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Abu Dhabi/Fujairah: The Abu Dhabi government's decision to stop issuing licences for new shisha cafes has drawn kudos for protecting public health but shisha lovers, too, have come out in strength in support of the "symbol of the Middle East".
Owners of shisha cafes are not happy with the decision since it affects their growing business as it is becoming more popular and the number of shisha smokers is increasing. Moreover, many people consider it a traditional symbol of the Middle East.
City Talk took to the streets and asked residents whether they liked the decision or not and whether it would be useful for public health or was it just a ban on personal freedom.
Saeed Al Mansouri, 22, an Emirati student, said: "It would be very bad if they close down shisha cafes. These are not just places to smoke shisha. They are actually places for gathering and making friends. It has become such a major part of our identity.
"I certainly do not agree that they should ban or close any of the shops in my neighbourhood or any other place."
Ahmad Abu Elanin, 40, an assistant store manager from Egypt, said: "I don't think they should close down shisha cafes. First, I'm a smoker.
"Second, shisha cafes are places of gathering for those who don't want to go to clubs and drink alcohol. You tell me, what's better, shisha or drinking alcohol?
"Also this is a traditional custom. I see so many tourists buying shishas just because it [is a part of] Middle East. This is a cherished part of our culture. If you are going to ban shisha cafes you might as well ban smoking."
Pradeep Jeswani, 44, an Indian operations manager for a retailer, said: "I don't go to shisha cafes but I still don't think they should be banned.
"My friends who go say it gives them that peace of mind. Sure it's not good for their health, but neither is junk food. I am certain that if they ban them, there would be many angry people. I can't imagine anyone would want to close down such a cultural identity."
Ronel Smuts, a South African manager, also agreed that shisha smoking comes with a sense of community.
"Even though shisha is unhealthy, it shouldn't be banned from public places since it involves a lot of interaction with friends. It is also a Middle Eastern habit that is hard to stop."
Zaidoon A. Hadi, 32 Emirati, said: "I don't think shisha should be banned from public places. I think it's a civil freedom. Shisha coffee shops are designed for shisha so that you can chose which coffee shop you are in.
"It's part of our Middle Eastern culture. I am a doctor and I don't smoke at all but still believe no one has the right to tell me what to do. If public health was the concern they should also ban fast food products."
Sinan Abdul Hadi, a 24-year-old Emirati civil engineer, said: "I don't think they should ban shisha at all. If you don't like shisha then just don't go to a public shisha cafe.
"There are other cafes to go to that do not have shisha. Besides I have been smoking shisha for the past seven years and I've never suffered from any sort of transmitted disease."
Mohammad Maged, 26, a mechanical engineer from Syrian, said: "The UAE is supposed to be [a liberal] country and there are different nationalities and religions. I don't think enforcing a rule like banning shisha is a good idea. Here everyone should be free. Shisha is harmful, but I don't think it should be banned.
"I think it's better to create awareness campaigns and educate people about the [potential] health hazards instead of banning it."
Amal Ahmad Awadi, a 21-year-old Palestinian IT support engineer, also does not smoke. "But I think it is allowable and need not be banned.
"It is a personal choice to decide whether to smoke shisha or not, so I don't think it is annoying at all," he said.
There was, however, support for the ban as it promises smoke-free cafes.
Bahaa N., 24, an engineer from Syria, said: "I'm fairly new in this country so I don't know of many shisha cafes around. But I am completely against shisha smoking and support the decision of the government to ban the cafes. It is high time that people realise the harmful effects of smoking."
Mousa Alawi M., 30, an Indian marketing officer, too, is among those who agree with the ban on shisha cafes but in the city.
"I am for the banning of shisha cafes in the city. It would not be much of a hazard if it is removed from public places.
"Then people who enjoy shisha can still have access to it and those who don't want to be around it can have their way."
Dr Fahad Abdullah Al Salami, 28, an Emirati dentist, also supports the ban on shisha cafes in residential areas.
Al Salami said: "From a health point of view, there is no doubt about the damage shisha smoke has on non-smokers as well as smokers. So, limiting shisha use can only be a good thing.
"Where I live, in Dibba, we have cafes close to residential homes and, at the slightest breeze, the smell of shisha is blown to homes in the neighbourhood.
"I'm not sure a total ban would work because that will just push the problem underground and may lead to other negative aspects.
"However, if well-ventilated areas can be reserved for shisha smokers, then that's all right. but it also has to be as far from residential areas as possible."
Zaid Ali Al Materi, 26, an Emirati secretarial assistant, said: "I'm strongly against smoking in public areas because of its harmful effects on public whose only fault is to be in proximity to smokers. So, I would welcome any ban on shisha smoking.
"I also would welcome removing cafes from residential areas ... to [solve] this health hazard because it's not just the shisha smoke which is harmful but they tend to trigger a chorus of [reactions] near residential areas.
"However, I don't think a total ban can work because many people are hooked on the shisha, we just have to deal with it as a necessary evil and limit it as much as possible."
Aiman Salama Hajaj, a 27-year-old Palestinian accountant, said any ban on shisha can only be for the good. Hajaj said: "I think any ban would be in the best interest of both smokers and non-smokers because the harmful effects of shisha are well-known and unfortunately many non-smokers also suffer from cafes spewing out shisha smoke near residential areas.
"I think [the ban] also sends a strong signal to younger people that shisha smoking is unacceptable and harmful because now children see older folk smoking openly as if it's a cool or harmless habit."
Ebrahim Mohammad Quwayes, 28, an Egyptian car rental agent, said: "If they ban shisha smoking in public it might help some folks cut it down dramatically or even give it up, especially if they come down hard with fines on offenders.
"But I think many cafes will lose out on a lot of business because they rely on shisha smokers for much of their income, although the cleaner air may attract some non-smokers."
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