Mall of the Emirates and other major shopping centres reduced their opening hours as of Tuesday.
The mall operator Majid Al Futtaim told retailers their stores could open from midday to 8pm only, as part of attempts to tackle coronavirus.
Carrefour supermarkets, pharmacies and medical clinics are excluded from the changes and mall doors will remain open to allow access.
Other Majid Al Futtaim malls in Dubai include City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Deira and City Centre Al Shindagha, which usually open between 10am and 10pm.
“As of March 18, Majid Al Futtaim shopping malls across the region will begin operating between the hours of 12noon and 8pm only,” the company said.
“These reduced hours have been put in place to afford further cleaning and sanitisation of our assets, ensuring a safer experience for our customers.
“The safety and wellbeing of our valued employees, retail partners and customers remains our number one priority.”
In a letter to retail tenants, Shireen El Khatib, chief executive of Majid Al Futtaim’s shopping malls unit, said the move would help to cut costs during quieter trading conditions and save on utility bills.
Earlier, supermarket chain Spinney’s urged shoppers to “be considerate in the way that you shop”.
“We understand the concerns, but buying more than is needed can mean that others who need essentials will be left without. There will be enough for everyone if we work together,” the company said.
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An abra driver wears protective gloves and a face mask in Dubai. Getty Images -
A sign showing how to prevent infection is seen in Dubai. Getty Images -
One of the staff member stands inside a Dhow Cruise which is closed as a preventive measure in Deira. Pawan Singh / The National -
An empty restaurant is pictured outside Dubai Mall. Reuters -
A picture taken on March 16, 2020 shows Dubai's Burj Khalifa lit up in the colours of the Italian flag and "We are with you" message as a sign of solidarity with Italy. AFP -
A view shows the Dubai mall almost empty of customers, as precaution amid the outbreak of coronavirus, in Dubai. Reuters -
An empty beach in Dubai. EPA -
People walk past shops in Dubai's Deira Souk on on March 15, 2020. AFP -
Workers clean outside the Louvre Abu Dhabi on March 15, 2020. EPA -
A man wearing a protective mask walks down the street in Dubai on March 16, 2020. AFP -
A near-empty tourist boat crosses Dubai's marina on March 16, 2020. AFP -
A man wears a protective mask at the shopping mall in Dubai. Reuters -
A school gate is closed with a chain and lock in Dubai. AFP -
Commuters wear protective masks on the metro in Dubai, March 12. Reuters -
An attendant wears a protective face mask while using a fuel pump at an Eppco gas station in Dubai on March 10. Bloomberg -
A member of cleaning staff disinfects a seat screen of an Emirates Airbus A380 on March 5. Reuters -
A worker with a face mask disembarks from a bus at the Abu Dhabi Main Bus Terminal area on March 5. Victor Besa / The National -
Commuters, some wearing protective face masks, ride the metro in Dubai on March 5. Bloomberg -
A trader walks by beneath a stock display board at the Dubai Stock Exchange in the UAE on March 8. AFP -
A traveller wears a mask at the Dubai International Airport on March 8. Reuters -
A commuter, wearing a protective face mask, speaks on a mobile phone while riding the metro in Dubai, March 5. Bloomberg -
A commuter, wearing a protective face mask, walks in Downtown Dubai on March 5. Bloomberg -
Commuters, wearing protective face masks, walk in downtown Dubai, on March 5. Bloomberg -
Commuters, wearing protective face masks, walk after exiting a metro station in downtown Dubai, March 5. Bloomberg -
A commuter, wearing protective face mask, walks through a metro station in downtown Dubai on March 5. Bloomberg -
Commuters wearing protective face masks use smartphones on the metro in Dubai on March 5. Bloomberg -
UAE landmarks were lit up for in solidarity with China’s efforts to contain coronavirus, Covid-19 in March. Bilateral trade between the two countries is set to accelerate, according to officials. Wam
