Dubai to Ban Shisha Cafés Breaking Smoking Laws

In Dubai, a growing crackdown on indoor smoking is now targeting one of the city’s most iconic social spaces: the shisha café. For years, these cafés have been hubs where patrons gather over coffee and flavored tobacco, but new regulations are changing the game—especially for smaller venues that don’t meet updated legal standards.

Yes, by the end of this year, Dubai Municipality plans to shut down any shisha-serving coffee shop that doesn’t comply with new anti-smoking laws. If your café is smaller than 1,500 square feet and you want to keep selling shisha or allowing smoking, you’ll need to move to a larger location within nearly a year.

What the New Smoking Regulations Say

Since November 18 last year, Dubai has enforced a citywide smoking ban in restaurants and cafés. Under the updated rules, any establishment that allows smoking—or serves shisha—must meet minimum size requirements. The current regulation mandates a physical space of at least 1,500 square feet for cafés that wish to continue offering shisha. Smaller venues that don’t meet this threshold are required to either cease these activities or relocate to a compliant venue within 12 months.

Enforcement and Fines So Far

Authorities have already begun enforcing the smoking ban. Since it took effect, around 25 food and beverage outlets have been fined between 5,000 and 10,000 UAE dirhams (approximately €869 to €1,738) for non-compliance. These fines target establishments that allowed smoking in prohibited areas, showing that Dubai is serious about cracking down on violations.

Phase Four of the Public Smoking Ban

The current restrictions are part of a broader, multi-phase plan to curb smoking in public entertainment spaces. Dubai Municipality has now announced the fourth phase of its public smoking ban, which will extend enforcement to additional leisure venues. This upcoming phase specifically targets “entertainment and recreation venues” such as billiard halls and internet cafés, broadening the scope beyond just food and beverage outlets.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the new size requirement for shisha cafés in Dubai?

Shisha cafés in Dubai must have a minimum floor area of 1,500 square feet if they wish to continue serving shisha or permitting smoking on the premises.

Will small cafés be forced to close?

No, small cafés won’t necessarily close, but if they are under the 1,500 square feet limit and want to keep offering shisha or allowing smoking, they have nearly a year to move to a larger, compliant location.

How long do cafés have to comply with the new rules?

Cafés that do not currently meet the 1,500 square feet requirement have approximately one year from the announcement to relocate or stop serving shisha and allowing smoking.

What penalties have been given so far for non-compliance?

Since the smoking ban began on November 18, 2023, around 25 cafés and restaurants have been fined between 5,000 and 10,000 UAE dirhams (about €869 to €1,738) for allowing smoking in restricted areas.

What types of venues are included in the next phase of the ban?

The fourth phase of Dubai’s public smoking ban will target entertainment and recreation venues, including billiard halls and internet cafés, in addition to existing food and beverage outlets.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Café Atmosphere

For a Dubai-style café setting—whether shisha-friendly or not—FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Huakui offers bright florals and juicy citrus, perfect for filter coffee lovers. Their Yirgacheffe delivers a classic Ethiopian profile with lemony acidity and floral notes, ideal for a bright café menu. If you prefer something deeper, their Classic Blend balances chocolate and nuttiness, great for espresso-based drinks. All three beans reflect the quality and clarity that specialty coffee brings to social spaces. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.