Shisha restrictions in place for Ramadan

SHISHA RULES: Smoking will be restricted during Ramadan. (Getty Images)

Restrictions are being put on Shisha smokers during the holy month of Ramadan, it has been announced.

While Shisha and Ramadan normally go hand-in-hand, only four and five-star hotels will this year be allowed to serve shisha in the temporary iftar tents, under strict new regulations.

The move comes as part of new anti-smoking laws that were introduced in Dubai this year, reported UAE daily Gulf News on Wednesday.

The ban on smoking in hotel premises is part of an ongoing campaign to regulate smoking in the emirate.

The Ramadan tents also have to follow some new regulations, such as displaying no smoking signs for under-20s.

From November 2007, smoking was controlled in cafes and restaurants, and shisha cafes have to comply with new regulations by the end of the year.

Shisha cafes smaller than 1,500sq ft are required to move to bigger premises by the end of the year, and smoking outside cafes in residential areas has also been banned.

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READERS' COMMENTS

Do what I do ......
Posted by JM, dubai, uae on Monday 1 September 2008 at 12:10 UAE time


....smoke at home where no-one can tell you off and save the money which you would otherwise spend to be in a restaurant/hotel. It's my life, and if I want to smoke, I will do so. Some people eat dead animals, which ultimately are full of chemicals, love it and don't care whether they're offending animals lovers. I prefer to leave animals alive and smoke to my hearts' content!

And saving the money that I would be throwing away in restaurants and coffee shops :-)

Less harmful
Posted by Jane Doe, Dubai, UAE on Monday 1 September 2008 at 09:20 UAE time


Ah, so if shisha is served by 4 and 5 star hotels, does that make it less harmful?

Not even in balconies
Posted by aaqib on Sunday 31 August 2008 at 21:21 UAE time

Rainigade , Very soon they will impose a law that no sheeshas are allowed even in own balconies & terraces .
Doesn't surprise me as having lived here for very many years, I know the attitude of the Government & at the end of the day they come up with slogans like 'UAE is a wonderful place to live in' AND 'Dubai ,the city that cares'

Hand-in-hand...?!
Posted by Al on Sunday 31 August 2008 at 18:48 UAE time

all i wanna say is Mrs. Martin, and Julia...i add my voice to yours!
Yes, people go smoke sheesha after iftar not due to religious needs but because lack of "religious" responsibility. What should be done after iftar is family gatherings, visiting families and friends then there's the religious side of it where lectures, prayers (Where there's special ones for ramadhan) and good deeds to be done. Main reason of ramadhan to teach ourselves how to behave according how god wants us to be, perfectly human!

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