Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, has issued a heartfelt plea for residents to stay at home and lead the fight against coronavirus.
Sheikh Hamdan said social distancing was "not a choice" if the country were to overcome the "real threat" posed by the pandemic.
Using the the Instastory feature on Instagram, @Faz3, as he is known on the social networking platform, posted a long memo in English and Arabic.
“This pandemic is a very real threat to each and every one of of us, our families and friends,” he wrote.
“The only way to guarantee that we safeguard the well-being of our loved ones is to act now, together and without exceptions. Stay home.”
Sheikh Hamdan thanked UAE hospital workers and emergency response teams leading efforts to contain the outbreak.
He cautioned that Dubai is not immune from the crisis, while asking everyone to take the coronavirus seriously.
Omar Ghobash, assistant minister for culture and diplomacy, echoed Sheikh Hamdan’s message for people to remain in their homes.
“Remember we are only as strong as our weakest link," Mr Ghobash said. "We’re here for you and trust that we can count on your commitment to act responsibly.”
Sheikh Hamdan concluded the message with the increasingly popular #StayHome hashtag.
It has been used by health and government officials and people all over the world as a way to stress the effectiveness of social distancing to combat the spread of Covid-19.
Sheikh Hamdan also used Twitter to make a similar point to the 4 million users who follow his @HamdanMohammed handle.
Around the globe there have been more than 15,000 deaths related to coronavirus among 340,000 confirmed cases, and 100,000 recoveries.
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ODI squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa
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Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
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When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
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TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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Stage seven
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 3:20:24
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 1s
3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 5s
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1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 25:38:16
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 22s
3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 48s
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8.15pm: Zabeel Mile Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Zakouski, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
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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.
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
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