A leading Dubai nursery group is gearing up to resume operations for the first time in seven months after completing rigorous Covid-19 safety preparations.
More than 330 staff and hundreds more children are awaiting final government approval before they can walk through the doors of 23 British Orchard Nurseries in the emirate once more.
Places of learning across the country shut down in March as part of efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Schools and universities have gradually reopened in recent weeks, with many adopting blended learning models catering for learners both in class and those studying remotely.
To not see the smiles on the children's faces has been really hard for everyone
The Ministry of Education and the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority announced nurseries could reopen in August, but not all have been able to meet strict new criteria.
The costs involved under the new guidelines are considerable, but British Orchard Nursery chief executive and founder Dr Vandana Gandhi said staff are just happy to go back to work.
“No one has been spared by the pandemic so the impact has been hard on us, like many others,” she said.
“The government training for thousands of staff across the country to enable them to get back to work has been exceptional.
“There has been a financial impact and on the well-being of the young.
“We are still not out of this pandemic, but all our plans have been approved so we are hopeful of reopening all our nurseries once the final inspections have been completed over the next few days.”
Protective bubbles for up to 10 children and three staff will help keep those inside safe, while emergency protocols have been established in case anyone show symptoms of Covid-19.
It is part of a series of measures nurseries must follow if they plan to reopen for business.
“It has been a lot for the staff to deal with, the training has been quite intensive and extensive changes have been made to all hygiene, staff and child attendance procedures,” said Emma Addy, a business support manager at the British Orchard Nursery.
“Our staff love being around children, so they are eager to get back to work.
“To not hear the chatter, noise and see the smiles on the children’s faces has been really hard for everyone.”
Nurseries taking strong steps to keep children safe
About 200 children would usually attend the nursery in Dubai Silicon Oasis.
That has been slashed to less than 100 under capacity restrictions limiting the intake to just 50 per cent.
Getting young children back into nurseries at a young age is seen as crucial to their development, and parents have been reassured all has been done to ensure they return to a safe environment.
Nurseries must follow a strict government-approved reopening plan that must be signed off after a final inspection before children are allowed back inside.
Regulations include compulsory temperature checks on arrival, different entry and exit points for different age groups and staggered start times.
Toys and play equipment have been kept to a minimum to reduce contamination risk and some rooms will not be used for play.
A sparse room with just a bed and chair inside one former play area now serves as an isolation room for children suspected of carrying the virus.
“If a child shows symptoms during the day, the nurse must remain with them, along with a member of staff from their bubble,” said Ms Addy, 41.
“It is why we must have three staff members inside each bubble.
“After the child has left, the room is sanitised and the staff member must leave the nursery to sanitise.”
If the child tests positive for the virus, all other children and staff within the bubble must also be removed from the nursery and tested for covid.
If there is more than one positive case, the nursery will be closed temporarily as a precaution.
Inside the nursery clinic, a Dubai Health Authority nurse and health and safety officer is responsible for daily health screenings of all staff and children.
Parents are no longer allowed to tour the nursery with all transactions paperless.
A sanitising mist machine cleans the building and its contents daily, and cleaners must use disposable tissues rather than cloths to wipe down toys and surfaces.
All staff members will be tested for Covid-19 before the nursery opening and then regularly tested every fortnight.
The company has two centres in the UK, in Oxford and Bicester, where 30 staff remained at work throughout the pandemic, with no closures.
Managers there exchanged successful lessons to ensure nurseries can now stay open in the UAE.
“Using bubbles in the nursery is a proven method of protecting children and letting them get back to seeing their friends and teachers again,” said Dr Gandhi.
“We know it is an important time for a child’s development, so parents should be reassured we are doing all we can to ensure that continues.
“Children need stimulation in a nursery environment with their peers - getting them back will only improve their development.”
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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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.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
Freezer tips
- Always make sure food is completely cool before freezing.
- If you’re cooking in large batches, divide into either family-sized or individual portions to freeze.
- Ensure the food is well wrapped in foil or cling film. Even better, store in fully sealable, labelled containers or zip-lock freezer bags.
- The easiest and safest way to defrost items such as the stews and sauces mentioned is to do so in the fridge for several hours or overnight.
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
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Volvo ES90 Specs
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Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Citizenship-by-investment programmes
United Kingdom
The UK offers three programmes for residency. The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest £50,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest £2 million, £5m or £10m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency).
All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport.
The Caribbean
Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport.
Portugal
The investment amount ranges from €350,000 to €500,000 (Dh1.5m to Dh2.16m) in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years.
“Among European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,” states Veronica Cotdemiey of Citizenship Invest.
Greece
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is €250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years.
Spain
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is €500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit.
Cyprus
Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of €2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe.
Malta
The Malta citizenship by investment programme is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least €650,000 to the National Development & Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each.
The second step is to make an investment in property of at least €350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least €16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least €150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years.
Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year.
Egypt
A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000.
Source: Citizenship Invest and Aqua Properties
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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