Dubai to ban smoking in public places
The government of Dubai, the second largest emirate of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has decided to ban smoking in all public places, local newspaper Gulf News reported on Tuesday.
The decision was made by the Dubai Executive Council, the emirate's central governing body, during its meeting on Monday.
According to the report, the move is also part of Dubai Municipality's Strategic Plan for 2007-2011, which lays down critical objectives in 14 key strategic areas, including public health and safety.
The plan aims to "increase the percentage of public places that comply with a smoking ban", said the report.
Dubai had imposed a ban on smoking in public places in 2004 but it has never been enforced.
(Published by People’s Daily Online, May 8, 2007)