Dubai businesses can return to normal operating hours after stay-home orders in place for three months were lifted this week.
Officials revealed late on Wednesday night that restrictions on movement had been eased following the completion of a national sterilisation programme aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19.
It means residents - who were told to previously to remain indoors from 11pm to 6am in Dubai - can now venture outside once more.
The decision also affords the opportunity for parts of the economic sector - such as supermarkets, malls and restaurants - to resume their standard timings.
Infection rates across the Emirates are continuing to decline - with numbers of recoveries now outpacing new cases - but authorities have called on residents and organisations to remain responsible and adhere to safety measures.
Dubai Economy said staff and customers must still wear masks while premises are mandated to have physical distancing safety signs and markings, carry out temperature checks on people entering and conduct regular sterilisation.
The authority also encouraged the use of smart and contactless payment methods provided to help contain the virus.
Dubai Economy reiterated that inspections of premises will continue to be carried out to ensure they are operating in line with Covid-19 safety measures.
Officials urged consumers to report any non-compliance to the Covid-19 precautionary guidelines via the Dubai Consumer App available on Apple, Google, and Huawei stores, by calling 600545555, or on the Consumerrights.ae website.
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Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
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