Amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Dubai lately, the government has decided to suspend all entertainment permits as of today, 21st January 2021.
The decision was made by the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) and announced by the Dubai Media Office through its social media handles.
Dubai Suspends All Entertainment Permits Until Further Notice
“To ensure public health and safety, all entertainment permits issued will be on hold effective immediately,” Dubai Media Office announced on Twitter. “@dubaitourism will continue to evaluate the progress with the health authorities.”
The announcement also mentioned that for the past three weeks, Dubai Tourism has issued over 200 violations and shut down about 20 establishments, which were closed due to non-compliance with health and safety guidelines.
Moreover, it was stated that Dubai Tourism, along with the health authorities, shall continue to evaluate the situation. No time limit had been mentioned regarding the ban.
Below is the announcement made by Dubai Media Office on Twitter:
To ensure public health and safety, all entertainment permits issued will be on hold effective immediately. @dubaitourism will continue to evaluate the progress with the health authorities.
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) January 21, 2021
Although live entertainment, such as bands and music DJs, had been given permission to perform recently, this latest announcement once again puts a stop to their shows in hotels, restaurants, and other establishments.
Without a doubt, the suspension will greatly affect the entertainment scene in Dubai, which had been gradually opening after the months-long lockdowns last year. Still, it’s an important step towards preventing the spread of COVID-19, especially since new strains of the virus are on the rise in different parts of the world. And even if many people in the UAE have already been vaccinated, we should remain careful at all times.
