New mutant strains of Covid-19 pose a high risk to society, particularly unvaccinated people, a government official said.
Dr Farida Al Hosani, spokeswoman for the state health sector, said those who had not yet been inoculated were at high risk of contracting the virus.
She urged all residents to book vaccination appointments.
"We stress that mutations pose a high risk to society, especially for those who are not vaccinated, so we call upon members of the community who are not vaccinated to take the available vaccinations," the National Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (Ncema) said on Twitter after the briefing.
"Studies show that those who are vaccinated with all the prescribed doses of the #Covid19 vaccine and the booster dose are less exposed to infection and complications of the disease, admission to hospitals, reduced hospital stay and no need for respirators," read another tweet.
A national committee is studying the mutations, monitoring them daily and examining the efficacy of the vaccines on them, Dr Al Hosani said.
The government is urging all residents, especially the elderly and chronically ill, to receive a third vaccine shot as a booster.
The booster can be from the same manufacturer as the original shots or, subject to a medical examination, a different vaccine, authorities said.
More than 87 per cent of UAE residents are vaccinated – a proportion that rises to 97.5 per cent if looking only at people aged over 60.
Vaccination figures are currently at 141.19 doses per 100 eligible people.
Earlier in the week, Dubai officials said uptake was high, but authorities were worried about the 17 per cent of the population who had yet to receive a first shot.
Officials said that case figures had risen after Eid Al Fitr and residents were urged to maintain social distancing even when vaccinated so that the nation could move on to the next step of the recovery plan.
"Therefore, we call upon the honourable public with the approach of the holiday season and Eid Al Adha to adhere to preventive measures," Ncema said on Twitter.
Dr Al Hosani said UAE task forces, in collaboration with federal and local government entities, implemened 33 projects since the outbreak of the pandemic and took part in more than 400 medical and scientific studies to support global efforts to combat the virus.
On Tuesday, Abu Dhabi's new Covid-19 green pass system went live at public venues across the capital.
It is the next step in the emirate's pandemic recovery plan and was announced last week.
The safety measures require people to show their testing and vaccination status on Al Hosn – the UAE's test and tracing app – to gain entry to places such as parks, beaches, malls, hotels and large supermarkets.
Gyms, swimming pools, entertainment centres, restaurants and cafes will also require proof for entry.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The White Lotus: Season three
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Rating: 4.5/5
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The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA
Price, base / as tested Dh150,900 / Dh173,600
Engine 2.0L inline four-cylinder
Transmission Seven-speed automatic
Power 211hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 1,200rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.4L / 100km
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6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 (PA) Group 1 US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
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8.50pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 (TB) Group 2 $350,000 (D) 1,600m
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
New schools in Dubai
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying or online bullying could take many forms such as sending unkind or rude messages to someone, socially isolating people from groups, sharing embarrassing pictures of them, or spreading rumors about them.
Cyberbullying can take place on various platforms such as messages, on social media, on group chats, or games.
Parents should watch out for behavioural changes in their children.
When children are being bullied they they may be feel embarrassed and isolated, so parents should watch out for signs of signs of depression and anxiety
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
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