Shawarma in Dubai just became twice as hard to find, but also twice as sanitary.
Almost 45% of Dubai's shawarma shops will stop selling the Middle Eastern wrap after failing to meet new hygiene and safety standards by a November 1 deadline set by the municipality.
After a round of inspections this May, officials gave 572 small and medium-sized food outlets in the emirate six months to comply with the new rules.
24.65% of the outlets did not make any changes, while 19.75% stopped making shawarma altogether, totaling 254 outlets (44.4%) that can no longer sell shawarma.
The rest of the establishments have either implemented the new requirements before the deadline or have made significant steps towards the new standards.
According to Gulf News, establishments barred from selling the shawarma will be fined if found selling the slab of meat.
The multiplicity's new rules regulate where the food is made, the equipment used and storage conditions.
"The main aim of issuing the new guidelines is to make clear the health requirements related to distribution of equipment for food establishments that prepare and sell shawarma," head of food inspection at Dubai Municipality Sultan Al Tahir told The National.
Al Tahir explained that inspectors found that many stands do not have adequate space to prepare food or store ingredients like mayonnaise and tahina.
These were kept near the heat rather than in refrigerators, exposing them to bacteria.
The new regulations dictate that shawarma stands can no longer be placed outdoors, where they can gather dust, dirt and other sources of pollution.
Shawarma eateries are also required to have adequate facilities for refrigeration, defrosting and waste disposal.