Egyptians are enjoying a rare five-day weekend – it began on Thursday – and they have the pandemic to thank for it.
To contain the third wave of Covid-19, the government combined national and religious holidays to grant everyone a longer break.
The holiday would not have been possible had the government not elected to declare Sunday, May 2, a day off.
It said it had no intention of ordering a repeat of the four-month lockdown that ended in July last year, and that to do so would devastate the economy and rob millions of daily-wage workers of their pay.
A breakdown of the five-day weekend shows a fair amount of ingenuity on the part of the government, which recently decided to move holidays falling in the middle of the week to either Thursday or Sunday to extend the country’s Friday to Saturday weekends.
A government statement said Thursday, April 29, was declared a national holiday to mark the anniversary of the liberation of Sinai from Israeli occupation, which is normally commemorated on April 25. Friday is a day of rest in all cases.
Saturday, May 1, is Labour Day. Sunday was declared a day off as a “preventive measure” to counter the virus.
Monday, the last day of the long weekend, is the much-loved holiday Sham El Naseem. Dating back to ancient times, it always coincides with Easter Monday, celebrated by the Coptic Orthodox Church, whose followers make up most of Egypt’s Christians.
By stringing together a five-day holiday for everyone except workers in vital areas, the government hopes to curb the spread of the virus during Ramadan.
The holy month, which began on April 13, prompted many Egyptians to ignore measures such as social distancing or wearing face masks to enjoy large family gatherings, visit packed cafes and restaurants and frequent Ramadan tents in which food is served while live music plays.
Health Ministry figures on the rate of infections and fatalities show a sharp rise.
Health Minister Hala Zayed said on Wednesday that the week’s total of 5,845 coronavirus cases was five times the number recorded during the same week last year.
According to the latest figures available that day, 1,011 new infections were detected within 24 hours, making it the second consecutive day in which the toll exceeded 1,000. For weeks previously, the rate of infection hovered around 600, but it began to rise in small but daily jumps.
Fifty-one people died of Covid-19, 10 fewer than on the previous day but as many as 20 more than the average in recent weeks.
The number of coronavirus cases since the pandemic began 14 months ago now stands at 225,528 and fatalities at 13,219, but government experts say the actual number may be as much as 10 times higher.
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
