lifestyle and culture

UAE residents who have been stranded abroad for the past few months due to the COVID-19 pandemic no longer need approval to re-enter the country, it has been announced.
In a statement issued by the National Emergency and Crisis Management Authority and the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, it was confirmed that the registration and waiting for approval process has been replaced with pre-approvals being granted without the need to submit an application in order to return to the country.

تنفيذاً لتوجيهات القيادة الرشيدة، اعتمدت الهيئة الوطنية لإدارة #الطوارئ_والأزمات والهيئة الاتحادية للهوية والجنسية المرحلة الثانية من عودة المقيمين اعتباراً من 12/8/2020 بالتزامن مع قرب إنتهاء الإجازة الصيفية للمؤسسات التعليمية وعودة الأنشطة التجارية والمرافق الاجتماعية والخدمية.
— NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) August 12, 2020

Both authorities said this was part of the “second phase of residents’ return” from Wednesday, 12 August, which was in conjunction with the end of the summer holidays for many students who will be returning to school, university and other educational institutions.
The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship advised that to “ensure that the procedures are completed easily” that those residents returning should update their details on this website – https://uaeentry.ica.gov.ae – to verify travel documents.

ولضمان استكمال الإجراءات بكل سهولة ويسر، ننصح المقيمين بضرورة تحديث بياناتهم الخاصة (رقم بطاقة الهوية، رقم جواز السفر، الجنسية) عبر موقع https://t.co/uqH8WT2pAp
— NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) August 12, 2020

It is still mandatory for all travellers including UAE residents to undergo a COVID-19 test no more than 96 hours before the intended date of travel. Upon residents’ arrival in the country, everyone is required to adhere to the precautionary guidelines in place, including required self-isolation and laboratory test.
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Feature Image: Visit Dubai Instagram More

As the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to champion women, a history-making appointment has been made.
In a new appointment for Dr. Khulood Mohammed al-Khamis to Secretary-General of Tabuk’s regional council, it made her the first woman to hold this role across the entire Kingdom.

Having worked as an associate professor in the science department at the University of Tabuk, Dr. al-Khamis knows the area well.
To solidify her new role, the new secretary-general met with the Governor of Tabuk Region Prince Fahd bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz on Monday after her new appointment was announced.

The governor expressed how confident he was in Dr. al-Khamis being the first woman to hold such a position.
“His Highness congratulated Dr. Khulood al-Khamis on this confidence as the first woman to hold the position of Secretary-General of the regional council at the level of the Kingdom, wishing her continued success in her new work,” a statement said about the pair’s meeting which was obtained by the Saudi Press Agency.
In a statement to Al Arabiya, she expressed her gratitude for being the first woman in Saudi Arabia to hold such a position.
“I’m happy to be the first Saudi woman to hold this position and to be a daughter of Tabuk, and this is not surprising from the leader on the matter, and from [His Highness] Prince Fahd bin Sultan, Governor of Tabuk region, and the keenness to empower Saudi women to assume leadership positions in the Kingdom,” she said.
READ: ‘Historical’ court ruling in Saudi Arabia will benefit equality for women
This latest appointment is just one of the many things have changed for women in the last few years in the Kingdom since Mohammed bin Salman was appointed Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia in 2017.
Under his Vision 2030 initiative, an ambitious post-oil economic plan, there has been a major focus on women’s rights in the Kingdom.
Just three months after he stepped into the role in 2017, the Crown Prince revealed in a royal decree, women would be able to secure driving licenses from June 2018.
Then, in March 2018, it was announced by the Ministry of Justice that women who are divorced in the country would be able to instantly retain custody of their children.
Under his plans, women are now also able to attend sports events in stadiums in three cities, female students in the Kingdom are now allowed to carry their phones while on campus and as of August 2019, women aged over 21 are now allowed to travel independently.
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Feature Image: Saudi Press Agency More

For the better part of four months of this year, the world was largely put on pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the travel industry.
The UAE closed its borders in March, with only repatriation flights and cargo flights allowed to come in and out of the country.

Following the long pause of travel, Dubai reopened its borders for international tourism on July 7, and a month on the tourism and hospitality sectors in the emirate are now “benefitting from a rapid rebound”, according to WAM.
The Director-General of Dubai Tourism, Helal Saeed Almarri, has said that since the reopening of the borders they have “been greatly encouraged by the market’s response in the second phase of our recovery strategy”.

“People are much more optimistic and well-informed now and are ready to go on holidays to destinations that are safe and have put in place strong health and safety protocols,” he added.

Green shoots of revival bloom as #Dubai accelerates tourism rebound #WamNewsRead More: https://t.co/3DC1NctOhu pic.twitter.com/Gzmzu7bDFU
— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) August 10, 2020

With Emirates now flying to over 70 destinations and flydubai covering 66 desintations this summer, bookings for both local airlines are reportedly increasing.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the travel and tourism industry was brought to a complete standstill and according to the World Tourism Organisation, this could be losses of between US$1.2 and US$3.3 trillion globally for the industry, which is dependent on the recovery time.
But for Dubai the “pause phase” – as Almarri refers to it – gave the travel hub time to rethink strategies in order to build a framework that would work in the current climate.
“We rethought business strategies and plans working closely with stakeholders and partners to develop innovative initiatives to manage the ‘new normal’,” he explained. “In cooperation with key authorities, we mapped out stringent health protocols and precautionary measures that would reassure even the most demanding safety-conscious tourists.”
As we head into the final quarter of the year, the Director-General of Dubai Tourism remains optimistic about regrowth for the industry given the obstacles and challenges 2020 has posed.
“We expect to see good progress in the last quarter of 2020 based on growth strategies we have adopted to accelerate momentum ahead of the full reopening,” he said.
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From the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dubai’s prerogative has included mass testing and conducting immediate research to tackle the virus.
Now, under the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, a new medical research centre has opened in Dubai which will not only study COVID-19, but also other communicable diseases.

His Highness toured the new Dhs300 million centre on Tuesday, August 11, which will aim to study an array of diseases including diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, obesity and more.
In a statement issued by Dubai Media Office, Sheikh Mohammed stressed how medical research is of the utmost importance, particularly now.

.@HHShkMohd: We have launched the Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Medical Research at a total value of AED 300 million. The Centre will focus on research on communicable diseases in the country, in addition to research on COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/vh3VfPUWiZ
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) August 11, 2020

“Medical research is an important part of our society’s health security system and a guarantee for the sustainable development of our country,” he said. “It also brings the revival and resumption of Arab scientific excellence seen throughout our Arab history.”

.@HHShkMohd: Medical research is an important part of our society’s health security system and a guarantee for the sustainable development of our country. It also brings the revival and resumption of Arab scientific excellence seen throughout our Arab history. pic.twitter.com/snBYWobYgz
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) August 11, 2020

Just last month it was announced by UAE authorities that research was being conducted for two potential vaccines for COVID-19 to be developed. Per Gulf News, human trials are reportedly set to be conducted.
“We have more than 15,000 volunteers to conduct trials, and the best scientific standards for medical studies will be followed and guaranteed,” Abdul Rahman Al Owais, Minister of Health and Community Protection stated during the briefing. “If the safety and efficacy of the vaccine are proven during this phase, the test will be considered successful.”
If either strain of the vaccines tested in the UAE are proven to be both safe and effective in combatting COVID-19, they would move to manufacture them.
To date, the UAE has had 62,704 confirmed cases of COVID-19 – 56,766 of those have recovered and there have been 357 deaths.

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Feature Image: Dubai Media Office Twitter More

If you were worried about your visit visa, we have some good news. The Federal Authority of Identity and Citizenship in the UAE announced that all permits that expired after March 1 will get an additional one-month extension.
The extended grace period was confirmed yesterday, the original deadline for UAE visit permit holders.

“The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship extends the grace period for holders of expiring entry permits, starting from 11 / 8 / 2020 for a period of one month, with the aim of enabling them to leave the country with exemption from all fines during this period,” reads the Tweet.

“الهيئة الاتحادية للهوية والجنسية” تمدد مهلة حاملي أذونات الدخول للدولة المنتهية اعتباراً من 11 / 8 / 2020 ولمدة شهر، بهدف تمكينهم من المغادرة مع الإعفاء من كافة الغرامات المترتبة خلال هذه الفترة. #وام pic.twitter.com/RHPvpiFarm
— وكالة أنباء الإمارات (@wamnews) August 10, 2020

If your visit visa expired before March 1, you are still required to leave by August 18 to avoid overstay fines which are Dh200 for the first day and then Dh100 for subsequent days.
At the end of March, it was announced that residency visas that expired from March 1 will be automatically renewed for three months for free, the same goes for Emirates IDs that expired from March 1.
The three-month extension also applies to government services – including documents, permits, licenses and commercial registers.
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