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Dubai isn’t just aiding the fight against coronavirus close to home, the emirate is also intent on helping around the global.
A new alliance has been launched in order to help distribute COVID-19 vaccines around the world.

Known as the ‘Dubai Vaccines Logistics Alliance’, which has been launched under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai, the new initiative aims to distribute two 2billion doses vaccines around the globe in 2021.
The initiative will be carried out in partnership with Emirates SkyCargo, Dubai Airports, DP World and IHC UAE.

Under the directives of @HHShkMohd, #Dubai forms Vaccine Logistics Alliance to expedite global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines through the emirate to developing countrieshttps://t.co/vlgdSBMsZK pic.twitter.com/dK3l0RXHhC
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) January 31, 2021

In a statement, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group, said, “Each alliance partner brings to the table a specific and complementary set of strengths and capabilities in vaccine distribution, allowing us to build a 360-degree solution that harnesses the combined logistical and infrastructural advantages of Dubai as a hub.
ALSO READ: The 3 COVID-19 vaccines that are currently available in the UAE
“Together, we are able to store a large volume of vaccine doses at a time and bring in and distribute vaccines to any point around the world within 48 hours.”
The UAE’s vaccine aim
Closer to home, with the national vaccination programme well underway in the UAE, the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) announced its intentions to vaccinate the whole population.
“The UAE is among the first countries in the world that aims to provide the vaccine to all of its population, as part of its efforts to achieve the immunity generated by vaccination, which will help reduce the cases number, control the virus & reduce its spread,” the authority said in a statement last week.
With the UAE’s vaccine administration rate being the second highest globally after Israel, the aim is to reduce the number of cases in the country by making it easily available to all the residents in order to achieve herd immunity as part of its efforts with the vaccines being provided, free of cost at the more than 205 centres across the country.
The three vaccines currently available in the UAE include Chinese Sinopharm, Pfizer-BioNTech and Russia’s Sputnik vaccines.
With the intent of providing vaccines for the whole population, the UAE aims to have 50 per cent of the population vaccinated by the end of March.

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For the first time ever, expats are now able to obtain UAE citizenship.
In an announcement made by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Prime Minister and Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, outlined the decision was made to “attract talents” to the country to contribute in the continued development of the UAE.

“We adopted law amendments that allow granting the UAE citizenship to investors, specialised talents & professionals including scientists, doctors, engineers, artists, authors and their families,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

We adopted law amendments that allow granting the UAE citizenship to investors, specialized talents & professionals including scientists, doctors, engineers, artists, authors and their families. The new directives aim to attract talents that contribute to our development journey.
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) January 30, 2021

“The new directives aim to attract talents that contribute to our development journey.
“The UAE cabinet, local Emiri courts & executive councils will nominate those eligible for the citizenship under clear criteria set for each category. The law allows receivers of the UAE passport to keep their existing citizenship.”

The UAE cabinet, local Emiri courts & executive councils will nominate those eligible for the citizenship under clear criteria set for each category. The law allows receivers of the UAE passport to keep their existing citizenship.
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) January 30, 2021

Who is eligible to apply?
It seems at the moment those who are eligible to apply for Emirati citizenship includes investors, doctors, specialists, inventors, scientists, talents, intellectuals and artists. The families of those individuals who are in the listed categories are also permitted to apply alongside them.
There are specific stipulations in each category outlining the requirements needed. For example, if you’re a doctor or specialist you need to have at least 10 years’ experience practising and have worked for a reputable organisation.
Meanwhile, for those who are artists and intellectuals, they must be pioneering individuals in their fields and have won an international award.
Other requirements are also relevant to each individual category.
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Queen Rania of Jordan has posted a heartfelt birthday message to King Abdullah II and their son Prince Hashem on their joint birthday.
Taking to Instagram, Her Majesty posted a few pictures of King Abdullah and Prince Hashem together and captioned the post saying, “It seems impossible to love you two more, but every day proves me wrong… twice! Happy birthday Your Majesty and my Prince Hashem.”

Queen Rania also did a second dedicated post to her husband of 27 years.
“I hope that each year brings you the same peace you radiate to the world,” she said. “Happy birthday, Your Majesty.”

Crown Prince Hussien of Jordan, King Abdullah and Queen Rania’s eldest son, also posted a sweet photo of himself hugging his father alongside a heartwarming message to mark the Jordanian monarch’s 59th birthday.
“I am blessed and grateful to have a father and a leader who has dedicated his life in service of his country and people, and who has spared no effort to safeguard this nation,” he said. “Happy birthday, Your Majesty.”

Abdullah II was born on January 30, 1962. After his father, King Hussein I, passed away Abdullah II became King of Jordan, on February 7, 1999. He has now been the constitutional monarch of the country for nearly 22 years.
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The United Kingdom has announced a ban on direct passenger flights from the United Arab Emirates.
The UAE was added to the country’s travel ban list on Thursday alongside Burundi and Rwanda due to rising COVID-19 cases.
UK adds UAE to travel ban list

As of today, January 29, all non-British or Irish passengers, excluding third-country nationals who have residence rights in the UK, will not be permitted entry to the UK if they have transited through the three above countries.
Meanwhile, those who are Irish and British citizens and third-country nationals with residence rights in the UK can enter the country but are required to self-isolate for 10 days at home.

“The decision to ban travel from these destinations follows the discovery of a new coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa, that may have spread to other countries, including the UAE, Burundi and Rwanda,” the UK government’s statement said.
Etihad and Emirates suspend flights
Dubai-based airline Emirates announced that all its UK flight routes to Birmingham, Glasgow, London and Manchester would be suspended from Friday.

UK flights update: Emirates passenger services between Dubai and all our UK points – Birmingham, Glasgow, London & Manchester have been suspended until further notice. For more info, please visit:https://t.co/Nt3dJcLgRD
— Emirates Support (@EmiratesSupport) January 29, 2021

Abu Dhabi-based airline Etihad has also suspended all flights to the UK.

All Etihad Airways flights to the UK are suspended until further notice in line with guidance from the UK government. For the latest updates on flights to the UK, visit https://t.co/Ioxc4flmEd pic.twitter.com/OP0p8wTdvo
— Etihad Airways (@etihad) January 29, 2021

How long will the travel ban last?
No date has been given as to how long this travel ban will last and Emirates and Etihad have suspended their UK flights “until further notice”.
Dubai updates travel regulations
It was announced on Wednesday evening by the Dubai Supreme Committee for Crisis and Disaster Management via the Dubai Media Office that new travel regulations would come into effect on Sunday, January 31.
Firstly, 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.
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January’s – ‘The Positivity Issue’ – Download Now
Sustainable practices and vegan product lines have enabled Kibsons to grow from strength to strength under the guidance of Halima Jumani, Director of Finance and Operations.
How does your morning routine set you up for success?
I love my sleep so much and can be a slow starter, but when I’m finally up, I’m ready for action.

Being passionate and dedicated to your mission is the key to staying positive and focused. Of course, it’s also about great time management skills to prioritize and achieve as many things as possible on the “to do” list. Ultimately, it’s about doing the right thing without compromising on ethics while trying to achieve your long-term goals, I believe integrity is a huge underlying element of success.

How has your role evolved at Kibsons over the last ten years?

In one word; organically. With my background at KPMG, I started my career in Kibsons as Head of Finance. After my MBA and a Six Sigma Certification at GE, I started managing and building the operations which worked well because leaner operational processes made the finance and numbers side look stronger. The next step was tech, working with a team of IT engineers to develop our new ERP systems purely with the intention of enhancing our operational processes along with developing our financial systems. Eventually, data-driven statistics led me to a corporate turnaround strategy and I soon became the founder and director of the Kibsons e-commerce division, which we all know as Kibsons home delivery.
What are the core values of Kibsons?
The core values are ethical, sustainable and responsible. After being born and raised in the heart of the fresh produce industry, Kibsons is truly passionate about ‘healthy eating’ while making it convenient and affordable for everyone.
Do you see any trends in ordering in terms of produce?
People are moving towards healthier, more organic and perhaps even more vegan choices than ever before. There is a growing trend of people being more cautious about the ingredients they bring home. For example, people want to understand and if possible, avoid the bad e-numbers when they select food items as part of the regular grocery shopping chores. There is a gradual yet steadily increasing demand for products with less sugar, low calories, low-fat content, low carbs, gluten-free, and even no additives and preservatives. At Kibsons, we are so pleased to be a part of these healthy lifestyle choices.
How do you approach scaling a business and client retention?
One step at a time – by truly understanding customer needs and expectation which is the first step. Then building the right infrastructure which is at the core of the business is so critical to protect those promises which we make to our customers. Once we have the right structure at the core, surrounded by the required skills and expertise that set us apart, that gives us the core competitive advantage. With the undying passion of a beautiful team, that not only dreams but also works hard to see those dreams come alive, we’ve got the fighting chance to aim and achieve the desired customer retention and ultimately customer loyalty.
Customer experience is paramount – how do you ensure this is consistently delivered to such a high standard?
We never take any business including customer orders for granted. Every online order is just as important to us as it was when we started the e-commerce segment four years ago. Every step in the process at Kibsons, whether its procurement, supply chain, operations or IT – is thoughtfully crafted and designed keeping the customer expectation and satisfaction in mind. Consumer empathy is key in how we set things up internally and how we practise honesty and transparency in all our forms of communication. It’s about developing a relationship with the customers so we can truly deliver peace of mind to all.

Which sources of positivity would you recommend?
It is important to recognize and appreciate the true hero’s in real life regardless of whether you find them in your own office, in your circle of family and friends or so many amazing SME’s in the city you live in. Personally, when I’m feeling low, I like to read Humans of Bombay, it’s a platform that shares some incredible stories of real-life survivors that make my problems look smaller and my blessings look bigger. That positive mind shift uplifts me and helps me move on with my mission to add positive value – however I can.
This is ‘The Positivity Issue’ – how do you stay positive?
A good night’s sleep solves the majority of my problems. My world is definitely more positive in the morning than at night. On the other hand, gratitude is one of the most powerful thoughts that keeps me positive. I am grateful that I have a family, and that they are beautiful, compassionate, healthy, happy and safe. It’s also not about blood family only, it’s the bigger family in spirit that has grown over the years, all around me, all over the planet – it’s all about perspective and how you choose to see things, isn’t it?
January’s – ‘The Positivity Issue’ – Download Now
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Amidst spiking coronavirus cases, Dubai has issued an announced regarding travel regulations for incoming passengers.
It was announced on Wednesday evening by the Dubai Supreme Committee for Crisis and Disaster Management via the Dubai Media Office that the new updates would come into effect on Sunday, January 31.

Firstly, 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 was also stated, “Arrivals from some countries (based on the COVID-19 situation there) may be required to undergo an additional test when landing in Dubai.”
For those who are departing Dubai, a rapid PCR or rapid antigen test will be available at the airport for passengers leaving the emirate.
On Wednesday the UAE reported 3,939 new COVID-19 cases, but recovery numbers well acceded that with a total 4,536 recoveries. To date, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the UAE is 289,086.
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If you’re an Abu Dhabi resident and you’re wanting to get away for a bit but aren’t keen on quarantining upon your return to the UAE, we have some good news for you.

Abu Dhabi residents can now enjoy quarantine-free travel to the Maldives.
The popular getaway spot has just been added to the UAE capital’s ‘green travel list’. The new guidelines for “green” countries were implemented in the UAE capital just before Christmas, stipulating that visitors from those identified countries will be allowed into Abu Dhabi with no quarantine time provided they have a negative COVID-19 PCR test result.
READ: How Abu Dhabi-based airline Etihad is ensuring safe travel for all in 2021
The complete ‘green list’
At present, there are 17 countries on the ‘green list’: Australia, Bahrain, Brunei, China, Falkland Islands, Greenland, Hong Kong (SAR), Maldives, Mauritius, Mongolia, New Zealand, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, St. Kitts and Nevis and Thailand.
In the current guidelines, it’s outlined that all tourists and travellers are required to take a PCR test “on day six of entry into Abu Dhabi for those staying for six consecutive days or more, and on day 12 for those staying for 12 consecutive days or more”.
For countries not on the green list, a period of self-isolation for 10 days is currently in place.
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Feature Image: Kuramathi Resort Maldives More

We’re all aware of the royal effect when it comes to fashion. Whether it’s Queen Rania, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge or Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, anything they wear instantly sells out.
The same goes for the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

During a public appearance on Sunday, the Crown Prince wore a gilet by UK-based brand Franck Namani.
According to Twitter, many flocked to the site to try and get their hands on the piece Mohammed bin Salman was wearing, but due to the super-exclusive nature of the site, many weren’t able to avail it.

However, per one Twitter user, the jacket, which costs Dhs24,000, has not sold out and the site has reportedly had to undergo maintenance due to high-demand.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s jacket, whose price is 24,000 Saudi riyals, has run out, and the site has been subject to maintenance due to pressure.حسابي مهتم بتعلم اللغه الانجليزية يسعدني متابعتك
— تعليم الانجليزية بأسهل العبارات (@English_Mshari) January 25, 2021

The Crown Prince had a similar effect two years ago when he was pictured wearing a piece by another British brand.
Attending the Formula E races in 2019, Mohammed bin Salman wore a Barbour jacket, which is very popular in the UK.
Almost instantly the Saudi royal was trending on social media with masses of people wanting to know details of the Crown Prince’s fashion choices.
As we said, the royal effect truly is a thing.
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