By DJs and Bands in Dubai Unlikely to Work Again until After Ramadan
Pubs and bars throughout Dubai will remain closed until the beginning of Ramadan. The enforced closure is one of several Covid-19 precautionary measures extended by Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management. DJs and live music in hotels, beach clubs and restaurants remain suspended until further notice. Ramadan begins on 12th April. With DJs and bands prohibited from performing during the Holy Month, it’s unlikely they’ll work again before mid-May. Add in the usual 30-day invoice payment window and it could be June before DJs and bands are earning again.
Evaluation
Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management claims the measures introduced in February are proving effective. “The Covid-19 precautionary measures introduced in the beginning of February will be extended until the start of Ramadan in mid-April,” said Dubai Government. “The decision is based on an evaluation of the evolving Covid-19 situation, data showing the effectiveness of intensified safety measures and the recommendations of frontline authorities.”
Under the measures, bars and pubs in Dubai will remain closed. Restaurants and cafes must continue to close by 1am. Indoor seated venues, including cinemas, entertainment and sports venues, must operate at only 50% capacity. Shopping malls, hotel establishments and swimming pools and private beaches in hotels will operate at 70% capacity for the extended period. Intensified monitoring and inspection campaigns will continue to ensure strict compliance with measures, including physical distancing and wearing of facemasks. Violators will face hefty fines. (We’ve spotted cops stop and fine people on Marina Walk for not wearing facemasks recently.)
Dubai’s ban on house parties with friends remains in force too. Only 10 first-degree relatives can currently attend weddings, social events and private parties at a hotel or home.
Vaccination Drive
The number of Covid cases in the UAE is hovering around 3000 per day. The Covid-19 vaccination drive in Dubai and across the country continues apace. The UAE had administered more than 5.8 million vaccine doses as of Thursday 25 February.
Also read: Beach Paradise: Ricardo Villalobos is Headlining Musiqtrip Zanzibar
Photo: Andreas M/Unsplash
