Thousands of families across the UAE will be making plans for a holiday getaway as the spring break draws near.
The school holidays – which for many pupils begin on March 28 – are an ideal opportunity to jet off overseas.
But in the Covid-19 age, careful planning is required before deciding on a destination.
Travel rules change regularly in keeping with fluctuating infection rates around the world, meaning holidaymakers need to closely monitor regulations for specific countries.
In the past few weeks, countries such as the UK, Ireland and Saudi Arabia have stripped all coronavirus-related restrictions for travellers.
But in other places they remain, and require travellers to be fully vaccinated – and even boosted – to enter.
So, with spring break approaching, which countries require people to have had a booster?
And what are the rules on people who are eligible for additional jabs in the Emirates?
Who is eligible for a booster in the UAE
The UAE has consistently called on the public to receive a third booster dose of a Covid-19 vaccine if eligible.
In early February, officials paved the way for people to receive a fourth dose.
The rules are:
People who have had two or three doses of Sinopharm can receive a booster dose of Sinopharm or Pfizer six months after the last dose they received.
Those who have had two doses of Sinopharm and a Pfizer-BioNTech booster can receive a booster dose of Pfizer six months after the last dose they received.
After having two or three doses of Pfizer-BioNTech people can receive a booster dose of Pfizer after a gap of six months.
High-risk people can receive a booster dose three months after their third and fourth injections.
Authorities do not recommend that people who have had two doses of Sinopharm and two doses of Pfizer receive a fifth shot at this time.
Countries that require people to have had a booster
Austria
Travellers will need a booster jab if their second dose was administered more than 270 days previously.
Rules state that people must show they have had at least two shots of a Covid vaccine, or have proof of a past infection within 180 days, about six months.
If either cannot be provided, a negative PCR test within 72 hours or a negative LFT/antigen test (valid for 24 hours) is also accepted.
Vaccine certificates are valid for a limited period; 270 days, or about nine months, after the second dose of a vaccine and 270 days after a booster.
There must also have been at least 90 days between the second and third jab.
More information is available here.
Croatia
Vaccinated travellers require a booster if they received the initial two shots more than 270 days previously.
Anyone considered unvaccinated can either provide a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival or provide proof of a negative rapid antigen test within 24 hours of arrival. Alternatively, they can provide proof they have had Covid within the past 180 days.
More information is available here.
France
Travellers who are 12 and older who have been vaccinated for more than nine months need a booster shot to enter the country.
People who are unvaccinated and coming from a green list country, which includes the UAE, can provide a recovery certificate from the past six months or a negative test result from a PCR performed in the past 72 hours or rapid antigen from the past 48 hours.
More information is available here.
A vaccination pass is no longer required to visit events or places such as restaurants, bars, nightclubs, cinemas, theatres, performance halls, stadiums, fairs and exhibitions.
Greece
Travellers must download and show the EU Covid vaccination certificate, which proves a person has either had a full vaccine course, with a booster if it has been more than nine months since their last shot. There is no time limit on the booster.
Alternatively, the pass can prove a person has recovered from the virus within 180 days; has a negative PCR test result within 72 hours of travel or a rapid test performed within 24 hours of the scheduled arrival.
The rules apply to everyone over the age of 5.
More information is available here.
The Netherlands
People must be fully vaccinated, with a booster if the first course was completed more than 270 days ago, to be able to enter the country. There is no expiry date for a booster.
More information is available here.
Spain
Travellers must prove they are vaccinated, with a booster, if it has been longer than 270 days since the initial two Covid shots.
They must also fill out a Health Control Form.
More information is available here.
Switzerland
People must have been fully vaccinated within 270 days to visit Switzerland. If it has been longer since they received their last dose, they must also have received a booster. Alternatively, they can prove they have already had Covid via a recovery certificate.
More information is available here.
Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
England Test squad
Ben Stokes (captain), Joe Root, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Jack Leach, Alex Lees, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts
Punchy appearance
Roars of support buoyed Mr Johnson in an extremely confident and combative appearance
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Country-size land deals
US interest in purchasing territory is not as outlandish as it sounds. Here's a look at some big land transactions between nations:
Louisiana Purchase
If Donald Trump is one who aims to broker "a deal of the century", then this was the "deal of the 19th Century". In 1803, the US nearly doubled in size when it bought 2,140,000 square kilometres from France for $15 million.
Florida Purchase Treaty
The US courted Spain for Florida for years. Spain eventually realised its burden in holding on to the territory and in 1819 effectively ceded it to America in a wider border treaty.
Alaska purchase
America's spending spree continued in 1867 when it acquired 1,518,800 km2 of Alaskan land from Russia for $7.2m. Critics panned the government for buying "useless land".
The Philippines
At the end of the Spanish-American War, a provision in the 1898 Treaty of Paris saw Spain surrender the Philippines for a payment of $20 million.
US Virgin Islands
It's not like a US president has never reached a deal with Denmark before. In 1917 the US purchased the Danish West Indies for $25m and renamed them the US Virgin Islands.
Gwadar
The most recent sovereign land purchase was in 1958 when Pakistan bought the southwestern port of Gwadar from Oman for 5.5bn Pakistan rupees.
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The flights: South African Airways flies from Dubai International Airport with a stop in Johannesburg, with prices starting from around Dh4,000 return. Emirates can get you there with a stop in Lusaka from around Dh4,600 return.
The details: Visas are available for 247 Zambian kwacha or US$20 (Dh73) per person on arrival at Livingstone Airport. Single entry into Victoria Falls for international visitors costs 371 kwacha or $30 (Dh110). Microlight flights are available through Batoka Sky, with 15-minute flights costing 2,265 kwacha (Dh680).
Accommodation: The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel by Anantara is an ideal place to stay, within walking distance of the falls and right on the Zambezi River. Rooms here start from 6,635 kwacha (Dh2,398) per night, including breakfast, taxes and Wi-Fi. Water arrivals cost from 587 kwacha (Dh212) per person.
List of alleged parties
May 12, 2020: PM and his wife Carrie attend 'work meeting' with at least 17 staff
May 20, 2020: They attend 'bring your own booze party'
Nov 27, 2020: PM gives speech at leaving party for his staff
Dec 10, 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary Gavin Williamson
Dec 13, 2020: PM and his wife throw a party
Dec 14, 2020: London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey holds staff event at Conservative Party headquarters
Dec 15, 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz
Dec 18, 2020: Downing Street Christmas party
