Abu Dhabi climbs 14 places to the 42nd rank in the 2020 Smart Cities Index. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National.
Abu Dhabi climbs 14 places to the 42nd rank in the 2020 Smart Cities Index. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National.
Abu Dhabi climbs 14 places to the 42nd rank in the 2020 Smart Cities Index. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National.
Abu Dhabi climbs 14 places to the 42nd rank in the 2020 Smart Cities Index. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National.

Coronavirus: Abu Dhabi allows up to 35 per cent of government staff back to offices


Gillian Duncan
  • English
  • Arabic

No more than 35 per cent of staff will be permitted to work from government offices in Abu Dhabi and employees will have to scan QR codes on their phones when they enter the building.

The guidance, announced by the Abu Dhabi Government Media Office, came as employees across the country returned to their workplaces on Sunday.

The rules governing the return to the office for Abu Dhabi Government employees state paperwork should be avoided and the use of handles minimised.

No more than two people will be permitted to use a lift at any one time.

Face masks and gloves must be worn at all time and there will also be ban on handshakes.

Prayer rooms and shared areas will be closed. Videoconferencing systems should be used for meetings and everyone should wash or sanitise their hands regularly.

Glass barriers should be installed to separate employees and customers and people should remain two metres apart from others at all times.

Before leaving home, Abu Dhabi government employees should check their temperatures and travel in their own car, avoiding public transportation where possible.

Once they arrive at work they will have their temperature taken and a QR (quick response) code scanned on their phone.

It was not made clear how QR codes - commonly used to store information similar to a barcode - would be specifically used in Abu Dhabi offices.

Everyone will be encouraged to download the government's Al Hosn app, which displays people’s health status and helps identify people at risk of contracting Covid-19.

“Government entities continue to work at full capacity while applying the guidelines and taking into accounting that maximum attendance does not exceed 35 per cent of the workplace capacity,” the Department of Government Support said.

“Capacity of government entities to be reviewed and updated weekly, as per requirements.”

Several Abu Dhabi government employees are exempt from returning to offices, including those who live with people who have the virus or show symptoms.

People who live with family members who have been exposed to Covid-19 cases, or who are at risk of being infected due to the nature of their work are also excused.

Others who suffer from chronic health conditions or live with people who are vulnerable or need constant care may continue to work from home.

People who are disabled, pregnant, breastfeeding, or over the age of 60 are also excused, as are parents of children below Grade 10 at school.

The exemption applies to one parent and is valid until the end of the academic year.

Dubai has also imposed similar restrictions on who can return to offices, even as it moves faster to bring employees back.

In two weeks' time the emirate's entire public sector will once again work from the office, two months after employees were asked to work from home.

Workplace attendance rates will gradually increased from 30 per cent for the federal government as the coronavirus crisis subsides.

The temporary closure of government service centres and offices across Abu Dhabi prompted a sharp increase in the use of online services.

Online government service transactions surged by 83 per cent during the Digital Month initiative, which concluded in April, pushing user numbers beyond one million.

UAE tour of the Netherlands

UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures and results:
Monday, UAE won by three wickets
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

Virtual banks explained

What is a virtual bank?

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority defines it as a bank that delivers services through the internet or other electronic channels instead of physical branches. That means not only facilitating payments but accepting deposits and making loans, just like traditional ones. Other terms used interchangeably include digital or digital-only banks or neobanks. By contrast, so-called digital wallets or e-wallets such as Apple Pay, PayPal or Google Pay usually serve as intermediaries between a consumer’s traditional account or credit card and a merchant, usually via a smartphone or computer.

What’s the draw in Asia?

Hundreds of millions of people under-served by traditional institutions, for one thing. In China, India and elsewhere, digital wallets such as Alipay, WeChat Pay and Paytm have already become ubiquitous, offering millions of people an easy way to store and spend their money via mobile phone. Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines are also among the world’s biggest under-banked countries; together they have almost half a billion people.

Is Hong Kong short of banks?

No, but the city is among the most cash-reliant major economies, leaving room for newcomers to disrupt the entrenched industry. Ant Financial, an Alibaba Group Holding affiliate that runs Alipay and MYBank, and Tencent Holdings, the company behind WeBank and WeChat Pay, are among the owners of the eight ventures licensed to create virtual banks in Hong Kong, with operations expected to start as early as the end of the year. 

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Marathon results

Men:

 1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13 

2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50 

3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25 

4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46 

5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48  

Women:

1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30 

2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01 

3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30 

4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43 

5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01  

While you're 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)

Recipe: Spirulina Coconut Brothie

Ingredients
1 tbsp Spirulina powder
1 banana
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (full fat preferable)
1 tbsp fresh turmeric or turmeric powder
½ cup fresh spinach leaves
½ cup vegan broth
2 crushed ice cubes (optional)

Method
Blend all the ingredients together on high in a high-speed blender until smooth and creamy. 

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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The%20specs
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MATCH INFO

Uefa Nations League

League A, Group 4
Spain v England, 10.45pm (UAE)

Afghanistan fixtures
  • v Australia, today
  • v Sri Lanka, Tuesday
  • v New Zealand, Saturday,
  • v South Africa, June 15
  • v England, June 18
  • v India, June 22
  • v Bangladesh, June 24
  • v Pakistan, June 29
  • v West Indies, July 4

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh825,900

On sale: Now

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 325bhp

Torque: 450Nm

Price: Dh289,000