Dubai shuts down salons, food outlets for violating COVID-19 SOPs

DUBAI: Dubai Municipality shut down two salons and four food outlets for not committing to COVID-19 precautionary measures and standard operating procedures, most notably physical distancing.

In a tweet, the Dubai Municipality announced that one salon in at Al Qusais 1 and another in at Wadi Al Safa 5 faced closure along with four food establishments, including a coffee shop at Dubai Outlet Mall and three restaurants each at Nayef, Al Quoz Industrial Area 3 and DIFC.

A shisha cafe was also closed down, according to the tweet by Dubai Municipality.

#DubaiMunicipality shut down 2 salons at Al Qusais 1, and at Wadi Al Safa 5, 4 food establishments (Coffee Shop at Dubai Outlet Mall, a restaurant at Nayef, a restaurant at Al Quoz Industrial Area 3, a restaurant at DIFC) pic.twitter.com/yvPmDugNwt

— بلدية دبي | Dubai Municipality (@DMunicipality) September 21, 2020

As part daily monitoring of environmental and food health establishments, Dubai Municipality conducted 2,643 inspection visits and found 2,525 establishments fully complied with precautionary measures while seven businesses and shops faced closure, 49 warnings were issued and 62 violations were recorded.

Inspectors from the Commercial Compliance & Consumer Protection, CCCP, sector in Dubai Economy also imposed fines on nine businesses for not adhering to physical distancing and employees’ lack of commitment to wearing masks.

In addition, six establishments were warned for not placing the physical distancing stickers as required.

Overall, inspections found that 668 shops and commercial establishments fully complied with the precautionary measures.

The establishments fined included a restaurant in Umm Hurair, retail outlets in various shopping centres, and a sewing and embroidery shop in Abu Hail. A gym in Al Safa 1 was also fined in cooperation with the Dubai Sports Council.

Stressing that public health is a top priority, Dubai Economy reminded that stern action will be taken against any non-compliance with the precautionary measures found during its inspections or that may be brought to its attention by consumers and the public. The disciplinary action is meant to be a deterrent against any violation or abuse.