The ban on public smoking will be extended to parks, a Dubai Municipality official has said.
The ban will form the next phase of the municipality’s smoking regulation enforcement, which has covered hotels, restaurants and cafes, malls and sports halls to date, reported UAE daily Gulf News on Tuesday.
Smoking in public parks will now be banned because of the many family areas, including children’s playgrounds, swimming pools and beaches.
Ahmad Al Shammari, acting director of the Public Health Department said malls should have indoor areas for smokers to prevent shoppers having to walk through smoke to enter a shopping centre.
BurJuman Centre has an indoor smoking room on the third floor, while malls such as Ibn Battuta and Mall of the Emirates have provided smoking areas outside entrances and exits. Smoking in undesignated areas of shopping malls carries a 1,000 dirham fine for individuals.
To date, no individual smokers have been fined, while around 25 restaurants and cafes have been penalised.
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