Dubai allows flexible working hours for employees, orders shisha ban for two weeks

Dubai has ordered a ban on shisha across the city for a period of two weeks, amid mounting coronavirus concerns.

“As part of the precautionary measures aimed at achieving the highest levels of health and safety for the community, the Department of Economic Development and Dubai Municipality directs all the shisha places licensed in the emirate to refrain from providing shisha in its facilities immediately, for a period of two weeks, starting today, Thursday March 12” – Dubai Media Office’s tweet read in part.

Inspection campaigns will be launched to ensure concerned entities comply with the injunction.

In addition, the government of Dubai has undertaken several precautionary measures among its employees to try and curb the spread of the contagion, which has spread to over 100 countries, claiming over 4,600 lives globally.

The safety measures include:

• Implementation of a system that allows employees to work remotely
• Allowing remote work for pregnant women, the elderly, and people of determination
• Flexible hours and remote work for mothers with children in the 9th grade and younger
• Encourage virtual meetings through digital platforms
• Avoiding employee business trips, unless necessary
• Spreading awareness for employees and clients through internal communications
• Provide methods of disinfection and sanitization for employees and customers
• Sterilization of offices, facilities and areas with customers and clients
• Urging clients to use smart applications in carrying out transactions
• Additional measures to ensure the safety of field personnel and customer service staff
• Postponing events and large gatherings

The government of #Dubai implements a series of precautionary measures to ensure the health and safety of its employees and protect them from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). pic.twitter.com/fVtLxipDIS

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 12, 2020

On Wednesday, Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism also announced that hotels and cafes in the emirate have been temporarily banned from serving shisha.

Read: Abu Dhabi activates work-from-home for some govt employees, orders shisha ban