Coronavirus: more Abu Dhabi restaurants and cafes outside of shopping malls reopen

Authorities are offering free Covid-19 testing to restaurant workers

Two men have dinner at Al Mufraka restaurant, Abu Dhabi in 2019. More restaurants outside malls in the capital are reopening. Chris Whiteoak / The National

More restaurants, cafeterias and coffee shops operating outside of shopping malls in Abu Dhabi have been allowed to reopen their doors.

These food outlets were able to verify they are complying with the precautionary measures and guidelines put in place to ensure consumer safety before reopening.

The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (Adafsa) said in a statement on Friday that all staff will have to undergo Covid-19 testing prior to their return to work, and working hours should be consistent with the timings set by the National Sterilisation Programme.

Dr Mohammed Al Hammadi, director of the authority’s legislation division, said that several preventive measures had been set for owners and workers of these facilities, which they are required to meet prior to reopening.

Sanitisation workers from Abu Dhabi's waste management company Tadweer assemble at night before a citywide disinfection. Victor Besa / The National

Sanitation workers at Haddins Fitness, Zayed Sports City. Victor Besa / The National

The new Seha National Screening Project in Mussaffah Industrial Area in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

A sign at Al Qudra cycle path warns people about cycling in groups in light of the corona virus.. Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Abu Dhabi Police bicycle patrol do night operations around the Mussaffah area to warn or catch curfew violators in the residential areas. Victor Besa / The National

Corona. A very quiet Umm Suqeim Street. Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Corona. A car scooter drives off Sheikh Zayed Road during the 24hr lockdown due to Covid-19. Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Coronavirus. Sheikh Zayed road is still very quite on the first morning where the government has eased restrictions on personal travel due to Covid-19. Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A lady exercises in the marina on the first morning where the government has eased restrictions on personal travel due to Covid-19. Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Coronavirus/Covid-19. A man walks passed a huge sign on Sheikh Zayed Road that says 'Stay Home'. Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Coronavirus/Covid-19. Sharjah police officer Mohammed-Hassan Alshehhi goes through the self sanitization walk at Sharjah Industrial Area Police Station. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Covid-19/Coronavirus. Maria, Fraz and Nuno (L) work out. Crank an Indoor Cycling & Boutique Fitness Studio have brought in partitions between bikes to protect their customers from Covid 19. Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Coronavirus/Covid-19. Abi Cooke (pictured) and Rebecca Wright run a fashion company called Alana Bree. They make and sell dresses in the UAE. They have started making masks which match dresses. Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Coronavirus/Covid-19. Safety measures Guru Nanak Darbar Sikh temple has put into place as places of worship hope to open soon. Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A piece of gym equipment goes unused with a sign saying do not sit here due to Covid-19/Coronavisus. Sharjah. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A big sign on Al Khalil road advises people to stay informed due to Covid-19/Coronavisus. Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Covid-19/Coronavirus. Khalaf Al Habtoor, chairman of Al Habtoor Group comes to inspect the social distancing measures at Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Covid-19/Coronavirus. Midday prayers are performed at Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Visitors wearing the protective face mask to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at the Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai. Authorities ease the restriction for the residents in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Shoppers wearing protective face mask to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. Authorities ease the restriction for the residents in Dubai. At present mall opening timing is 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Pawan Singh / The National

Fruit vendor wearing protective face mask at the Al Awir fruit & vegetable market in Dubai. UAE government ease the coronavirus restriction for the residents around the country. Pawan Singh / The National

A salesman wearing protective face mask at his traditional shoes shop in Bur Dubai area in Dubai. UAE government ease the coronavirus restriction for the residents around the country. Pawan Singh / The National

A person wearing protective face mask at the Grand souq which is closed as a preventive measure against coronavirus in Bur Dubai area in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

People wearing protective face mask as a preventive measure against the spread of coronavirus and maintaining safe distance when sitting on the benches at the Umm Suqeim park near Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Safety stickers at the Redtag store in Al Naeem City Centre in Ras Al Khaimah. Pawan Singh / The National

Human sanitizing tunnel installed for the visitors as a preventive measure against the spread of the coronavirus at the Gurunanak Darbar in Jebel Ali in Dubai. Places of worship opening up in the UAE. Pawan Singh / The National

A commuter enters a disinfection tunnel at Abu Dhabi's central bus terminal. Victor Besa / The National

Barbers at Möto Barber in Al Quoz were back to 100% capacity for cutting hair and beards today after a slow return to business. During the Lockdown they were fully closed but have seen a massive demand in their services as people have been allowed to leave their homes again. Antonie Robertson/The National

Busy Dubai beaches after the beach restrictions were lifted in Dubai. Residents and visitors visit the beach near Kite Beach in Dubai even though the temperatures are in the high 30’s with high humidity. With social distancing in place the wearing of masks compulsory. Antonie Robertson/The National

Staff at Nightjar Coffee in Al Serkal Avenue, Al Quoz follow strict sanitary procedures due to the current COVID-19 Pandemic to ensure health and safety measures put in place by Dubai Municipality is adhered to. Antonie Robertson/The National

Shoppers in Souk Khabeer in Bur Dubai. The National

Christina Yakubel, a teacher at Chubby Cheeks Nursery prepares to teach children at home how to make edible playdough during the shutdown of educational institutions in the country to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Antonie Robertson / The National

Sharjah municipal staff prepare to disinfect the sidewalks as part of weekend drive across the UAE to sterilise public spaces to curb the coronavirus outbreak. Antonie Robertson / The National

General COVID-19 Coverage. View of Ras Al Khaimah during the Stay At Home campaign in effect during the Corona / Covid-19 pandemic. Antonie Robertson/The National

The Reif Japanese Kushiyaki restaurant in Dar Wasl Mall. preparedness and resilience are necessary for any business to survive the coronavirus pandemic. Antonie Robertson / The National

Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management announced increased restrictions on movement in Al Ras area of Dubai for two weeks effective from today to facilitate intensified sterilisation procedures. Reem Mohammed/The National

People line up in Bur Dubai to receive an iftar pack from volunteers of the Kerala NGO Markaz. Reem Mohammed/The National

SEHA’s Ras Al Khaimah Covid-19 drive-through testing centre. Reem Mohammed/The National

A nurse checks on a covid 19 patient at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City. Reem Mohammed/The National

The drive-in cinema is making a comeback at Mall Of The Emirates, as the property and VOX Cinemas take the movie-going experience outdoors. Photo: Reem Mohammed/The National

Volunteers at the iftar distribution in Dubai Investment Park, inside a small mosque, pick up their iftars. Reem Mohammed/The National

Beauty specialists in Abeer Salon in Baniyas neighborhood. They’ve been closed for the duration of 2 months, and opened only Tuesday. Reem Mohammed/The National

An employee takes your temperature at Pastels Salon in Mercato. Reem Mohammed/The National

Feby Cachero Baguisa Dela Peña sits with her family by the Patchi Building in Al Muraqabat Street in Deira, Dubai, with boxes of food she’s cooked at home, free for anyone who needs it. Reem Mohammed / The National

Men exercising in a park by Dubai Creek in Baniyas, Deira. Reem Mohammed/The National

Men sit by Dubai Creek on Baniyas road in Deira. Reem Mohammed/The National

A man sits by Dubai Creek on Baniyas road in Deira. Reem Mohammed/The National :

People line outside a shop with a clearance sale in Al Sabkha. Reem Mohammed/The National

Signs requiring people to social distance at Dubai Mall’s Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo. Reem Mohammed/The National

Dubai Mounted Police officers, in Al Aweer, patrol residential and commercial areas to insure residents are staying safe indoors during COVID-19 lockdown. They patrol the streets from 6PM to 6AM. Reem Mohammed/The National

A group of homeless men has taken residence in the shade in Karama. Reem Mohammed/The National

A patient gets an anti-body test at King's College Hospital. Reem Mohammed/The National

Shiva temple in Dubai. Hindu temples and a Sikh gurdwara in Dubai are also ready to open without ritual ceremonies and offerings to the gods. Regular deep cleaning, thermal scanners at the entrance and individual temperature checks are among safety measures. Reem Mohammed/The National

Shiva temple in Dubai. Hindu temples and a Sikh gurdwara in Dubai are also ready to open without ritual ceremonies and offerings to the gods. Reem Mohammed/The National

The National Screening Center, Mina Rashed, Dubai. A passenger in a Dubai Taxi about to get tested at the center. Victor Besa / The National

The door-to-door testing team are playing a vital role in Abu Dhabi's efforts to limit the spread of Covid-19. Victor Besa/The National

The once again busy streets at downtown Abu Dhabi during afternoon rush hour after Covid-19 restrictions have been eased following the completion of a three-month national sterilisation programme. Victor Besa / The National

The new Ambulatory Healthcare Services, a SEHA Health System Facility, National Screening Project in Mussafah Industrial Area in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Residents enjoy the sunset at the Corniche before the 6 p.m. curfew by the UAE government on the first day of the nationwide cleaning campaign to help deter the Coronavirus from spreading. Victor Besa / The National

The silent streets of downtown Abu Dhabi during the Coronavirus epidemic. King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street. Victor Besa / The National

Empty streets at Khalifa City during the Coronavirus epidemic. at Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Abu Dhabi Civil Defence and Police sterilisation drive in Mussafah. Abu Dhabi First Responder teams used a fleet of futuristic-looking equipment, which was originally rolled out to tackle fires, has now been redeployed as virus-fighting tech in the National Disinfection Programme. Victor Besa/The National

The streets of Mussaffah are sprayed with disinfection during a national campaign to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Victor Besa / The National

UAE coronavirus

"In cooperation with Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, Adafsa has designed a page in the food facilities' accounts on its website, calling on them through sms, to enter their employees' data into this page,” said Dr Al Hammadi.

“This enables workers of food facilities that are willing to resume their activities to conduct Covid-19 testing for free."

Similar precautionary measures were previously announced on June 17 to allow more dine-in guests inside eateries.

The safety measures include limiting the number of people in restaurants to 40 per cent of total capacity, with no more than four people allowed at each table.

Both staff and customers must wear gloves and masks, waiting areas should be closed, while tables must be spaced 2.5 metres apart.

All surfaces, tables and chairs must be sterilised after each use, hand sanitiser must be available at the entrance and single-use cutlery must be used unless there are thermal dishwashers.

Customers' body temperature should be checked before entering the facility, while buffet table, reception and hookah services will still be prohibited.

The authority has also carried out extensive inspection campaigns to ensure food outlets are complying with the precautionary measures.