Article (16)
The present Resolution shall be published in the Official Gazette and enter into force 6 months
following the date of publication.
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Prime Minister
Issued by us:
On: 12 Ramadan 1434 AH
Corresponding to: 21 July 2013 AD
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Cabinet Resolution of 2013 Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law of 2009 Concerning the Combating
of Tobacco
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Annex to Cabinet Resolution No. (24) of 2013
Concerning the Executive Regulations of the Federal Law No. (15) of 2009
Concerning the Combating of Tobacco
Section One
The Terms and Controls for the Places Offering Shisha
First: Cafes and similar places:
a. The planning conditions of the enclosed indoor lounges of the cafes and the similar:
1. A license of the shisha cafes and the like shall be permitted in the areas classified as
commercial, tourist or residential commercial areas which are located on the approved
main streets.
2. A license of the shisha cafes shall be permitted in the main streets separating the
commercial and residential areas.
3. The cafes and the similar places, which are licensed inside the commercial buildings, must
have a separated external entrance, as per the approved main design of the building. The
shop must not directly overlook the rest of the facilities and shops inside the building. It
must not be isolated from the rest of the building.
4. It shall be allowed to offer shisha in the licensed cafes and similar places in the shopping
centers; provided that it shall be only in the outdoor places or shops with a separated
external entrance so that such entrance shall not be within the main front of the building,
the shisha place shall be invisible to the visitors of the center (inside and outside) and the
shop shall be isolated from the rest of the center.
5. It shall be allowed to offer shisha in the licensed cafes and similar places in the hotels,
provided that it shall be only in the outdoor places, inside the plot limits and within the
permitted uses, as per the planning and building requirements, and the shisha place shall
be invisible to the visitors of the hotel (inside and outside).
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6. The cafe or the similar place must be at a distance of not less than 7.5 m away from the
main entrances of the neighboring buildings and shops.
7. The shop must be in the buildings next to the public parking yards or in areas that have
no problem with parking.
8. It shall be forbidden to change the interior space of the shop unless an approval is taken
from the Competent Authority.
9. Any changes in the building in terms of the entrances, exits or service facilities shall
require the prior approvals of the building management and the Department of Civil
Defense for making any changes in the building in terms of the entrances, exits or service
facilities.
10. An approval must be obtained from the building owner or the authorized entity for
offering shisha service inside the shop.
b. The licensing terms of cafes and similar places:
1. The site shall fulfill the said planning conditions.
2. The shop shall be licensed as a (cafe).
3. The interior space of the shop shall not be less than 200m and the spaces of the cafe
lounge shall not be less than 150m.
4. An approval shall be obtained from the building management for the decorations.
5. An approval shall be obtained from the building owner or the authorizing entity (NO
Objection Letter) for providing shisha service inside the shop.
6. A permit shall be obtained from the Competent Authority for offering shisha, provided
that it shall contain the necessary requirements for ventilation and air-conditioning
systems and the authorized work hours.
c. The general health and safety terms for cafes and similar places:
1. The shop shall be completely isolated from the neighboring areas and shall not be less
than 3m in height.
2. The doors shall be automatically closed. They shall remain closed all times except for
entrance and exit times.
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3. A space of not less than 5m shall be provided for the cleanliness, sterilization and
preparation of shisha and its tools so that it would be separated from the places for
preparing tea and coffee and any other approved activity, provided that the following
shall be available therein:
a. A preparation table of a stainless-steel material for shisha.
b. A basin for shisha.
c. A coal platform inside the shop connected to a mechanical ventilation system for the
expulsion of the contaminated air (exhaust) directly outside.
4. The smoking lounge shall be separated from the places for preparing the shisha or tea,
coffee, and other beverages.
5. The number of the individuals existing in the shop at the same time shall not be more than
the permitted number by 2 sqm per person.
6. The place for smokers shall fulfill the terms and specifications of ventilation and air-
conditioning.
7. The shop, its exterior yards and personnel shall be maintained clean.
8. The remnants of the used Tobacco shall not be used.
9. Disposable mouth pieces shall be used.
10. A toilet and at least an external basin shall be provided for men and the like for women.
11. A cautionary board (poster) shall be placed at the entrance of the shop, prohibiting the
entrance of persons under 18 years old into the shop.
12. The shisha service shall not be provided outside the shop (shisha delivery to offices,
homes, and cars).
13. All personnel in the cafe shall obtain valid professional health cards.
14. The general safety conditions shall be fulfilled, and the fire extinguishers shall be provided
in visible places.
15. First aid kit shall be available.
16. Coal shall be stored in a manner safe from the risk of ignition.
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17. The consumed coal shall be stored in a safe manner by putting it in a (metal or ceramic)
incombustible containers at a distance of not less than 3 m away from any flammable
materials, setting a sign on the container that it contains hot and dangerous coal.
18. The floors shall not be covered with flammable materials or materials that are difficult to
be clean.
19. The shop shall be provided with an emergency exit, setting guiding marks thereof, if the
shop accommodates more than 50 seats.
20. The shop shall not cause any disturbance to the building, neighborhood, area in general,
traffic or public parking yards.
21. Shisha shall not be offered inside cabins with 3 or more closed sides.
22. A worker who brings or provides shisha in the shop shall not exercise any other activity.
23. A special uniform shall be allocated for the workers of preparing or presenting shisha.
Second: Restaurants
a. The license terms of the restaurants offering shisha:
1. The Competent Authority shall approve the site.
2. The restaurant shall be licensed by the Competent Authority as a restaurant and cafe, a
cafe and cafeteria or a cafe and fast food.
3. The space of the shop shall not be less than 200sqm and the interior dining hall shall not
be less 150 m, which area shall not include any common or external areas.
4. The building management shall approve the decorations.
5. An approval shall be obtained from the building owner or the authorizing entity (NO
Objection Letter) for providing shisha service inside the restaurant.
6. A permit shall be obtained from the Competent Authority for offering shisha; provided
that it shall contain the necessary requirements for ventilation and air-conditioning
systems and the authorized work hours.
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b. The general health and safety terms of cafes and similar places:
Without prejudice to the provided terms with respect to the shisha cafes:
1. The shop shall be completely isolated from the areas dedicated for non-smokers and shall
not be less than 3m in height.
2. The space of the place for smoking shisha shall not be more than 50% of the area of the
indoor dining hall and 50% of the outdoor area dedicated therefor.
3. A cautionary board (poster) shall be placed at the entrance of the place, prohibiting the
entrance of persons under 18 years old into the shop.
4. The restaurant, its exterior yards and personnel shall be maintained clean.
Third: The terms of using the pavements and outdoor yards of the licensed cafes and
restaurants for offering shisha:
a. The planning conditions of using the pavements and outdoor yards:
1. It shall be allowed to use the pavements and outdoor yards of the buildings and opening
areas for smoking shisha in the commercial or tourist classified areas.
2. The additional parts of a building shall not be used.
3. No part of a plot owned by a third party shall be used.
4. No part of the public parking yards or services shall be used.
5. The outdoor yard shall not exceed the extension of the external fronts of the licensed
place.
6. No temporary or permanent facilities shall be established in the outdoor yards.
7. No change in the outdoor floors shall be made prior to obtain the required license.
8. The place dedicated for smoking shisha shall be at least 1.5 m away from the footpaths.
9. The place dedicated for smoking shisha shall be at least 7.5 m away from the building and
shop entrances and shall not cause any disturbance to others. It shall be surrounded by
decorative planting basins to separate the shisha smokers' area for the pedestrians.
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10. In the event that the outdoor yard is affiliated with a hotel facility, such facility must be
classified as a four-star facility and more. The term of space in Clause 3 of the license terms
of the shisha cafes shall, then, not be applied.
b. The license terms of using the pavements and outdoor yards:
1. The pavements and outdoor yards shall be affiliated to a cafe, a restaurant and cafe, a cafe
and cafeteria, or a cafe and fast food which would be licensed by the Competent Authority
and permitted for offering shisha.
2. An approval shall be obtained from the building owner or the authorizing entity (NO
Objection Letter) for providing shisha service outside the shop.
3. A permit shall be obtained from the Competent Authority for offering shisha.
c. The general health and safety conditions of using pavements and outdoor yards:
1. The place dedicated to smokers shall be at least 7.5 m away from the windows and the
openings for providing the air-conditioning systems with the outside air.
2. The place dedicated to smokers shall be at least 3.5 m away from the swimming pools.
3. The outdoor yard shall not be used to store or prepare coal or prepare or clean shisha.
4. The outdoor yard shall not be used to display shisha for publicity.
5. The seats dedicated for the smokers shall not be more than 50% of the total number of
seats (except for the cafes).
6. The seats dedicated for the smokers shall be at least 1.5 m away from those dedicated for
the non-smokers (except for the cafes).
7. Visible signs indicating the places for smokers and those for non-smokers shall be fixed.
8. They shall not cause any disturbance to the building, neighborhood, area in general, traffic
or public parking yards.
9. All requirements and standards of occupying the pavements and outdoor yards of the
buildings and commercial shops, which are issued by the Competent Authority, shall be
bounded by.
10. The shop, its exterior yards and personnel shall be maintained clean.
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Section Two
The Terms and Controls for Licensing the Restaurants and Cafes to Allow their
Customers for Smoking Other Than Shisha
Terms and Controls
It shall be conditional in the shops, which are licensed as a restaurant and cafe at the same time
and allow their customers to use Tobacco (other than smoking shisha), that:
1. The indoor dining hall would not be less than 100sqm, excluding any common or outdoor
areas.
2. The place for smokers shall fulfill the conditions, as provided in Article 12 hereof.
3. Smoking would be allowed in the opening areas of eating, which areas would have no ceiling
or upper cover or have an opening in the walls of more than half of the total area of the walls,
excluding the areas with open doors or windows or any supplies that can be opened or closed
according to the following conditions:
a. The seats dedicated for the smokers shall not be more than 50% of the total seat number.
b. The seats dedicated for the smokers shall be at a distance of not less than 1.5 m away from
the non-smokers so that it shall not adversely affect the convenience of the non-smokers
(taking into consideration the air stream in the area).
c. The place for the smokers shall be at a distance of at least 7.5 m away from the building
and window exits and entrances and the openings for providing the air-conditioning
systems with the outside air.
d. Visible signs distinguishing the places for smokers and those for non-smokers shall be
fixed.
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