DUBAI BRACES FOR EASING MALL, WHOLESALE RESTRICTIONS

Dubai Economy on Sunday sent out a circular to shopping malls and retailers suggesting increasing the working hours after the holy month of Ramadan from 10am to 10pm during weekdays, and up to midnight over the weekends. Dubai Tourism also issued a set of guidelines for a proposed reopening of outdoor tourism and sporting activities, and easing of restrictions for private beaches in hotels

PREVIOUS PROTOCOLS PLUS THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS:

> During Ramadan: Operating hours for malls 12pm-10pm > Post-Ramadan: Weekdays 10am-10pm and weekends 10am-midnight

> Occupancy ceiling 30% of gross leasable areas and staffing 30%

> 75% of the mall parking to be closed

> F&B outlets and food courts to maintain 30% capacity and social distancing

> Elevators to be used only by special needs people with 30% capacity maintained

PEOPLE NOT ALLOWED IN MALLS

> Children under 12

years, and children of with medical conditions > People above 60 years old

> High-risk individuals with medical conditions

> ‘No refund/return policy’ restriction to be removed, conditional to sanitisation

> Restrictions on sales and promotions lifted

> Customers to wear masks in fitting/changing rooms all the time

> Each customer can try up to 5 items only

> Not more than 10 minutes allowed in the fitting room > Returned items not to be put

back on the shelves or used by other customers; they must be put aside by the retailer for 24 hours > Continuous sterilisation of the fitting rooms to be performed

PROTOCOLS FOR OFFICES/OFFICE BUILDINGS & SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES

Previous protocols plus the following amendments:

> 6 hours during Ramadan and

normal operating hours postRamadan

> Occupancy ceiling up to 30%

of office premises

> Staffing ceiling up to 30% > Only 30% capacity allowed in elevators > Pantries usage strictly for food and drink consumption, maintaining 2-metre social distancing and using disposable utensils > Coffee stations to follow 2-metre social distancing;

and not to allow queuing and water dispensing machines. Sanitisation after every use or once every hour