Dubai moves to reopen retail operations

23 April 2020
Dubai government releases social distancing and hygiene guidelines for the retail sector ahead of imminent resumption of operations

The Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai has released regulatory guidelines for the prospective reopening of limited retail operations within the emirate.

A decision is pending from the DED on the commencement date for the eased restrictions, but it is understood from sources within the retail sector that they could be enacted as soon as Sunday 26 April.

The new guidelines include strict social distancing and hygiene requirements that would require applicable malls, high-street retail and restaurants to keep customers two metres apart and limit people traffic volumes to 30 per cent of capacity across all facilities.

Retail trips will also be limited to three-hour windows and the parking availability at malls restricted to only 25 per cent of its maximum capacity to help maintain customer volumes at manageable levels.

Dubai mall operators are now working on tailoring their parking and surveillance systems to allow them to monitor and manage customer traffic flows in compliance with the DED guidelines, a source said.

Dubai police will issue fines to retailers and customers violating the guidelines.

Elderly individuals and young children will be prohibited from entering entirely

Various other restrictions apply, including a prohibition on sales and promotions that might draw extra traffic, while elderly individuals and young children will be prohibited from entering entirely.

Leisure facilities in malls, such as cinemas and family entertainment venues, as well as changing rooms and prayer rooms, which carry a greater risk of spreading Covid-19, will remain closed.

Lockdowns slowly lifting 

The move by the Dubai government follows the easing of restrictions on retail operations in Bahrain, where limited non-essential retail operations were allowed to resume on 9 April with heightened hygiene and health and safety requirements.

Restrictions on the retail sector were also eased in Iraq on 22 April after a month-long lockdown to allow families to purchase foodstuffs and other provisions from markets and other stores ahead of Ramadan.

Iran separately removed restrictions on many business on 18 April, although not within the retail sector.

In Dubai, separate guidelines have also been drawn up by the DED for public transport operations, offices, social welfare services and cultural centres, but there has been no indication of a start date for the easing of restrictions in these areas.

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