Latest: UAE secures deal to manufacture Sinopharm vaccine ahead of major inoculation push
Abu Dhabi's government is beginning a campaign to encourage people to get vaccinated against Covid-19.
The free and voluntary vaccine also comes with an increasing list of benefits not open to others.
The rules apply to both volunteers under Phase-3 clinical trials for the Sinopharm vaccine as well as members of the public who have taken both doses of the jab and waited 28 days for the inoculation to take effect.
So what are they? The National explains.
When do the benefits apply?
As soon as the relevant icon appears on the Al Hosn app.
Participants in the Phase-3 clinical trials are identified by a yellow star on Al Hosn app. Volunteers need only have received the first dose and undergone a PCR test to be eligible for a series of exemptions for four weeks.
But people who participated in the National Vaccination Programme must wait 28 days after their second dose and undergo a PCR test for the exemptions to apply. After that time, the letter E in a red circle will appear in Al Hosn app, indicating their eligibility.
The symbol will initially appear for two weeks, but will remain if the person takes a PCR test every fortnight. If they stop taking them, the E will disappear. But taking a PCR test will renew it at any time.
What benefits does being vaccinated bring?
They range from fewer tests to removing the need to go into quarantine after returning from abroad.
Anyone who has not yet been vaccinated must have a negative test result, received within 72 hours, to enter Abu Dhabi. If they remain in the emirate for longer than six consecutive days, they must undergo a PCR test on the sixth day or risk fines.
But those taking part in trials and people who have been fully vaccinated (28 days after receiving their second dose) only need to have taken a PCR test within the past two weeks to enter the capital and do not require further testing.
“The special measures are only valid if the participant’s Al Hosn app continues to show their special status, which is linked to taking a PCR test every fortnight, as per the conditions of the trial and vaccination programme,” said Abu Dhabi’s Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee for Covid-19 Pandemic.
National Vaccine Programme participants who have received only one dose, or only recently had their second, will still need a negative PCR test to enter Abu Dhabi from Dubai and a second test on day four.
What about travel outside the country? Does being vaccinated affect that?
Everyone – including those who have been vaccinated and trial volunteers – must take a PCR test to fly out of Abu Dhabi.
But trial volunteers and those who received the full vaccine course do not need to go into quarantine when they arrive back into the emirate.
Trial volunteers and people who participated in the National Vaccine Programme will only be tested on arrival into the country.
Unvaccinated tourists or residents who fly into Abu Dhabi need to take a test on arrival and again on day six if they stay for more than six consecutive days. If they remain in the emirate for 12 days, they need to be tested again.
Tourists or residents who have not been vaccinated must also go into quarantine at home, unless they arrive from a "green country", for at least 10 days.
Does being vaccinated mean employees are exempt from fortnightly tests?
Many businesses across Abu Dhabi test their entire staff every two weeks, including office-based employees.
Updated rules were announced on Monday affecting service-industry workers only.
From January 10, people working in restaurants, coffee shops, supermarkets, bakeries, grocers, malls, commercial centres, butchers, vegetable and fruit retailers will no longer be required to take fortnightly PCR tests if they have been fully vaccinated. Everyone else employed in the sector must continue to do so.
Businesses must cover the cost of the tests, which is about Dh85 per person in government-run screening centres, for any employee who is not vaccinated.
*This article has been amended since initial publication
UAE officials getting the Sinopharm vaccine - in pictures
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The five pillars of Islam
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
PRISCILLA
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
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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
SHOW COURTS ORDER OF PLAY
Wimbledon order of play on Saturday, July 8
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Centre Court (4pm)
Agnieszka Radwanska (9) v Timea Bacsinszky (19)
Ernests Gulbis v Novak Djokovic (2)
Mischa Zverev (27) v Roger Federer (3)
Court 1 (4pm)
Milos Raonic (6) v Albert Ramos-Vinolas (25)
Anett Kontaveit v Caroline Wozniacki (5)
Dominic Thiem (8) v Jared Donaldson
Court 2 (2.30pm)
Sorana Cirstea v Garbine Muguruza (14)
To finish: Sam Querrey (24) leads Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (12) 6-2, 3-6, 7-6, 1-6, 6-5
Angelique Kerber (1) v Shelby Rogers
Sebastian Ofner v Alexander Zverev (10)
Court 3 (2.30pm)
Grigor Dimitrov (13) v Dudi Sela
Alison Riske v Coco Vandeweghe (24)
David Ferrer v Tomas Berdych (11)
Court 12 (2.30pm)
Polona Hercog v Svetlana Kuznetsova (7)
Gael Monfils (15) v Adrian Mannarino
Court 18 (2.30pm)
Magdalena Rybarikova v Lesia Tsurenko
Petra Martic v Zarina Diyas
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
