Mall operator Majid Al Futtaim has announced that its Mall of the Emirates and other major shopping centres have reduced their opening hours as of Tuesday. Retail stores will be open only from noon to 8 pm, as part of its attempts to tackle the coronavirus.

However, Carrefour, pharmacies and medical clinics within their malls will be excluded from this.

A notice from the operator read: “As of March 18, Majid Al Futtaim shopping malls across the region will begin operating between the hours of 12 pm and 8 pm only. These reduced hours have been put in place to afford further cleaning and sanitisation of our assets, ensuring a safer experience for our customers. The safety and wellbeing of our valued employees, retail partners, and customers remains our number one priority.

“The reduced operating hours do not apply to Carrefour, pharmacies or clinics within our malls.”

Gulf News reported that an internal letter, dated 17 March, by ‘CEO Shopping Malls’ at Majid Al Futtaim to tenants at its shopping malls mentioned the reduced timings. Gulf News also stated that it has obtained a copy of the letter which said that ‘the company has put in various measure to contain the spread of COVID-19 over the past few weeks.’

Majid Al Futtaim did not mention the duration of these changes but the letter said ‘…we will continue to actively monitor the situation…”

Meanwhile, entertainment venues, including cinemas, in malls have already been asked to close temporarily, to halt the spread of COVID-19, authorities had announced earlier this week.