Local businesses and customers eagerly anticipate the opening of shopping malls. The country’s malls have suffered severe economic losses due to simple quarantine operations. Since the end of March, all businesses have been closed throughout the United Arab Emirates except for those deemed necessary, as well as mosques, gyms, parks, beaches, and other public places. Abu Dhabi has a curfew from 8:00 to 6:00, while Dubai has a 24-hour limit. Quarantine regulations in Dubai have become one of the toughest in the world: citizens are allowed out of the house to buy essential items no more than once in three days and stay outside for more than three hours. Permits are issued at different times and with delays to limit the number of people in shops. A total of 8,200 cases of coronavirus have been reported in the country.
Shopping mall’s regulations were developed by the UAE Economic Development Department and included restrictions on working hours, staff, and visitors.
Dubai’s malls will operate for no more than 10 hours per day, while in Abu Dhabi, shopping malls will be open only from 2 pm to 7 pm. The maximum number of visitors will be limited to 30% of the standard capacity of the shopping center, with buyers allowed to spend no more than 3 hours in the malls. All touch screens will be disabled, and parking spaces will be reduced by 50% in Abu Dhabi and 75% in Dubai. Older visitors over 60 years of age and children from 2 to 13 years of age will not be allowed to enter the malls.
All visitors and staff are required to wear medical masks, and individual rooms will be created at shopping malls to isolate visitors who may be potentially ill. In Abu Dhabi, the mandatory wearing of protective gloves is also being introduced.
All shopping centers will measure visitors’ temperatures and check and provide protective masks and gloves. Additional cleaning and ventilation measures will be introduced, as well as the disinfection of all items and jewelry after each fitting.
All visitors to the malls are required to maintain a safe distance of 2 meters, except for those who come together and family members.
Restaurants and cafes will open only one-third of the seats and place tables at least two meters away from each other. Abu Dhabi will allow up to four visitors to sit at one table. Gyms, cinemas, prayer rooms, and entertainment facilities will remain closed.
