Updated rules: Dubai ramps up coronavirus restrictions amid rising cases in UAE
January 28, 2021, 11:22 am

Updated rules: Dubai ramps up coronavirus restrictions amid rising cases in UAE

Aerial view of the Sheikh Zayed Road, following the outbreak of coronavirus, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, March 26, 2020. (Reuters)

Dubai began increasing coronavirus restrictions including updating its travel protocols, limiting the number of people allowed in social gatherings and suspending elective medical procedures, amid signs of a sustained upward trend in the number of new COVID-19 cases in the UAE.

The UAE reported nearly 4,000 cases on Wednesday, the highest single-day new COVID-19 cases ever recorded in the country since the beginning of the pandemic.

The number of daily coronavirus infections in the UAE has been consistently rising since the beginning of January, crossing the 2,000 threshold for the first time on January 6, and the 3,000 mark on January 12.

The country's coronavirus tally currently stands at 289,087 confirmed cases, 263,730 recovered patients and 811 deaths.

Amid the continued rise in COVID-19 infections, Dubai’s authorities tightened restrictions in several sectors.

Travel

The travel and tourism hub updated its COVID-19 travel protocols for inbound passengers effective from January 31.

UAE citizens will be required to do a PCR test only on arrival in Dubai regardless of the country they’re coming from.

UAE residents, GCC citizens and visitors traveling to Dubai will need to do a pre-travel PCR test, irrespective of the country they are coming from. Arrivals from some countries (based on the COVID-19 situation there) may be required to undergo an additional test when landing in Dubai.

Validity period of PCR tests has been reduced from 96 hours to 72 hours.

https://twitter.com/DXBMediaOffice/status/1354493859720531976

Healthcare

Dubai updated coronavirus precautionary measures at private healthcare facilities on Wednesday.

In order to avoid crowds in health facilities, all appointments must be booked in advance.

There should be a minimum interval of 20 minutes between appointments.

Private health facilities have been instructed to close children’s play and entertainment areas so that they can disinfect all amenities in the facility with special attention given to the reception, patient waiting areas, consulting rooms, elevators and door handles.

Elective surgeries have also been suspended until February 19.

The list of elective surgeries includes but is not limited to neurosurgical procedures, fractures and corrective orthopaedic procedures, cardiological and radiological interventions, stone and urological stent removals, and other urgent procedures in general surgery, ophthalmology, paediatrics, obstetrics, gynaecology and other specialties. Elective dental procedures in some clinics have also been suspended.

Lifestyle and entertainment

Dubai instructed gyms to increase physical distancing between sports equipment and trainees from 2 to 3 meters.

https://twitter.com/DXBMediaOffice/status/1354416278195359749

Restaurants and cafes have been instructed to increase distance separating tables from 2 to 3 meters and reducing the number of patrons at one table.

The number of attendees at weddings, social events and private parties has been limited to a maximum of 10 people only.

https://twitter.com/DXBMediaOffice/status/1352678447756275714

Dubai put all entertainment permits issued on hold pending evaluation after the authorities shut down at least 20 establishments during the last three weeks for coronavirus violations. It did not specify which activities and/or events were suspended.

https://twitter.com/DXBMediaOffice/status/1352129917203439616

source: Tuqa Khalid

Image source: Reuters

Levant

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”