Covid-19: Timings of shopping malls in the UAE reduced

UAE retail conglomerate Majid Al Futtaim announced that all of its shopping malls across the region will operate for a truncated number of hours only.

“As of March 18, Majid Al Futtaim shopping malls across the region will begin operating between 12 pm to 8 pm only. These reduced hours have been put in place to afford further cleaning and sanitization of our assets, ensuring a safer experience for our customers. The safety and wellbeing of our valued employees, retail partners, and customers remains our number one priority,” a company statement read.

The reduced operating hours do not apply to Carrefour, pharmacies or clinics within the malls, the statement added.

Majid Al Futtaim operates 26 shopping malls, serving 178 million visitors annually, according to the company website.

The UAE has carried out a number of precautionary measures to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Earlier this month, the Department of Economic Development directed all cinemas, theme parks, amusement games and electronic game centres, bodybuilding and fitness gyms and spring camps licenced in Dubai to halt all their activities and services with immediate effect till the end of March.

In line with ongoing efforts to safeguard public health, @Dubai_DED directs all cinemas, theme parks, amusement games & electronic game centres, bodybuilding & fitness gyms & spring camps licensed in #Dubai to halt all their activities & services until end of March 2020. pic.twitter.com/nAcZ0feS08

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 15, 2020

The UAE has reported 15 new cases of the pathogen, bring the total of those infected to 113, of whom 26 have recovered.