Dubai: Outdoor Dining Restricted During Fasting Hours

  • Publish date: Tuesday، 20 April 2021
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It was announced that Dubai restaurants and food outlets aren’t required to screen off dining areas in Ramadan, however, authorities clarified to Gulf News that outdoor dining and shisha services are still banned during fasting the hours.

Dubai Economy had recently announced that there is no need for a special permit for restaurants to serve food during the fasting hours in Ramadan this year.

“Outdoor seating is not allowed during fasting hours. Delivery of food can be continued as usual,” said Mohammed Ali Rashed Lootah, CEO of the Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection (CCCP) sector in Dubai Economy to Gulf News.

Sultan Ali Al Taher, head of Food Inspection at the Food Safety Department in Dubai Municipality 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.”

The officials said inspecting people eating in public areas does not come under the jurisdiction of both the authorities. “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.

Read More: Ramadan UAE: Restaurants in Dubai Not Required to Use Screens

Read More: Sharjah Restaurants to Apply for Permits to Offer Food to non-Muslims

“It is not allowed to serve shisha during the fasting hours at any establishment. It is not allowed even in hotel restaurants,” he clarified.

Shisha can be served only after iftar and until 4am. As per the municipality’s Ramadan rule in Dubai eateries, the last order for the day can be taken only till 3am. This is applicable in the case of shisha cafés also, Al Taher added.

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