Dubai issues new Covid-19 rules for travel, malls, and hospitals

Authorities in Dubai have issued multiple measures to boost Covid-19 safety in the emirate. The new rules range from closing down pubs and bars to ramping up PCR testing for passengers; cracking down on private parties and events; and streamlining healthcare resources.

The measures came as daily Covid safety inspection reports showed a marked increase in the number of violations of precautionary rules.

Here is the full list of all the Covid safety announcements made in Dubai recently.

Pubs, bars closed; capacity reduced at malls, public places

- Pubs, bars will be closed.

- Shopping malls will operate at a reduced capacity of 70%.

- Audience capacity of seated indoor venues, including cinemas as well as entertainment and sports venues, to be reduced to 50%. Enhanced precautionary measures will be stringently enforced.

Hotel establishments will be required to operate at 70% of total capacity; new bookings should comply with the new capacity limit.

- The number of guests allowed inside swimming pools and private beaches in hotels will be limited to 70% of total capacity.

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

New travel rules

- Tourists and UAE residents arriving in Dubai from any country are required to have a negative Covid-19 test report before travel.

- The PCR test should have been taken within 72 hours of travel - down from 96 earlier.

- Arrivals from certain countries (based on the pandemic situation in those countries) require an additional test on arrival in Dubai.

- Emiratis returning to the UAE are exempted from undertaking a PCR test before travel. They just need to undergo a test at the airport.

Private parties, events

Only first-degree relatives can attend weddings, social events and private parties. The maximum number of guests allowed has been capped at 10. The directive is applicable for events at homes and hotels.

Safety at restaurants, cafes

Tables at restaurants and cafes in Dubai will be set up three metres apart - up from the previous two metres. Additionally, the number of people allowed to sit on one table has been capped at seven at restaurants; and four at cafes.

Safety rules for gyms

Fitness centres and gyms in Dubai will need to increase the physical distancing between the sports equipment and trainees from 2 to 3 metres.

Shows cancelled

The Dubai Tourism has suspended all the entertainment permits issued in the emirate. This came after the authority detected more than 200 violations of safety guidelines and closed down around 20 establishments in three weeks.

Some dental procedures, non-essential surgery suspended

- All hospitals in Dubai have been directed to suspend non-essential surgery for a month.

- The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has suspended some non-urgent elective dental services.

- It has reduced the number of dental clinics across DHA facilities in the emirate as a "precautionary measure to protect patients and healthcare personnel from Covid-19 and prevent its spread".