Serving shisha has been temporarily banned in the UAE to fight the coronavirus spread.

As many as 11 cafes were closed down by the Ajman Municipality for flouting the ban on serving shisha, which was imposed as a precautionary measure in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The cafes were closed during a massive crackdown on outlets that provide shisha services.

Abdul Rahman Al Nuaimi, director-general of Ajman Municipality, said the cafes were found violating the municipality's order to ban shisha services temporarily.

The municipality had distributed circulars to all shops serving shisha before it Intensified inspection and cracked down on those who those who ignored the regulation.

The municipality has allowed these cafes to provide its other services while complying with the health and hygiene measures, like putting up hand sanitisers at the entrance and exit doors and wearing face masks while providing services to customers.

He pointed out that more crackdowns will be carried out and inspectors will be deployed around-the-clock to ensure the rules are being adhered to.

A top official at Ajman Municipality said that cafe owners and commercial establishments should not defy the orders of the civic body or they will face consequences.

Khaled Al Hosany, director of health and environment department at Ajman Municipality, said that the inspections have been targeting the cafes, restaurants, and cafeterias offering shisha since last week. The inspectors are now making surprise visits to these establishments to make sure that all workers use face masks and sanitising dispensers are being installed at all spots on the premises, he added.

During the crackdown, the inspectors also asked workers to wear masks and manual gloves, apart from sterilising tools, surfaces where food is placed and places for cutting meat, chicken and fish.