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Residents and visitors were adjusting on Friday to Abu Dhabi's new Covid-19 entry rules.
Some trying to access malls in the capital were taken by surprise by the new regulations and refused entry, while others had rushed to get inoculated before the rules came into force.
Under the measures, which apply to citizens, residents and tourists, proof of vaccination is required to visit most venues, including malls, restaurants and cafes.
Al Hosn, the UAE's testing and vaccination app, will act as the pass to secure entry.
Mona Ismail, a 34-year-old teacher from Egypt, seemed surprised when asked to present her Al Hosn app at Khalidiyah Mall in the capital.
“Oh I forgot today this kicks off,” she told the security guard, as she looked for her phone to prove her status.
“I took the vaccine in January and just took the third booster shot recently after returning from holiday,” she told The National.
“I wasn't worried about the new procedure because I get tested regularly, almost every 10 days, so I knew it wouldn't affect me.”
She said testing every 10 days was a requirement by the school where she works.
“And now I am voluntarily getting tested frequently to keep safe and responsible. The government is [making] lots of effort to keep us safe so we might as [well] play our part.”
By close to 11am, a handful of shoppers were unable to access the mall because they had either forgotten their pass or couldn't present proof of vaccination.
“Of course we expect to have some congestion at the entrance as we check everybody's pass and deny some entry, but we've had plenty of experience with those procedures over the past months,” said Mohammed Zakka, head of operations at the Khalidiyah Mall.
The shopping centre experienced a drop in footfall when the green pass was introduced in June but the system was paused before Friday's rules came into effect. Ahead of the regulations coming into force, authorities launched a widespread media campaign informing everyone of the requirements.
The UAE has delivered one of the world's fastest vaccination campaigns and has been encouraging everyone to come forward for their free shot.
Malls in the city conduct strict Covid-19 checks such as testing visitors' temperatures using thermal cameras and many also use Covid-19 face detection scanners.
“We have not received any instructions to stop using the Covid-19 face detection scan,” said Mr Zakka.
“So now any visitor has to go through three check points: the thermal scan, face scan and present the Al Hosn app.”
He said they have had a number of Covid-19 cases detected through the face scan since it was introduced a few months ago.
Basel Kurdi, who runs a balloon business at the mall, said he got his vaccine before the rules came into force.
“I was also away on holiday in Syria and waited till the last minute to get vaccinated,” said the 23-year-old.
He runs the business with his brother and said although sales had been down since the pandemic, they still felt lucky to have the business.
“We are grateful that we still have work and business is running, better than having nothing at all.”
Malls in Abu Dhabi are now allowed to operate at 80 per cent capacity as authorities cautiously ease Covid-19 regulations. And at Yas Mall things were mostly running smoothly. However, several vaccinated people were caught out by the fact they needed a PCR test to turn the Al Hosn app green.
“I don't have the green pass so they are not allowing me to go inside,” said Parminder Kaur, 33.
“I already received two doses of the vaccine in May, but the mall's security said we must also present the green pass.”
Mrs Kaur showed her grey status on the Hosn app. “I haven't taken a PCR test since end of June,” said the Indian homemaker.
“Because I don't work and I'm at home most of the time I don't need it.
“My husband has it because he has to get tested every week for work, so he can enter and I cannot.”
The couple decided to both return to their residence on Saadiyat Island. She said she will get a PCR test done the next day.
“It is holiday today and I just want to relax.”
People inside the mall were going about their business and welcomed the new rules.
Three men sat outside a cafe near the entrance after they had been let in with their green passes.
“The best thing about the green status, especially at a shopping mall, is that you feel safe,” said Amir Shazad, 32. “You know everyone around you has been vaccinated or taken a recent PCR.”
“Before I was sceptical about brining my kids to the mall, but now I feel a bit safer,” said the airline operations manager from the UK.
Multitasking pays off for money goals
Tackling money goals one at a time cost financial literacy expert Barbara O'Neill at least $1 million.
That's how much Ms O'Neill, a distinguished professor at Rutgers University in the US, figures she lost by starting saving for retirement only after she had created an emergency fund, bought a car with cash and purchased a home.
"I tell students that eventually, 30 years later, I hit the million-dollar mark, but I could've had $2 million," Ms O'Neill says.
Too often, financial experts say, people want to attack their money goals one at a time: "As soon as I pay off my credit card debt, then I'll start saving for a home," or, "As soon as I pay off my student loan debt, then I'll start saving for retirement"."
People do not realise how costly the words "as soon as" can be. Paying off debt is a worthy goal, but it should not come at the expense of other goals, particularly saving for retirement. The sooner money is contributed, the longer it can benefit from compounded returns. Compounded returns are when your investment gains earn their own gains, which can dramatically increase your balances over time.
"By putting off saving for the future, you are really inhibiting yourself from benefiting from that wonderful magic," says Kimberly Zimmerman Rand , an accredited financial counsellor and principal at Dragonfly Financial Solutions in Boston. "If you can start saving today ... you are going to have a lot more five years from now than if you decide to pay off debt for three years and start saving in year four."
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Fixtures
Opening day Premier League fixtures for August 9-11
August 9
Liverpool v Norwich 11pm
August 10
West Ham v Man City 3.30pm
Bournemouth v Sheffield Utd 6pm
Burnley v Southampton 6pm
C Palace v Everton 6pm
Leicester v Wolves 6pm
Watford v Brighton 6pm
Tottenham v Aston Villa 8.30pm
August 11
Newcastle v Arsenal 5pm
Man United v Chelsea 7.30pm
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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
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)
The BIO
Favourite piece of music: Verdi’s Requiem. It’s awe-inspiring.
Biggest inspiration: My father, as I grew up in a house where music was constantly played on a wind-up gramophone. I had amazing music teachers in primary and secondary school who inspired me to take my music further. They encouraged me to take up music as a profession and I follow in their footsteps, encouraging others to do the same.
Favourite book: Ian McEwan’s Atonement – the ending alone knocked me for six.
Favourite holiday destination: Italy - music and opera is so much part of the life there. I love it.
Essentials
The flights
Whether you trek after mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda or the Congo, the most convenient international airport is in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. There are direct flights from Dubai a couple of days a week with RwandAir. Otherwise, an indirect route is available via Nairobi with Kenya Airways. Flydubai flies to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, via Entebbe in Uganda. Expect to pay from US$350 (Dh1,286) return, including taxes.
The tours
Superb ape-watching tours that take in all three gorilla countries mentioned above are run by Natural World Safaris. In September, the company will be operating a unique Ugandan ape safari guided by well-known primatologist Ben Garrod.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, local operator Kivu Travel can organise pretty much any kind of safari throughout the Virunga National Park and elsewhere in eastern Congo.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
