The UAE has conducted 539,195 tests for Covid-19 since the outbreak began.
On Wednesday, the country’s Minister of Health and Prevention, Abdulrahman Al Owais, said the UAE intended to double this figure “during the coming period” as part of a strategy to identify all local cases, isolate and treat them before it spreads further.
His update on testing figures came as 300 new cases of coronavirus were announced in the UAE, taking the country’s total to 2,659. Fifty-three people have recovered from the virus since Tuesday, adding to the country’s growing number of recoveries – currently at 239. The total number of deaths remains at 12.
Mr Al Owais said the high figures were a result of the UAE’s robust approach to testing which “reflects the strength of our health system and the efficiency of our medical staff.”
He thanked Emiratis and residents for their co-operation and solidarity during these “exceptional times in which we live” which have demonstrated immense social cohesion.
“The health and safety of citizens and residents is a priority, and it is a national responsibility that we all share,” Mr Al Owais said.
On Wednesday, the UAE’s regular coronavirus briefing, held at 5pm every two days, also heard from Abdullah Ali Al Nuaimi, acting assistant Undersecretary for Communication and International Relations at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
He said regulations had been put in place as part of a national programme to support and protect the country’s workforce, in co-ordination with the National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority.
Part of this programme is the reduction of staff in office to 30 per cent of their typical capacity, increasing buses for workers to allow social distancing and putting measures in place to protect delivery drivers.
“The ministry has launched a temporary guide to remote work for private sector companies, which includes necessary measures to be taken in an emergency circumstance,” said Mr Al Nuaimi.
He said a committee had been formed to ensure job security and stability for Emiratis working in the private sector and to look into any complaints and “follow up on their condition”.
The ministry has temporarily allowed for employment contracts to be modified based on mutual consent between the employee and the company. These amendments can include granting the employee paid leave or unpaid leave, temporarily reducing their wages for a specific period or permanently reducing their wages.
Mr Al Nuaimi advised anyone who was currently seeking a job to register on the ministry's virtual labour market.
On Wednesday, Dr Farida Al Hosani, spokeswoman for the UAE health sector, reassured the public that the high number of cases in the country were an indication of widespread testing.
She said more drive-through testing centres would be opened across the country to support the UAE’s strategy to test as many people as possible to isolate and treat patients, preventing them from spreading the virus to others.
Asked about the slow recovery rate compared to the number of growing infections, Dr Al Hosani said the disease spreads much faster than the typical amount of time it takes for a patient to fully recover.
“According to the World Health Organisation, the global rate of recovery is less than 25 per cent of the total number of cases. This is because it takes a mild case between two to three weeks to recover while severe cases may take much longer.”
The UAE mandated masks to be worn in public at all times last week, which has led to reports of increased littering with used personal protective equipment found strewn in the streets.
Dr Al Hosani condemned this behaviour, saying it could lead to increased cases of infection.
"Littering is not a part of our culture. Throwing masks and gloves on the floor could spread the risk of infection. This puts cleaning workers at risk too. We must be well behaved and throw masks and gloves in bins after placing them in sealed bags, to protect everyone."
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Intruder
Director: Deon Taylor
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Michael Ealy, Meagan Good
One star
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
How much of your income do you need to save?
The more you save, the sooner you can retire. Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.com, says if you save just 5 per cent of your salary, you can expect to work for another 66 years before you are able to retire without too large a drop in income.
In other words, you will not save enough to retire comfortably. If you save 15 per cent, you can forward to another 43 working years. Up that to 40 per cent of your income, and your remaining working life drops to just 22 years. (see table)
Obviously, this is only a rough guide. How much you save will depend on variables, not least your salary and how much you already have in your pension pot. But it shows what you need to do to achieve financial independence.
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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Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
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The struggle is on for active managers
David Einhorn closed out 2018 with his biggest annual loss ever for the 22-year-old Greenlight Capital.
The firm’s main hedge fund fell 9 per cent in December, extending this year’s decline to 34 percent, according to an investor update viewed by Bloomberg.
Greenlight posted some of the industry’s best returns in its early years, but has stumbled since losing more than 20 per cent in 2015.
Other value-investing managers have also struggled, as a decade of historically low interest rates and the rise of passive investing and quant trading pushed growth stocks past their inexpensive brethren. Three Bays Capital and SPO Partners & Co., which sought to make wagers on undervalued stocks, closed in 2018. Mr Einhorn has repeatedly expressed his frustration with the poor performance this year, while remaining steadfast in his commitment to value investing.
Greenlight, which posted gains only in May and October, underperformed both the broader market and its peers in 2018. The S&P 500 Index dropped 4.4 per cent, including dividends, while the HFRX Global Hedge Fund Index, an early indicator of industry performance, fell 7 per cent through December. 28.
At the start of the year, Greenlight managed $6.3 billion in assets, according to a regulatory filing. By May, the firm was down to $5.5bn.
The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
