Coronavirus: Dubai closes theme parks, cinemas and gyms as health authorities answer questions

Public parks will also close to halt the spread of Covid-19

Theme parks, cinemas and gyms across Dubai will be closed for the rest of the month to contain the spread of coronavirus, authorities announced.

Public parks in the city will also remain closed until further notice, Dubai Municipality said.

Dubai Parks and Resorts, which runs Motiongate Dubai, Legoland Dubai, Legoland Waterpark Dubai and Bollywood Parks Dubai, said they would remain closed until at least the end of March or until the situation changed.

It said the closure was in response to directives from Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, which asked for all events in the emirate to be suspended from March 15.

"DTCM also directs all entertainment destinations to suspend operations and all hospitality establishments and wedding halls to suspend wedding gatherings," the authority said in a statement carried by Dubai Media Office.

On Sunday, the media office also announced that cinemas, indoor amusement and games centres, gym and spring camps were to close in line with Department of Economic Development directives.

Similar precautionary measures were introduced in Ajman and Fujairah.

Fujairah Municipality announced the closure of public beaches, entertainment venues – including cinemas and electronic gaming halls – and wedding halls from Sunday until further notice.

The closure was extended to gyms and amusement parks.

Cinemas and "game shops" in Ajman were also closed until the end of the month. Authorities said centres would be inspected "to ensure compliance".

Residents of Dubai and citizens with questions about Covid-19 have been invited to contact health authorities directly by posting queries on Twitter.

"Government of Dubai Media Office, in co-ordination with Dubai Health Authority and Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, will launch a live session to answer your questions about the coronavirus on our official social media accounts. Please post your questions with the hashtag #AskDXBdoctor," the Media Office said.

The time of the live session has yet to be announced.

Public areas in Dubai were deep-cleaned at the weekend. The emirate's Municipality shared a video showing them being disinfected at midnight.

Spring camps in Dubai have been closed from today to restrict the spread of the virus.

Sharjah Economic Development Department also ordered all cinemas, amusement parks, Play areas and fitness clubs to close from tomorrow until the end of the month.

This weekend, Abu Dhabi announced the closure of all beaches, parks and cinemas to limit the spread of Covid-19.

Tourist attractions in the emirate, including Qasr Al Watan, Manarat Al Saadiyat, Qasr Al Hosn and Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation were closed.

Yas Island's theme parks –  Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, Yas WaterWorld, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and CLYMB Abu Dhabi – were also closed.

Outside the capital, Al Ain Palace Museum, Al Ain Oasis and Qasr Al Muwaiji, also in Al Ain, have been closed until March 31 to limit large gatherings.