More than 100 shisha cafes shut down by authorities in Deira

The cafes were shut down as they were smaller than the required size, stated in local bylaws. Only two of the 130 cafes inspected met the standard required.

The small size of more than 100 shisha cafes in Deira has lost them their licences. Jeffrey Biteng / The National

DUBAI // A total of 128 shisha cafes in Deira will have their licenses revoked and will be shut down by the end of the year, according to the director of health and safety at Dubai Municipality Marwan Al Mohammed.

He said the cafes in question did not meet the basic requirements listed in the bylaws of the anti-tobacco law.

The law stipulates that cafes need to be 150 square metres and over, but most of these cafes were barely 50 sqm, according to Al Ittihad, The National’s arabic sister publication.

Only two out of 130 cafes inspected met the requirements.

Al Ittihad learned that Dubai Municipality had contacted the Department of Economic Development this past week requiring it to shut down cafes that did not comply with anti-tobacco bylaws, especially those establishments near mosques, educational institutions, clubs and residential areas.