Authorities in Dubai clarified that outdoor dining and shisha services in the emirate are banned during the Ramadan fasting hours.
The Dubai Economy has earlier announced that there is no need for a special permit for restaurants to serve food during the fasting hours in Ramadan this year. They let these establishments decide whether they want their dining areas covered or not. However, the decision left many confused regarding outdoor dining.
In Dubai, there are restaurants that serve food along the beaches and on terraces.
Mohammed Ali Rashed Lootah, CEO of the Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection (CCCP) sector in Dubai Economy, told Gulf News that outdoor seating is not allowed during fasting hours. He, on the other hand, confirmed that delivery of food can be continued as usual.
Restaurants are not allowed to display food outside their premises during fasting hours. The report also confirmed that it is still allowed to serve food outside the walled premises of the food establishments during fasting hours in ‘exceptional cases.’
Head of Inspection at the Food Safety Department in Dubai Municipality, Sultan Ali Al Taher, said dining is allowed in private beach areas if the food is served on the premises of the hotels.
“Restaurants in hotels are allowed to serve food in outdoor seating areas,” he said.
It is not the municipality inspectors’ job to check if people are having food in public areas during fasting hours. It is also not their duty to find out if people are fasting or to make sure if one was supposed to be fasting or not,” Al Taher added.
Meanwhile, shisha services in all commercial outlets are banned during the day in Ramadan.
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