Daily fish auctions in Ajman continue to draw big crowds despite restrictions on travel introduced to stem the spread of Covid-19.
At four o’clock every afternoon, buyers gather as auctioneers raise their megaphones and the selling begins.
As the bidding picks up, porters shuttle wheelbarrows between vendors and fishermen heave sharks from dhows onto the wharf.
At Sunday’s auction, at least 120 people gathered in the 1,500 square metre lot.
Fish markets across the UAE have tried to adopt social distancing measures but similar scenes play out at fish markets in every city in the country each day.
Our souq is like a supermarket, it is essential. Some people can't go a day without fish
The coronavirus pandemic has emptied streets and closed offices yet fish markets are considered an essential service, and fishermen have been encouraged to head to sea as imports have dropped.
“Praise be to God, corona has had no affect on the fish market,” said Ahmed Al Shamsi, 38, an auctioneer at the Ajman market. “Up until now, prices have been good because fish is a healthy choice.”
Each emirate regulates its own markets. Only the Ajman souq has remained opened throughout the pandemic, attracting customers from Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah when other markets shut. A drop in imports has nearly doubled local fish prices.
Auction sites themselves are now closed to the public and theoretically, only sellers and auctioneers are permitted inside the sites.
In Ajman, buyers bid from a raised pavement outside and are asked to stand on marked squares at set distances. In practice, shoulders rub.
Inside his office at the side of the souq, fish market manager Ali Yusuf surveys CCTV footage from the market hall and auction yard as the bidding gets underway.
“Thankfully, it’s not many people compared to last week,” he said. “Look, people have to buy fish. Our souq is like a supermarket, it is essential. Some people can’t go a day without fish.”
Pausing, he watched porters brush past each other as the auction gained pace. “But maybe there is another way to do it,” he said.
In Dubai, where residents can no longer leave home without a permit, souqs are emptier.
After a brief closure, the Dubai fish market reopened on April 7 with thermal cameras and two daily deep cleaning sessions.
Emirati fishmonger Khalid Sulaiten said he had maintained his sales by reaching his customers through Instagram and WhatsApp.
He has relied on farmed fish to substitute for imports, which previously accounted for half his sales.
“Since the beginning of coronavirus I increased deliveries to all houses, not only to Dubai but also to Abu Dhabi and Al Ain,” he said.
“The government said people should stay home and we’re working on that.”
Fujairah’s fish auctions have moved to a larger area in the port. In Ras Al Khaimah, only one seller can enter the auction yard at a time.
Stay-home orders have not stopped nocturnal fishing trips.
“We also face issues with the police when we come back from fishing trips after 8pm during the sterilisation period and we asked for permits but didn’t get any till now,” said Malallah Al Shahhi, a 56-year-old Emirati fisherman from Ras Al Khaimah.
Earlier this month, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change lifted its seasonal ban on sheri (emperor fish), safi (rabbitfish), and sharks.
The annual ban was introduced in 2015 to protect species during the spawning season and restore decimated populations.
Food security has now taken priority, however, despite government assurances there is no risk of food shortages.
“The move aligns with the nationwide drive to ensure the availability of food products, including fish, to meet local demand, and to sustain the livelihood of fishermen and support the fishing sector amid the rising global health concerns,” said a ministry statement.
Fish migrate to cooler climes in the summer and so do fishermen, who often repatriate every summer to Gujarat, India, or Bangladesh.
Fishermen, who earn Dh1,000 to Dh3,000 a month, said an earlier return would not affect their income.
“When they start the flights again, I’ll go,” said Kiran Bari, 49, a Gujarati fishermen who lives in Ajman.
RESULTS
5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,400m
Winner: AF Tathoor, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 1,000m
Winner: Dahawi, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
Winner: Aiz Alawda, Fernando Jara, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
Winner: ES Nahawand, Fernando Jara, Mohammed Daggash
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Winked, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: Al Ain Mile Group 3 (PA) Dh350,000 1,600m
Winner: Somoud, Connor Beasley, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
8pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Al Jazi, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
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Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Ain Issa camp:
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- Houses 13,309 people, 2,092 families, 62 per cent children
- Of the adult population, 49 per cent men, 51 per cent women (not including foreigners annexe)
- Most from Deir Ezzor and Raqqa
- 950 foreigners linked to ISIS and their families
- NGO Blumont runs camp management for the UN
- One of the nine official (UN recognised) camps in the region
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.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Film: Raid
Dir: Rajkumar Gupta
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Ileana D'cruz and Saurabh Shukla
Verdict: Three stars
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 640hp
Torque: 760nm
On sale: 2026
Price: Not announced yet
The%20specs
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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
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ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
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• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
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Uefa Champions League final:
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When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
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Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
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Power: 374hp at 5,500-6,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm from 1,900-5,000rpm
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Fuel consumption: 8.5L/100km
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Brunch has been around, is some form or another, for more than a century. The word was first mentioned in print in an 1895 edition of Hunter’s Weekly, after making the rounds among university students in Britain. The article, entitled Brunch: A Plea, argued the case for a later, more sociable weekend meal. “By eliminating the need to get up early on Sunday, brunch would make life brighter for Saturday night carousers. It would promote human happiness in other ways as well,” the piece read. “It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.” More than 100 years later, author Guy Beringer’s words still ring true, especially in the UAE, where brunches are often used to mark special, sociable occasions.
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Borussia Dortmund (loan) 6 appearances, 0 goals
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The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
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Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
FA Cup fifth round draw
Sheffield Wednesday v Manchester City
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'Nope'
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Overall head-to-head
Federer 6-1 Cilic
Head-to-head at Wimbledon
Federer 1-0 Cilic
Grand Slams titles
Federer 18-1 Cilic
Best Wimbledon performance
Federer: Winner (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012)
Cilic: Final (2017*)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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