'No limit' on number of family members sitting together in Abu Dhabi restaurants and cafes

The change, approved by the emirate’s Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Committee, comes into effect on Saturday

A waiter from Off The Hook Seafood Restaurant lays out a wax paper disposable table cloth before serving the customers some shrimp and crabs at the Tourist Club Area, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Customers at Off The Hook Seafood Restaurant put on their disposable gloves before having their lunch at the Tourist Club Area, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

A waitress with a face mask, gloves and face shield from Off The Hook Seafood Restaurant serves a bag of shrimps and crabs to customers at the Tourist Club Area, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

A waiter from Off The Hook Seafood Restaurant serves a bag of seafood goodness at the Tourist Club Area, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Socially distanced seating at 99 Sushi Bar and Restaurant, Four Seasons Hotel, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Social ditancing sign at 99 Sushi Bar and Restaurant, Four Seasons Hotel, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Socially distanced seating at 99 Sushi Bar and Restaurant, Four Seasons Hotel, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Socially distanced seating at 99 Sushi Bar and Restaurant, Four Seasons Hotel, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Sanitisers, gloves and face masks at the reception of 99 Sushi Bar and Restaurant, Four Seasons Hotel, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

A Maximum capacity sign at 99 Sushi Bar and Restaurant, Four Seasons Hotel, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Socially distanced seating at 99 Sushi Bar and Restaurant, Four Seasons Hotel, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Family members can now sit together at restaurants and cafes in Abu Dhabi, with no limit of numbers.

However, authorities said overall capacity for restaurants and cafes remains at 60 per cent.

The new rule, which was approved by Abu Dhabi’s Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Committee, comes into effect on Saturday.

"The committee reaffirms the importance of adhering to approved capacity of 60 per cent for restaurants and cafes and maintaining other precautionary measures, to protect the health and safety of everyone within the community and preserve public health gains," said Abu Dhabi Media Office.

The UAE reported 2,188 new cases of Covid-19 on Saturday.

This brought the country's total number of infections to 581,197.

Another 2,150 people beat the virus as total recoveries climbed to 560,734.

Health officials said five patients died of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, pushing the number of fatalities to 1,696.

There are 18,767 active cases in the country.

The Emirates carried out 246,510 additional tests in the 24-hour reporting period.

The UAE has implemented one of the world's fastest vaccination programmes in the world with 13,227,344 vaccine doses administered to date.