The Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai has announced closure of several commercial activities starting today, the 25th March 2020 until 8th April 2020, due to Covid-19 outbreak.
The closures exclude all activities other than pharmacies, supermarkets, grocery stores and cooperative societies.
The closures include shopping malls, commercial centres, including fish, meat and vegetable markets. However, wholesale of fish, meat, and vegetable markets supplying to supermarkets are excluded.
Among the list of closures are bodybuilding and fitness gymnasium, spring camps, theme parks, cinemas, spas and gaming centres. Also, all commercial shops in open markets would remain shut, except for car workshops, bakeries, technical and electrical services and laundries.
Also, on the list of closures are cafes, restaurants, coffee shops, food and shisha service establishments, and only hotels and hotel apartments serving guests will remain open.
DED, however, agreed that shops are allowed to continue selling online.
Here's the complete list of closure of commercial activities:
- Shopping Malls and Commercial Centres
- Open Fish, Meat and Vegetable Market (except wholesale fish, meat and vegetable markets supplying supermarkets)
- All Shisha cafes, coffee shops
- Fitness gyms
- Theme parks
- Spring camps
- All shops closed, but online sales permitted
- Commercial shops in open markets (excluding bakeries, car workshops, laundries, technical and electrical service providers)
- Restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, Food and Shisha Service Establishments (excluding restaurants and cafes at hotels and hotel apartments serving guests only and food delivery services and transportation).
- Amusement Games and Electronic game centres
- Cinemas
- Massage parlours and spas
The activities that are excluded by the decision (whether inside or outside the malls) are:
- Pharmacies
- Cooperative Societies
- Supermarkets
- Grocery stores
The DED in their circular mentioned that these establishments will be subjected to inspections by the Department of Economic Development to verify their compliance with the circular.
