Malls in Abu Dhabi have hired extra security guards and given staff training to ensure smooth entry for customers, after new Covid-19 rules came into force this weekend.
Residents of the emirate said they had adapted to the measures.
Under these, citizens, residents and tourists must provide proof of vaccination plus a negative PCR test conducted within the previous 30 days to visit most public venues, including malls, restaurants and cafes.
Those who have been vaccinated and had a PCR test within the time frame show “green status” on the UAE's testing and vaccination app, Al Hosn. This is used as an entry pass.
There were still 10 to 15 people we had to send back as they were vaccinated but had not done their PCR tests.
Mayank M Pal,
Khalidiyah Mall
Children aged 15 and under are exempt.
Parents are required to store their children’s data as well as their own, unless they have teenagers with separate smartphones.
Mayank M Pal, general manager at Khalidiyah Mall in Abu Dhabi, said the first day went well because most people were aware of the entry requirements.
He said he employed 11 additional staff to work on Friday to ensure there would be enough people to check visitors’ Al Hosn status.
Of the 14,800 people who went to Khalidiyah Mall on Friday, only about 15 were denied entry for not having the green pass.
“Authorities have been announcing rules for quite some time, so I would say 95 per cent of the people knew these,” Mr Pal said.
“There were still 10 to 15 people we had to send back as they were vaccinated but had not done their PCR tests.
“We deployed extra security at the entrances, whose job was to check Al Hosn apps.”
Mr Pal said the mall had shared information about the new rules on social media for a week and had put up explanatory stickers.
Yasser Al Marzouqi, director of retail property management at Aldar Estates, which operates Yas Mall, said it was ready for the change, but owing to the new protocol, some customers, including tourists, had been unable to enter.
“We provided separate lanes for different categories, such as families, women and people with special needs, and separate desks for people having issues in their Al Hosn app,” he said.
“Our security staff have been trained to quickly look at the Al Hosn app, and to handle different scenarios to ensure smooth access.
“Extra security staff have been provided in addition to well-trained volunteers.”
How the rules affect children
Parents can show their children’s profile on Al Hosn app or their Emirates IDs to gain entry to malls and other public places.
Caroline Waddington, 44, a British mother of two in Abu Dhabi, said she went to Al Forsan Central Mall on Friday but did not face any hurdles.
Mrs Waddington and her husband, Chris, have each taken both doses of the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine and a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech.
Their daughter, Sophie, 14, has had both doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and their son Alex, 11, is waiting for his first shot of Sinopharm.
“It was all very streamlined and straightforward. I had to show my Al Hosn app to get in and they asked to see information on Sophie, but not for Alex, as he is only 11,” she said.
“We also had the scan check at the entrance to Lulu.”
Malls in Abu Dhabi are now allowed to operate at 80 per cent capacity.
Staff at entry points conduct strict Covid-19 checks, such as testing visitors’ temperatures using thermal cameras, and many also use Covid-19 face detection scanners.
Sonika Jain, from India, went to World Trade Centre Mall in Abu Dhabi on Friday with her children, aged 16 and 14.
Her son, who is 16, received his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Saturday.
She said she had shown her children’s Emirates ID cards and they were allowed in.
“I did not face any issues,” said Ms Jain, who works for a bank.
“People are aware of the rules by now, and know what they have to do.”
If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Seattle from Dh5,555 return, including taxes. Portland is a 260 km drive from Seattle and Emirates offers codeshare flights to Portland with its partner Alaska Airlines.
The car
Hertz (www.hertz.ae) offers compact car rental from about $300 per week, including taxes. Emirates Skywards members can earn points on their car hire through Hertz.
Parks and accommodation
For information on Crater Lake National Park, visit www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm . Because of the altitude, large parts of the park are closed in winter due to snow. While the park’s summer season is May 22-October 31, typically, the full loop of the Rim Drive is only possible from late July until the end of October. Entry costs $25 per car for a day. For accommodation, see www.travelcraterlake.com. For information on Umpqua Hot Springs, see www.fs.usda.gov and https://soakoregon.com/umpqua-hot-springs/. For Bend, see https://www.visitbend.com/.
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday
Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)
Valencia v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)
Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)
Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday
Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)
Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)
The specs
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Votes
Total votes: 1.8 million
Ashraf Ghani: 923,592 votes
Abdullah Abdullah: 720,841 votes
Not Dark Yet
Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer
Four stars
The specs: 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
Price, base: Dh198,300
Engine: 2.0L in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 280hp @ 5,250rpm
Torque: 400Nm @ 2,250rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7L / 100km
TERMINAL HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENCE (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US's most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
THAAD is designed to take out ballistic missiles as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".
Purpose:
To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.
Range:
THAAD can target projectiles inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 150 kilometres above the Earth's surface.
Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then stationed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
FIXTURES
December 28
Stan Wawrinka v Pablo Carreno Busta, 5pm
Milos Raonic v Dominic Thiem, no earlier then 7pm
December 29 - semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Stan Wawrinka / Pablo Carreno Busta, 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Milos Raonic / Dominic Thiem, no earlier then 7pm
December 30
3rd/4th place play-off, 5pm
Final, 7pm
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
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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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Plan to boost public schools
A major shake-up of government-run schools was rolled out across the country in 2017. Known as the Emirati School Model, it placed more emphasis on maths and science while also adding practical skills to the curriculum.
It was accompanied by the promise of a Dh5 billion investment, over six years, to pay for state-of-the-art infrastructure improvements.
Aspects of the school model will be extended to international private schools, the education minister has previously suggested.
Recent developments have also included the introduction of moral education - which public and private schools both must teach - along with reform of the exams system and tougher teacher licensing requirements.
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The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
RESULTS
5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ahmed Al Mehairbi (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: AF Seven Skies, Bernardo Pinheiro, Qais Aboud
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: Almahroosa, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: AF Sumoud, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: AF Majalis, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Adventurous, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
