Sharjah Municipality has announced that restaurants, cafeterias and food retailers can now apply for permits to prepare and display food during daytime hours in Ramadan, subject to specific conditions and fees.

The permits allow food preparation and cooking during fasting hours, but dine-in service remains prohibited until iftar. Cooking must take place strictly inside kitchen areas only, including outlets located within shopping centres.

The fee for a daytime food preparation permit is set at Dh3,000.

Food display permits before iftar

In addition, Sharjah Municipality is offering a separate permit that allows businesses to display food items outside shops before iftar. This applies to restaurants, cafeterias, sweet shops and bakeries.

The fee for a food display permit is Dh500.

However, strict hygiene and safety rules apply. Displayed food must be:

• Placed in enclosed glass cases at least one metre high
• Stored using food-grade packaging
• Kept at appropriate temperatures

Health and safety rules

Jamal Al Mazmi, Director of the Health Control and Safety Department at Sharjah Municipality, said the permits are issued to ensure food is handled hygienically and safely during Ramadan.

According to the municipality, businesses must follow these requirements:

• Food must be placed in stainless steel containers
• Items must be displayed in an airtight glass box (minimum height 100cm) with a sliding or hinged door
• Food must be covered with aluminium foil or transparent food-grade plastic
• Food must be kept at a suitable temperature and not refrigerated or frozen

How to apply

Businesses can submit permit applications through Sharjah Municipality’s commercial licensing portal.

Authorities said inspections will continue throughout Ramadan to ensure compliance with public health standards and Ramadan regulations.

Sharjah Municipality has begun enforcing a ban on car parking shades installed outside private property boundaries, with inspection teams carrying out regular checks across residential neighbourhoods and issuing removal notices to violators.

Authorities say any structure that extends beyond a property’s legally defined plot limits is considered a violation, regardless of its design or purpose. Residents found in breach face mandatory removal and financial penalties.

The municipality clarified that permits are readily approved for parking shades built on private property. However, the restriction on external installations has sparked debate among homeowners, many of whom say their villa plots simply do not have enough internal space.

Why the rule exists

The regulation is aimed at maintaining urban order and protecting critical infrastructure such as underground utility networks, water pipelines and electricity cables. Officials stress that off-plot structures can pose safety risks and interfere with long-term urban planning.

Residents push back as summer approaches

On social media, residents have raised several concerns, noting that:

• Many villas have limited space for internal parking shades
• Extreme summer heat makes vehicle protection a necessity
• Families have already spent significant amounts installing the shades

With temperatures expected to exceed 45°C in the coming months, residents argue that shades which do not block traffic, pedestrian walkways or infrastructure should be allowed under a regulated permit system rather than a blanket ban.

What happens next

Sharjah Municipality said it is offering technical support to homeowners, including help with redesigning internal parking layouts and improving vehicle access within private plots.

Residents, meanwhile, are calling for a review of the policy,  urging authorities to introduce a flexible regulatory framework that balances urban planning needs with the practical realities faced by families.

Passengers travelling through Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC) are advised to check their flight status after adverse weather conditions disrupted airport operations early Tuesday.

Dubai Airports confirmed that 12 flights were cancelled and 23 inbound flights diverted after weather conditions affected aircraft movements at both airports. Disruptions began in the early hours of the morning.

Airport authorities said they are working closely with airlines and service partners to restore normal operations and minimise inconvenience to passengers. Travellers are strongly advised to contact their airline directly for the latest updates before heading to the airport.

What travellers should know

• Flight delays, cancellations or diversions may continue, particularly during early morning and late-night hours
• Fog or mist is possible across coastal and inland areas, which could impact visibility
• Passengers should allow extra travel time to reach the airport and monitor airline notifications closely

Passenger advice

• Check your flight status before leaving home
• Sign up for airline alerts and notifications
• Arrive early and be prepared for possible schedule changes

Dubai Airports said it will continue to monitor weather conditions and provide updates as needed.

Foggy conditions to prevail throughout week

Meanwhile, the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has forecast fair to partly cloudy conditions across the UAE in the coming days, with high humidity overnight increasing the risk of fog.

From Wednesday to Saturday, fair to partly cloudy conditions are expected, with rising temperatures and high humidity at night and in the early morning. Fog or mist may form on several days.

Dubai RTA and Sharjah Police have urged motorists to drive with caution, expect delays and allow extra travel time, especially on major roads during early morning hours.