Coronavirus: Dubai shuts three shisha cafes for breaking Covid-19 rules


  • English
  • Arabic

Dubai Municipality has closed three shisha cafes and a laundry for flouting Covid-19 rules.

The closures came during a sweep of 204 establishments across the emirate on Friday.

Most premises inspected by officials were following the rules, but a laundry in Al Marar and cafes in Al Twar 2 and Oud Metha 1 were shut.

The authorities have recently stepped up their campaign to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Dubai has reduced the maximum number of people allowed to sit together in restaurants from 10 to seven, and to four in cafes.

The minimum distance between tables has been increased from two to three metres.

Tougher restrictions have also been imposed on  attendance of social events, including weddings and private parties.

Since January 27, only first-degree relatives – a person's parents, siblings or children – have been allowed to attend, with a maximum of 10 people.

The health authorities have also been ramping up the national vaccination programme.

Officials said on Saturday that 87,720 doses were administered, bringing the UAE’s total to 2,426,793.

This represents 24.54 doses per 100 people, and puts the UAE second behind Israel in the global vaccination race.

Cases in the UAE reached a new daily high of 3,566 cases on Saturday, the highest figure for the 12th consecutive day.

But a record 4,051 patients recovered from the virus, taking the total number of people to have overcome Covid-19 in the UAE to 247,318.

Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

The specs

Price, base / as tested Dh960,000
Engine 3.9L twin-turbo V8 
Transmission Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Power 661hp @8,000rpm
Torque 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.4L / 100k