Smokers in Dubai beware: if you are in the habit of taking a puff, even with e-cigarettes, at non-designated areas in malls, security guards in malls could call the cops to take action.

A senior Dubai Municipality official has endorsed malls acting on smokers violating the ban on smoking in public places after the civic body received complaints about several people smoking at the entrances and non-designated areas inside the malls.

“The Municipality has noticed that there are some shopping centres that allow violation of the indoor smoking ban, especially the so-called electronic cigarettes and allow smoking at the entrances of shopping centers,” said Redha Salman, director of Public Health and Safety Department in the Municipality.

He said malls and shopping centers have been directed to give powers to their security personnel to direct people in a civilized way and to put signs and warnings on the entrances. “In the case of people repeating these practices, the security officer has the right to resort to the police to take the necessary measures,” Salman said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

When contacted, Salman told Gulf News that malls have the right to call the police if visitors are violating the smoking rules.

“First they have to educate and do awareness. If it is not working and still some people are continuing to violate [the rules], the mall has the right to complain and call the police.”

He clarified that the authority that can take action against individuals in this case is the police. “Municipal inspectors can issue fines against establishments that are licensed.”

He said that the decision in 2009 to ban smoking in public places also includes the electronic cigarettes and smoking at the entrances of shopping centers as well as indoor areas. He emphasized that the municipality is serious about implementing the ban.

Khater Al Nuaimi, Director of Customer Relations and Partners Department, said the department recently organized a working meeting with a group of officials of shopping centers in the emirate to discuss the complaints of the customers about visitors smoking electronic cigarettes in these shopping centers.

Customers had complained that some people smoke at the entrances of the malls and do not comply with the instructions even though smoking is prohibited in public places such as markets, commercial centers, hotels and public gatherings except in the designated areas, he noted.

Some representatives of the shopping centres revealed that there are cases of some people who are stubbornly against obeying the rules, especially young people, whether it is not smoking in the restricted areas or abstaining from smoking at the entrances, even though it is prohibited by law.

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