The UAE will be the first country in the Middle East to hold clinical trials of Sputnik V, the Russian-developed vaccine against Covid-19, after having begun testing a joint trial with China last summer. Developing an effective vaccine or treatment for coronavirus is humanity’s best chance at beating the pandemic and securing a path to normality. It is therefore vital that countries continue to work together to find a solution.
Final-phase trials of Sputnik V are expected to begin in the Emirates by the end of November. The vaccine is currently being tested in Russia and Belarus, with a further trial planned in Venezuela. Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, which has financed Russia's vaccine work, told CNN that his country plans to begin mass inoculation by November. There are currently more than 150 coronavirus vaccines in development worldwide, as countries compete over which nation will develop the first viable Covid-19 jab.
The Emirates has played an active part in the fight against Covid-19 by boosting international co-operation in healthcare and research. The country has sent vital medical aid to nations in need, and launched mass-testing campaigns at home. More than 11 million tests have been carried out thus far; an impressive figure in a nation of 9.6m people. The Emirates’ advanced healthcare sector and research centres have been instrumental in attracting pharmaceutical companies to roll out final phase testing for residents. Since July, more than 30,000 volunteers participated in such trials for a vaccine developed by Sinopharm, a Chinese drugmaker.
The Emirates makes for an ideal testing ground for vaccines, in large part thanks to the diversity of those living in it, which is comprised of local nationals as well as a large pool of expatriates and their families, who hail from virtually all parts of the world. The country is home to close to 200 different nationalities.
Having such variety in a pool of volunteers is crucial when testing treatments, as it reveals whether the drug works properly across race, gender and genetic factors. In the pandemic era, it is a fortunate side effect of the country’s long-term investments in the advancement of vaccine research, health care, technology and science more generally. Perhaps most of all, it is a result of long-term investment in drawing talent from around the globe, through a focus on education, promoting a welcoming environment and a culture of pluralism and tolerance.
Although vaccine development is making great strides in the UAE and elsewhere, ending the pandemic is not expected to be a straightforward process. There have been obstacles. A coronavirus vaccine study by US company Johnson & Johnson, for instance, was temporarily halted because a participant became ill.
Final-phase trials of Sputnik V are expected to begin in the Emirates by the end of November
Unfortunately, these kinds of setbacks have given fuel to concerns from anti-vaccine groups. For others, they exacerbate fears that a total cure may never be found. Severe acute respiratory syndrome, known as SARS, is a strain of coronavirus first discovered in 2003. To this day, it has no known remedy.
But our current experience with Covid-19 presents a completely different landscape – epidemiologically, scientifically, socially and politically. The efforts put into searching for a Covid-19 cure are much greater, and so are hopes for a solution. Scientific research and international co-operation, especially in the medical and pharmaceutical fields, are crucial to ending the pandemic and finding a path back to a new, safer normal. With enough resolve, we can not only find better ways to protect those most vulnerable, but to ensure that our whole society thrives.
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Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
ETFs explained
Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.
ETFs have zero upfront fees and annual charges as low as 0.07 per cent a year, which means you get to keep more of your returns, as actively managed funds can charge as much as 1.5 per cent a year.
There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock’s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.
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The specs: 2017 Dodge Viper SRT
Price, base / as tested Dh460,000
Engine 8.4L V10
Transmission Six-speed manual
Power 645hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 813Nm @ 5,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 16.8L / 100km
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Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000
On sale: now
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if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
