The Ministry of Interior has asked the Control and Investigation Bureau (CIB) in Makkah to start cracking down on cafes in Jeddah disregarding legislation banning the smoking of shisha and other tobacco products in closed areas.

Sources said recently that the Jeddah Governorate sent a telegram to the CIB seeking help in enforcing the law. A CIB team would start its work this week by compiling the names of cafe owners breaking the law.

This comes after the governorate received reports about cafe owners serving shisha and tobacco in closed areas.

The governorate has warned that it would also punish mayors and employees of branch municipalities for not enforcing the law.

The Interior Ministry's ban order had been circulated to all ministries, government bodies and public establishments. The order prohibits smoking in enclosed areas, cafes, restaurants and shopping centers. The ban covers shisha and other tobacco products.

The decision prohibits the sale of tobacco to young people under 18 years of age.

Recently, a branch municipality penalized three cafes for violating the law. Inspectors issued fines totaling SR45,000 and seized more than 120 shisha pipes.

Hassan Ghnaim, mayor of the branch municipality, said a detailed report would be drafted about violating cafes, with legal action to follow against the owners.