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As this year marks 50 years since the unification of the emirates, the leaders of the UAE are in the midst of paving the way for the next half a century.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, are currently leading a government retreat to discuss and layout plans for the future success of the country.

Per WAM, the UAE’s state news agency, discussing their meeting publicly, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed showcased his unwavering support for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, stating the country and its people will preserve the Dubai Ruler’s goal to remain “number one”.
The Crown Prince of Dubai also reflected on the “solid foundation” the founding leaders of the country, Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid, laid for the UAE.

سعدت بحضور ” خلوة عام الخمسين ” مع أخي محمد بن راشد .. خلوة وزارية تاريخية تضع الخطوط العريضة لمستقبل أفضل وأرقى لمسيرة الخير، ثروتنا الحقيقية هي الإنسان المؤهل والقادر على الإبداع وخلق الأفكار الجديدة، واقتصاد تنافسي متنوع واستثمار أمثل لمواردنا وقدراتنا pic.twitter.com/21T8oZa6iE
— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) February 24, 2021

“The UAE has reached where it is today, thanks to the values of tolerance and coexistence that the founding leaders Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid established from the beginning of our journey,” he said. “The last 50 years were filled with prosperity, development and success, and we will need to move at a greater speed to meet our growing ambitions for the next 50 years.
“Our government teams in the next phase will only welcome people who will exert 10 times more efforts and energy to achieve greater successes. Our vision is to make the UAE an attractive destination for talents, ideas and investment.
“We will preserve Mohammed bin Rashid’s principle of always being number one.”

ترأست وأخي محمد بن زايد خلوة الخمسين … اعتمدنا دورة جديدة للأجندة الوطنية .. ومشاريع استراتيجية تمثل بعض تطلعاتنا للخمسين القادمة ..بدأنا الخمسين السابقة من صحراء سيح السديرة .. ونبدأ الخمسين الجديدة من صحراء المريخ .. pic.twitter.com/ZvIyvqjkhF
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) February 24, 2021

Sheikh Mohammed also returned the public statement of support for his “brother” Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, outlining that following the success of the Mars Hope Probe that the dreams for the UAE “will be even bigger for the next 50 years”.
“We have reached this far because the impossible does not exist in the UAE,” he added. “We have the scientific, educational and economic resources to take the UAE to new frontiers in the next 50 years, and we have Mohamed bin Zayed to lead this journey.”
Here’s to the next 50 years of the UAE…
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UAE authorities have clarified the rules for isolation and quarantine for COVID-19 patients.
The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) published a video to their official Twitter page outlining the guidelines for asymptomatic COVID-19 patients, mild COVID-19 patients and severe COVID-19 patients.
Asymptomatic patients

For those who have tested positive for COVID-19, but have remained asymptomatic throughout their mandatory 10-day quarantine period can be released from isolation automatically.
Patients showcasing mild and moderate symptoms
Patients with mild or moderate COVID-19 symptoms can leave isolation if it’s been at least 10 days since their symptoms first appeared and at least 24 to 48 hours since they last have had a fever without the use of medication.

Interim Guidance for Discharge/Deisolation of #COVID19 Patients and Quarantine of Close Contacts.#TogetherWeRecover pic.twitter.com/yXMvUcImTa
— NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) February 23, 2021

Patients with severe symptoms
Those who are severely immunocompromised or are hospitalised must follow the following guidelines to be discharged:
It must have been at least 10 days and up to 20 days since the date of their symptom onset.
Two consecutive negative PCR tests are required with specimens tested 24 hours apart.
At least 24 to 48 hours since the patient’s last fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.
The patient has improved and has minimal respiratory symptoms.
Close contacts
The NCEMA also clarified the definition of close contacts of COVID-19 in the UAE.
Those who have been exposed to someone with the virus two days before the onset of illness and/or the date of the positive swab to 14 days after:
Being within a two mere radius of a COVID-19 case for 15 minutes or more.
Direct physical contact with a COVID-19 case.
Providing direct care for COVID-19 patients without full PPE.
Living in the same household as a patient.
To date, there have been a total of 378,637 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the UAE – 8,256 cases are currently active.
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Following a mother’s plea for help for her sick child, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai, has pledged to cover the entirety of the little one’s hospital bill.
Massar Mundhar detailed in a video that her 18-month-old daughter, Laveen, is suffering from a degenerative disease giving her mere months to live if she didn’t receive urgent treatment.

The little girl was diagnosed with type 2 spinal muscle atrophy which leads to the motor neuron nerve cells in the brain which enable the body to speak, walk, breathe, talk and more.
Mundar and her daughter are from Iraq and they were told to come to Dubai’s Al Jalila hospital for the costly treatment, which is essential for the toddler to receive to improve her life expectancy and quality of life.

“To the honourable, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, my child and I urgently seek your generosity,” Mundar says in the video, which was reshared on the UAE BARQ Instagram page.

“My daughter has a very rare disease that has incapacitated her. Since our country does not have the required expertise and treatment, we were told to take her to Dubai’s Al Jalila Hospital.”
However, due to the rare nature of Laveen’s disease and the new treatment, the cost was too much for them to be able to afford.
“However, we cannot afford the cost of her treatment and time is running out as this disease can be best treated if the child is under two years of age.”
The mother pled to His Highness to “show the compassion and mercy the UAE is known for”.
The video went viral on social media and it was eventually seen by the Dubai Ruler. Per the Khaleej Times, Mundar and her husband were told by doctors at Al Jalila Hosptial that His Highness had agreed to cover Laveen’s medical costs.
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His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minsiter of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is no stranger to sharing inspirational messages.
The one he recently shared is perhaps the most pivotal message His Highness has shared of late.

Posting a picturesque video to his 10 million Twitter followers, Sheikh Mohammed has showcased the growth the UAE has experienced in the last 50 years, especially as the country celebrates its Golden Jubilee this year.

أترأس غداً وأخي الشيخ محمد بن زايد خلوة وزارية .. نناقش خلالها أولويات الدولة للخمسين عاماً القادمة .. شكل حكومتنا .. وكيفية تسريع مسيرتنا التنموية.. وتحسين بيئة الأعمال والاقتصاد في بلادنا لتحقيق قفزات تنافسية جديدة .. المستقبل ملك لمن يتخيله ويصممه وينفذه .. pic.twitter.com/ojWPp10BDy
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) February 22, 2021

For the UAE’s next phase of growth in the upcoming 50 years, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces will discuss ideas for growth, as part of the next development phase in the country along with other members of the UAE Cabinet at a retreat.
Not only does 2021 mark half a century since the founding of the nation, it also marks the paving of the way for the next 50 years of the country, which will be discussed at the retreat.
Sheikh Mohammed said, “We want to accelerate our journey of development and improve the business environment. The future belongs to people that can imagine, design and implements it.”

He added, “The retreat aims to draft a series of plans and initiatives for harnessing our energies and preparing our institutions for what the UAE will be like in the next fifty years. The future requires proactive plans, innovative initiatives and new skills, to maintain our leadership and success and provide better lives for generations to come in the country.”
Together, the committee will prepare for the UAE’s Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2021, while overseeing the next course of action for the next phase in the UAE’s success.
The government retreat plans to harness the upcoming development over the next 50 years with the growing quality of life as it designs new action models and plans to ensure the UAE always stays on top with its noteworthy initiatives.
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You no longer need a passport to travel through Dubai Airport… sort of.
As the emirate continues to champion development in technology, a new smart travel system has launched.

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) announced the launch of a new system which uses face-track technology to identify travellers without the need to look at their passports.
The new system is set to be a “fast-track passport control service that uses face and iris-recognition technologies enabling registered passengers to complete passport control procedures in around five seconds”.

#الإمارات_تبتكر #UAE_Innovates pic.twitter.com/vOZCno0OKQ
— Dubai Airports (@DubaiAirports) February 22, 2021

This means your next airport experience could be completely contactless.
Upon your arrival at the airport, when you’re issued with your boarding pass you’ll have “smart tunnel” printed on it, which gives you access to the smart tunnels around the airport.
In order to be eligible for completely contactless travel in Dubai Airport, you’ll need to pre-register your passport and the use of contactless travel will be valid until your passport expires.
As of now, 122 smart gates are now in use at arrival and departure terminals in Dubai airports.
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Since Dubai officially reopened its borders in July last year, residents of the emirate have been required to apply for approval to re-enter the country via the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).

However, Emirates Airline has confirmed to its passengers this is no longer needed via a text message update. The Dubai-based airline also updated its guidelines for residents travelling to Dubai, removing the GDRFA requirement from its key information.
Previously, passengers needed to fill out a form online on the GDRFA website where visa, passport and Emirates ID details needed to be provided. This is something that was implemented following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Current travel requirements for Dubai
At the end of January, it was announced that all UAE citizens must do a COVID-19 PCR test upon arrival in Dubai no matter which country they have travelled from.
Meanwhile, all UAE residents, GCC citizens and visitors will now be required to undergo a pre-travel COVID-19 PCR test regardless of where they are travelling from and the validity time of tests is now 72 hours, reduced from 96 hours.
It should be noted that a PCR test is required and you need to have a printed verification in English or Arabic – SMS or digital versions will not be accepted.
For other requirements visit the Emirates website to stay up-to-date.
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The thick fog which has engulfed the UAE for around four weeks may have only just lifted, but it seems rain is on the way to take its place.

It was reported that some cloud-seeding had taken place on Sunday, February 21 prompting some light showers around the country in Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm Al Qwain.
While Monday, February 22, is set to be mostly cloudy and overcast, the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has reported we can expect rain on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and even over the weekend.
This comes as the UAE enters into its last month of official winter.
Come March 20, spring will have officially arrived and we can expect temperatures to increase, with the days of sitting outside numbered.
So, in order to make the most of the cooler weather while it’s still here, enjoy the sunset at some of these amazing outdoor Dubai restaurants.
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As the UAE heads towards reaching its goal of vaccinating 50 per cent of the population by the end of March, active COVID-19 cases have hit a new low, which is a major win for the country.
The latest numbers which were published by WAM from the Ministry of Health stated that 165,357 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in the last 24 hours, which had resulted in 3,158 new cases being identified. Fifteen new deaths were also recorded.

However, there were also 4,298 recoveries bringing the active cases to a new low of 11,054.
UAE’s vaccination program
It was announced last week that the UAE had reached the milestone of administering over five million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

This milestone in the vaccination process bodes well for the nation’s aim to vaccinate half of the population by the end of March and also showcases the UAE as one of the leaders in the world in vaccination rates.
At present, there are four COVID-19 vaccinations being administered in the UAE.
READ: The 4 COVID-19 vaccines that are currently available in the UAE
The first vaccine to be approved in the UAE was the Sinophram vaccine, followed by the Pfizer vaccine being permitted in Dubai towards the end of last year.
In January, Russia’s Sputnik V was approved for emergency use. And now, just recently, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has been approved in Dubai.
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