16 January 2008

Dubai: Although the smoking ban in hotels came into force on Tuesday, hotel managers said that they were still waiting for the final word from Dubai MunicipalityDubai Municipality.

"We have so far had a draft for regulating smoking but no final word. We don't know how to implement it," said Ashwin Singh, General Manager of Dhow Palace HotelDhow Palace Hotel in Bur Dubai.

However, he said that they had already imposed a smoking ban in some restaurants and the lobby.

"But we are still waiting for information from the municipality regarding the full plan for smoking regulations. We are not sure what to with smokers in pubs and nightclubs," he said.

Clarification

Abdul Manan, director of marketing at the Avari Hotel, said they were informed that the smoking regulations came into force from yesterday but they were still waiting for more information.

"There were some issues which were not clarified in the last meeting in the first week of January and municipality officials told us that we would be updated but we are waiting for them to explain," he said, adding that they would immediately take measures once they receive information on how to implement the smoking regulations.

Similar views were expressed by many other hotel managers. Some of them have barred guests from smoking but many others have not taken any action to regulate smoking.

"We are still confused," said a manager at a five-star hotel on Shaikh Zayed Road.

Dubai MunicipalityDubai Municipality officials were not available to comment on the issue yesterday. However, a senior official said that although the smoking ban would be regulated in hotels, furnished apartments and dormitories from January 15, they would give a grace period to allow hotels to make arrangements.

The civic body has already completed two phases to regulate smoking in shopping malls from September 15, while a smoking ban was introduced for restaurants and cafes on November 18.

Increased fines

Meanwhile, fines for smokers who light up in non-smoking areas have been gone up. The fines have been revised to Dh1,000 from the earlier Dh500, said a senior official.

Fines for individuals range from Dh1,000 to Dh8,000 while establishments may face fines from Dh10,000 to Dh80,000, Gulf News has learnt.

No smoking: Where it's banned

Smoking is not permitted at all inside certain public areas. They include: entrances, walkways, lifts, escalators, stair cases, lavatories, amusement and entertainment places, offices, cinemas, meeting and conference halls, stores, food courts, prayer rooms and ablution areas, covered car parking lots, shops, showrooms, reception areas, waiting areas and rest areas.

Dubai MunicipalityDubai Municipality has prepared a guide of "dos and don'ts" on smoking and it also contains list of places where smoking is permitted such as specially-designated areas in public buildings.

By Ashfaq Ahmed

© Gulf News 2008. All rights reserved.