Coronavirus: Dubai lifts permit restrictions to allow shopping and exercise

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Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - Dubai residents will be allowed to leave home without a permit as of Friday after the government eased restrictions on personal travel.

The decision will allow people to move freely for the first time since April 4.

In a series of developments on Thursday night, the Dubai government said:

- Residents can leave home for one to two hours a day for exercise including running, cycling and dog walking - masks must be worn at all times

- They can visit “first and second-degree” relatives. Friends should not meet and no more than five people should be in one place together

Children assist in the installation of Ramadan ornaments in the streets of Giza, Egypt. EPA

Ramadan date sales at the Abu Dhabi Dates Market at, Mina Zayed. Victor Besa / The National

A Ramadan date shopper at the Abu Dhabi Dates Market at Mina Zayed. Victor Besa / The National

Ramadan decoration and offers at the Lulu Hypermarket in Al Barsha in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Ramadan decoration at the Spinneys in Al Barsha in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

The Carpet Souk at the Zayed Port area. Lalujan, a carpet salesman is looking forward to Ramadan carpet sales. Victor Besa / The National

The Carpet Souk at the Zayed Port area. An upholsterer cuts fabric for a Ramadan sofa. Victor Besa / The National

A man hangs decorations ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on a mosque during a countrywide lockdown over the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters

A Palestinian girl leans out from the window of a vehicle to see the decorative lights in Gaza City as the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic lingers ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. AFP

A Palestinian packs boxes with food that will be distributed to poor Palestinian families ahead oof the hoy month of Ramadan, in Nablus, West Bank. AP Photo

Daily-wage workers wait in line to receive free wheat donated by Afghan businessmen ahead of the upcoming holy fasting month of Ramadan in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP Photo

The newly installed Ramadan lights on the Abu Dhabi Corniche during the rain. Victor Besa / The National

The newly installed Ramadan lights on the Corniche during the rain. Victor Besa / The National

The newly installed Ramadan lights on the Corniche during the rain. Victor Besa / The National

The newly installed Ramadan lights on the Corniche during the rain. Victor Besa / The National

A Palestinian vendor displays traditional lanterns known in Arabic as "Fanous" outside his shop in Gaza City, ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. From cancelled iftar feasts to suspended mosque prayers, Muslims across the Middle East are bracing for a bleak month of Ramadan fasting as the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic lingers. Ramadan is a period for both self reflection and socialising. Believers fast from dawn to dusk and then gather around a family or community meal each evening of Islam's holiest month, which begins later this week and ends with Eid al-Fitr festivities. AFP

An Egyptian vendor sells traditional lanterns known in Arabic as "Fanous" ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in the capital Cairo. AFP

A Yemeni vendor waits for costumers in the old city market of the capital Sanaa ahead of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. AFP

Livestock being carted from the Abu Dhabi Livestock Market to the Public Slaughter House which is directly across the street. Victor Besa / The National

Egyptian youths prepare decorations for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, also known to Egyptians as "Zeinat Ramadan" on a street in front of their homes during the night-time curfew to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Cairo, Egypt,. REUTERS

An Egyptian seller cleans a traditional Ramadan lantern called "fanous" at his shop ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, amid concerns over the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Cairo, Egypt. REUTERS

Palestinians shop in the market before the holy month of Ramadan in Gaza City. EPA

A vendor waits for customers to buy traditional food ahead of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, at the main market in Gaza City. AP Photo

An Iraqi man wearing a mask is reflected on a traditional lantern known in Arabic as "Fanous" at the Shorja market in central Baghdad as Iraq prepares to welcome the holy fasting month of Ramadan which begins later this week. AFP

A vendor wearing face mask sells sweets at al-Midan neighborhood ahead of the month of Ramadan in Damascus, Syria. EPA

People shop for Ramadan lanterns ahead of the holy month, in the Sayeda Zeinab neighborhood of Cairo, Egypt. AP Photo

A vendor wearing a protective face mask serves customers inside his shop, ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, amid concerns over the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Algiers, Algeria. REUTERS

A general view shows an outdoor market set up by the Algerian government to prevent crowding inside supermarkets, ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, amid concerns over the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Algiers, Algeria. REUTERS

Early Ramadan shoppers at Carrefour Yas Mall. A lady checks out a Ramadan promotional stand. Victor Besa / The National

- Malls will open between midday and 10pm

- Shops can open but may not be at more than 30 per cent of maximum capacity at all times. Staff numbers should be reduced to 30 per cent capacity

- No cinemas, entertainment or play areas areas can open

- Dubai’s main Metro line will resume service on Sunday, running from 7am to 11pm

- Police will issue Dh1,000 fines to anyone found in public without a mask on. Wearing gloves in public or in supermarkets is not mandatory

Dubai, with a population of more than 3 million, had the strictest regulations, with residents requiring an online permit from police to leave home to buy essentials from supermarkets and pharmacies.

Earlier, in a briefing note to businesses across the city, Dubai Economy set out guidelines on how malls, offices, factories, building sites and even public transport would start again once the government issued the go-ahead.

Under the plans, the emirate, which is under a strict 24-hour stay-at-home order, would allow people to receive family members during Ramadan and leave home for “one outdoor activity” a day.

Retailers rushed to mobilise staff on Thursday and get restaurants and shops in malls ready to open. Hotel bars and restaurants, which are regulated separately, were still awaiting clarification on whether they should remain closed.

Erol Erguvenc, vice president of Gulf Gourmet, which runs the franchise for YO! Sushi, Texas de Brasil and California Pizza Kitchen, urged mall operators to offer rent relief where they could.

“Opening the mall is great news, as long as the landlords do not charge us the full rent, as it will be very tough for us,” he told The National.

"It is an exciting time as we need the malls to reopen but we have to follow the guidelines."

Coronavirus outbreak

Mr Erguvenc felt shoppers would be slow to return.

“It will take time for people to get more confident,” he said.

“A lot of people have been laid off or had their salary reduced so there will not be a lot of spare cash around.”

In Abu Dhabi, where officials said they were looking at “a staggered series of reopenings across key sectors to support local retailers and businesses”, mall operators received a set of instructions that would need to be followed before they could reopen.

Shopping centres in both cities will deny entry to those aged over 60, while children between 3 and 12 could not enter Dubai malls.

Temperature checks will be mandatory for anyone entering and separate entrances and exits will be introduced.

With the easing of restrictions, authorities urged people to act responsibly, wear masks outside and maintain a two-metre social distance.

Updated: April 24, 2020 08:43 AM

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