COVID-19: Dubai's guidelines for social gatherings, wedding receptions

Authorities in Dubai are reminding everyone to strictly observe the COVID-19 precautionary measures during social gathering and weddings.

Community members are allowed to organise and attend such gatherings as long as they comply with the government's health and safety guidelines.

Inspections will continue to be carried out to ensure the rules are being followed.

As His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has emphasised, “Everyone is Responsible.” The commitment of those attending social gatherings to preventive guidelines is critical in creating a safe environment.

The penalties for social gatherings that violate the guidelines will be AED 50,000 for those hosting or organising a gathering and AED 15,000 for each attendee.

The mandatory guidelines that should be followed at wedding receptions and social gatherings are:

• A maximum of 200 people are allowed at gatherings organised in halls, hotels and tents while homes are allowed to accommodate a maximum of 30 people, subject to compliance with the rule of one person per four square metres of venue space.
• Attendees should refrain from all physical contact including shaking hands, hugging and other such traditional greetings and restrict themselves to non-contact greetings.
• Attendees must wear their face masks at all times and remove them only when they are seated at their table.
• Only a maximum of five guests are allowed per table.
• Attendees should avoid sitting face-to-face or in close proximity to others. They must maintain a minimum distance of 1.5 metres from other attendees at the gathering.
• Tables should be placed at least two metres apart from each other.
• The duration of events at halls, hotels, homes, temporary venues and tents should not exceed four hours.
• Elderly people and those with chronic conditions are advised not to attend social functions.
• Any person experiencing symptoms such as coughing, or fever should avoid attending gatherings.