A shisha cafe has been closed down and five others have been served with warning notices as part of the anti-tobacco inspections by Fujairah Municipality.
The surprise inspection targeted all shisha cafes operating in the emirate to check on their adherence to the anti-tobacco law, which states that shisha cafes must be located at least 150 meters away from residential buildings.
Fatima Al Maksah, Head of the Health Division of Fujairah Municipality, said the visitation was designed to curtail the spread of smoking and using tobacco among people, particularly the young and teenagers.
The inspections come off the back of the Ministry of Health issuing a UAE-wide smoking ban in enclosed public places which will take effect next year.
The law also specifies the working hours of shisha cafes, which are from 10am to midnight, and bans serving shisha and to people under 18 years of age as well as smoking and using tobacco in closed public places.
rhaza@thenational.ae
