The Department of Economic Development in Ras Al Khaimah has refused to renew licences for a number of shisha cafes due to their proximity to residential areas.
The DeD gave owners of these cafes the opportunity to search for alternative locations up to 150 metres away from people’s homes, in accordance with the anti-tobacco law.
Ahmed Obaid Al Tenaiji, deputy director general of the DeD, said the department, in collaboration with the Public Health Department at Ras Al Khaimah Municipality, succeeded in compelling all shisha cafes in violation of the law, and particularly those that have expired licenses, to move to locations in non-residential areas.
He added that the anti-tobacco law prohibits such cafes from being near homes to protect residents from the adverse effects of smoking, reported Al Ittihad, the Arabic language sister paper of The National.
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