Dubai announces new Covid-19 restrictions: Mall capacity reduced, bars closed

Dubai has announced a new set of Covid-19 precautionary measures including limiting capacity at malls and the closing down of pubs and bars.

The new measures, issued by Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, are effective from February 2, 2021 until the end of the month.

Daily reports have shown a marked increase in the number of violations of precautionary measures, the committee said.

#Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management announces new set of precautionary measures against COVID-19
Supreme Committee: Measures taken in response to rise in violations of preventive measures
Measures effective from 2nd February to 28th February 2021 pic.twitter.com/DmIN1ruuob

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) February 1, 2021

The new precautionary measures include:

• Audience capacity of seated indoor venues, including cinemas as well as entertainment and sports venues to be reduced to 50 per cent of maximum capacity; enhanced precautionary measures will be stringently enforced.

• Hotel establishments will be required to operate at 70 per cent of total capacity; new bookings should comply with the new capacity limit.

• The number of guests allowed inside swimming pools and private beaches in hotels will be limited to 70 per cent of total capacity.

• Shopping malls will operate at a reduced capacity of 70 per cent.

• Restaurants and cafes will be required to close by 1am. They will also not be allowed to organise any entertainment activities in their premises.

• Pubs/bars will be closed.

• Intensified monitoring and inspection campaigns will be conducted to ensure strict compliance with precautionary measures and safety protocols including physical distancing and wearing of facemasks.

The committee stressed that the new decisions have been made in response to the current Covid-19 situation.

“Penalties will be strictly imposed on anyone found posing a risk to public health by deliberately disregarding preventive measures or not observing them properly,” the statement said.

Inspections will be intensified to ensure compliance with precautionary measures.

The committee also urged the public to report any violations of the precautionary measures by individuals or establishments through Dubai Police’s call centre 901 or its ‘Police Eye’ service in the Dubai Police app.

“Enforcing preventive protocols and observing health and safety guidelines remains the most effective method to combating the virus. All individuals must ensure they abide by precautionary measures,” it said.

In January, the committee also announced restrictions on restaurants, gyms and events to curb the spread of the virus.

As per the new mandate, the number of people allowed to sit at one table has been reduced from 10 to seven at restaurants and to four at cafes.

Read: Covid-19: Dubai announces new restrictions for restaurants, gyms and events

Attendance to weddings, social events, and private parties, whether at a hotel or at home, is now limited to first-degree relatives, with the maximum number of people allowed capped at 10.

Also, all fitness centres and gyms in Dubai have to maintain 3 metres distance between the sports equipment.