Video: Dubai Police issues Dhs50,000 fines for yacht party flouting Covid-19 rules

The Dubai Police on Sunday, February 7, said that it had issued fines worth Dhs50,000 to several people who held a private party on a commercial yacht and were observed to be violating the prescribed Covid-19 precautionary measures.

In a video posted by Dubai Media office, people can be seen on the yacht not adhering to social distancing guidelines and neither wearing masks which are mandatory in Dubai.

The Dubai Police, who coordinated their actions with Dubai Tourism, said that the yacht operator’s licence was also revoked for one month.

Dubai Police, in cooperation with Dubai Tourism, issues fines worth AED 50,000 to several people who held a private party in a commercial yacht without committing to social distancing rules and wearing masks.
The yacht operator’s license was revoked for 1 month. #Dubai pic.twitter.com/KWwo3Gjwii

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) February 7, 2021

In a series of new measures to curb the spread of the virus, Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management put into place new rules that went into effect from February 2.

Among the directives, pubs and bars will be closed, whereas hotels will be required to operate at 70 per cent of their total capacity.

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

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

Recently, the Dubai Police encouraged the public to report any violations of Covid-19 precautionary measures via its call centre (901) or ‘Police Eye’ service.

Read: Dubai Police urges public to report violations of Covid-19 protocols

On Sunday, it revealed that it had received around 1,000 reports from the public on Covid-19 violations in one week from January 31 – February 6.

.@DubaiPoliceHQ receives in one week around 1000 reports from the public on violations related to the COVID-19 precautionary measures through Dubai Police’s Call Centre (901) and the ‘Police Eye’ service on Dubai Police App. #Dubai pic.twitter.com/nBcNuiK9mr

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) February 7, 2021

Of these, 82 complaints were received via the Police Eye service, while the remainder came through its call centre.