Dubai’s non-oil private sector economy continued to recover in March as the mass Covid-19 inoculation programme in the emirate improved business sentiment, with output and new orders rising.
The seasonally adjusted IHS Markit Dubai Purchasing Managers' Index edged up to 51 in March from 50.9 in February, as operating conditions improved for the third consecutive month. A reading above a neutral 50 level indicates economic expansion and below points to a contraction.
Firms remained confident of a rise in business activity in the coming year as the emirate’s economy bounces back from the coronavirus-driven slowdown. Strengthening client demand as the economy opens up further also drove expectations of better business prospects, according to the survey.
Headline readings of construction along with travel and tourism, two key contributors to economic activity in the emirate, improved in March. The construction sector recorded the strongest growth across the sub-indexes with companies registering the second-sharpest increase in output since the middle of 2019.
"Sector data … pointed to a surge in construction output, particularly as some projects were able to resume following [easing in] Covid-19 restrictions,” David Owen, an economist at IHS Markit, said.
In terms of the overall non-oil private sector economy, the latest data pointed to a rise in output for the fourth month running during March, supported by a renewed uptick in new orders.
The UAE vaccinated 8,975,014 people, with a vaccine distribution rate of 90.74 doses per 100 people, as of Saturday. The case numbers have steadily declined in recent weeks, which has helped boost business activity.
Dubai, the commercial and tourism hub of the Middle East, has taken measures to support businesses and individuals, unveiling five stimulus packages worth Dh7.1 billion ($1.93bn) to soften the economic impact of the pandemic. In January, the emirate extended the validity of some of the initiatives announced previously for another six months to the end of June.
After a slowdown last year, the emirate's economy is forecast to expand 4 per cent in 2021, according to government projections released in December.
Last month businesses in the emirate again raised stocks of purchases, after a five-month period of decline up to January.
QUARTER-FINAL
Wales 20-19 France
Wales: T: Wainwright, Moriarty. Cons: Biggar (2) Pens: Biggar 2
France: T: Vahaamahina, Ollivon, Vakatawa Cons: Ntamack (2)
Other key dates
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Finals draw: December 2
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Finals (including semi-finals and third-placed game): June 5–9, 2019
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Euro 2020 play-off draw: November 22, 2019
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Euro 2020 play-offs: March 26–31, 2020
Everybody%20Loves%20Touda
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nabil%20Ayouch%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nisrin%20Erradi%2C%20Joud%20Chamihy%2C%20Jalila%20Talemsi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
McLaren GT specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 620bhp
Torque: 630Nm
Price: Dh875,000
On sale: now
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
LIGUE 1 FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Nice v Angers (9pm)
Lille v Monaco (10.45pm)
Saturday
Montpellier v Paris Saint-Germain (7pm)
Bordeaux v Guingamp (10pm)
Caen v Amiens (10pm)
Lyon v Dijon (10pm)
Metz v Troyes (10pm)
Sunday
Saint-Etienne v Rennes (5pm)
Strasbourg v Nantes (7pm)
Marseille v Toulouse (11pm)
The figures behind the event
1) More than 300 in-house cleaning crew
2) 165 staff assigned to sanitise public areas throughout the show
3) 1,000 social distancing stickers
4) 809 hand sanitiser dispensers placed throughout the venue
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Where can I submit a sample?
Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.
Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
- Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
- Al Towayya in Al Ain
- NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
- Bareen International Hospital
- NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
- NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
- NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
