The UAE has entered a new stage of the pandemic when economic activity must resume but people have to be responsible, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said on Sunday.
Speaking at the first Cabinet meeting since government workers returned to their offices, the Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai said employers must put measures in place to protect staff so the "wheel of economy" could turn.
"We have entered a new stage, the stage for gradual return to economic life," he said on Twitter.
"Every person is responsible. All institutions and sectors are involved in protecting their staff. Health will remain a priority and a responsibility. Returning the wheel of the economy is strategic and necessary."
He said the outbreak had made the UAE "stronger, better and faster" and that the next step would require "a new spirit, with different thinking and to work faster with greater flexibility".
"We say to everyone: life is continuing, achievements are ongoing and this experience has made us stronger," Sheikh Mohammed said.
During Sunday's remote meeting, Cabinet members discussed procedures for the return of staff to offices and "the future mechanisms of government work".
The Cabinet formed two task forces: one to simplify and improve government services online, specifically judicial services, and the other to study societal culture to determine what may be needed going forward.
The job of the former task force will be to launch a study on community culture to identify any changes in the values, ethics and behaviour of the UAE community since the outbreak, reported state news agency Wam.
Several cultural programmes will also be implemented to promote positive behaviours and mental health within the community, the Cabinet said.
The ministers approved a policy to automate certain government services to cut down on costs and they formed a team that will be in charge of establishing a comprehensive volunteering system for Emiratis and residents.
The Cabinet ordered a study on internet communication and job automation to create an ideal environment for small and medium-sized enterprises, and to develop applications and online platforms to support remote learning and work.
Another team was formed to support SMEs to develop technologies that will encourage new ways of practising business, including remote meetings and e-signatures, to establish e-platforms for reinforcing government operations and transactions. This team must also revise existing legislation and draft new laws that will support remote communication.
Finally, the Cabinet adopted a resolution to suspend administrative fines related to bank guarantees provided by media sector owners, as part of the government’s incentives to support the country’s economic development.
These measures all seek to prepare the UAE for a post-coronavirus future.
This month, Sheikh Mohammed said changes would need to be made in government as part of those preparations.
At the end of a three-day post-virus strategy meeting, he called for a restructure and said the size of government must be reviewed.
"We may merge ministries … and change bodies," he said at the time.
"Anyone who thinks that the world after Covid-19 will be the same as the one before it is mistaken."
An additional 661 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the UAE on Sunday.
The infections were identified from 37,000 tests conducted over the past 24 hours.
Authorities said 386 patients had recovered, making the total number of people to have beaten the virus 17,932.
Two deaths also brought the country's toll to 264. The UAE has recorded 34,557 cases of the deadly virus since the first cases were identified in late January.
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The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?
Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.
They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.
“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.
He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
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BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
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Transmission: 8-speed auto
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The Details
Kabir Singh
Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series
Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa
Rating: 2.5/5
TO ALL THE BOYS: ALWAYS AND FOREVER
Directed by: Michael Fimognari
Starring: Lana Condor and Noah Centineo
Two stars
Founders: Ines Mena, Claudia Ribas, Simona Agolini, Nourhan Hassan and Therese Hundt
Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure
Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers
Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels
More coverage from the Future Forum
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What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
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
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Honeymoonish
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Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
