to the street during a flash sale at discount store Day-to-Day.

The store was promptly hit with a Dh50,000 fine and closed as Dubai Economy said it would not be “lenient in any way” with retailers who break social-distancing measures.

Coronavirus in the UAE:

An employee puts a room key through an ultraviolet sanitiser at Five hotel in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak/The National

A worker places luggage through the ultraviolet sanitiser at Five hotel in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak/The National

A man makes jewellery at the Waterfront Market in Deira. Chris Whiteoak /The National

A woman visits a hair salon at the Waterfront Market in Deira. Chris Whiteoak/The National

Air humidifiers are on display at the Waterfront Market in Deira. Chris Whiteoak/The National

Men load up watermelons at the Waterfront Market in Deira. Chris Whiteoak/The National

A woman receives her ice cream on a hot day in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak/ The National

Student Afzal Abdul Rahiman attends a class at The Gulf Model School in Dubai. Antonie Robertson/The National

Social distancing has been implemented on the school transport buses of The Gulf Model School. Antonie Robertson/The National

Worshippers attend the service in St Paul’s church in Mussafah, Abu Dhabi. Reem Mohammed/The National

A man rides a camel along Al Marmoom Conservation Reserve, outside Dubai. AFP