Religious sites in UAE take precautionary measures against coronavirus
March 4, 2020, 12:03 pm

Religious sites in UAE take precautionary measures against coronavirus

Workers clean the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia during the Islamic pilgrimage known as Umrah. (AP)

Mosques and other religious sites in the UAE are taking precautionary measures aimed at limiting gatherings to prevent the further spread of coronavirus, which is increasingly disrupting life across the Arabian Gulf.

With the threat of the virus growing, the government, public institutions, and religious communities in the country have taken several measures to cushion the social and economic impact of the virus.

After the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia announced that its courtyard and floors are being washed and sanitized four times daily, mosques in UAE have intensified efforts to protect worshippers from the spread of the virus.

In order to avoid large gatherings and ensure proper hygiene during the prayer gatherings, some of the churches in the UAE have decided to organize three sermons instead of one weekly sermon.

The Orthodox church in Dubai has temporarily stopped the kiss of peace, a ceremonial greeting or embrace, said Father Ninan Philip Panackamattam, vicar of St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral in Oud Metha. The Catholic Church has decided to take the Holy Communion by hand, instead of placing it on the recipient’s tongue.

Guru Nanak Darbar, a Sikh temple in Dubai, said it would install temperature scanners at its entrances and in its parking lot to better monitor the situation.

UAE efforts to prevent coronavirus

In an effort to limit the spread of the virus, the government has evacuated all UAE citizens from Iran. The country banned travel to Iran and Thailand on February 24 and warned against travel to China on January 24. The Federal Authority for Land and Maritime Transport (FTA) suspended on February 27 ferry services with Iran until further notice, and required all commercial vessels coming into the country to present a statement of health condition for their crews 72 hours ahead of arrival.

The UAE health ministry reported on Tuesday a total of 27 coronavirus cases in the country, five of which had been “cured.”

As a precautionary measure, the education ministry first closed nurseries and suspended all school extracurricular activities and field trips until further notice. Then, on Tuesday, the ministry announced that schools would be shut for four weeks from Sunday.

Several highly publicized cultural and sports events have recently been canceled or postponed, including the Dubai International Boat Show and Art Dubai.

Retail and tourism sectors in the country have borne the brunt of the outbreak.

According to an industry insider who spoke to Al Arabiya English, disruption to shipments from China has hit several retail industries such as apparel, smartphones, and electronics. Some retail sector sources estimate that there has been a drop of 40 to 50 percent, compared to the corresponding period last year. There has also been a drastic reduction in luxury retail alongside a rapid fall in the number of Chinese tourists to the UAE.

In the tourism sector, tour cancellations have been heavy following the news of the coronavirus spread, while several tour operators had to cancel their holiday packages to China, South Korea and Japan.

These disruptions appear to be hitting the economy, with the UAE central bank set to reassess its forecast for growth in 2020 to take into account the impact of coronavirus, according to Magda Kandil, the head of the research and statistics department at the central bank.

Tourists wearing surgical masks are pictured on a beach next to Burj Al Arab in Dubai on January 29 2020. (AFP)

source: Muhammed Nafie

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.