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While life in the UAE has gone back to some resemblance of normal over the past month amidst the pandemic, we are not totally out of the woods.

In a recent media briefing, the UAE government urged the public to act responsibly following a spike in COVID-19 cases.
Per state news agency WAM, official government spokesperson Dr Omar Al Hammadi highlighted how photos had emerged on social media of gatherings taking place in hotels where members of the public did not comply with social distancing measures.
He noted that cases have increased by 10 per cent since the beginning of the month, but the death rates have stayed low at 0.5 per cent of the total cases.
While Dr Al Hammadi noted the UAE was “on the right track” in tackling the pandemic, he highlighted the need for all citizens and residents to vigilantly follow health and safety guidelines in order to keep the pandemic at bay.
To date, there have been 68,020 confirmed cases in the UAE – 59,070 have recovered and there have been 378 deaths.

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As children begin to head back to school and the university year is set to start for many students, it’s a sign that summer is starting to come to an end.
For anyone that lives in the UAE, this is a welcome sign as the sweltering heat begins to subside, and this rings true in the predicted weather forecast for the upcoming weekend.

Some may have noticed the humidity has declined with temperatures feeling slightly cooler and it appears this is set to continue.
According to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCMS), temperatures are expected to drop from the low 40-degrees celsius to the high 30s.

On Thursday, temperatures are set to be around 41 degrees Celsius, with light winds followed by the humidity peaking overnight into Friday morning.
To start the weekend on Friday, temperatures will be cooler around 39 degrees celsius. Similar temperatures can be expected on Saturday along with some winds.
Then, to begin the new work week on Sunday, the cooler temperatures will continue.
All we can say is, bring on Dubai winter… (However, for the time being, we’ll be enjoying the many pool day deals that are on offer to be able to cool off in style.)
– For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram.
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Over the past few weeks, Saudi Arabia has made many history-making appointments with women taking on roles they never have before in the Kingdom.
Another historical appointment has been made with the announcement from the Saudi Foreign Ministry that Ahlam Bint Abdulrahman Yanksar would take on the role of director-general of the ministry’s department of cultural affairs.

This makes her the first female figure to hold such a senior post in the Kingdom, per Gulf News.
Having obtained a master’s degree in international business administration from the University of London, Ahlam has had a successful career working in both the Ministry’s undersecretary for political and economic affairs. She has also worked in the Saudi embassy in London, where she studied, in the economic and cultural section.

Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia’s General Presidency for the Affairs appointed 10 women into senior roles at the Two Holy Mosques.
These latest appointments are just a few 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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While it’s been a standstill year for many in terms of staying in one place and working from home, there couldn’t have been more changes that have gone on in our everyday lives.
This particularly rings true when it comes to the rules and regulations surrounding COVID-19.

However, the Dubai government is making it easy for UAE citizens and residents to keep up-to-date on changes taking place with a new service that’s been launched by The Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO).
Members of the public are now able to ask questions they have directly to government officials via social media under the new initiative entitled #AskDXBOfficial.

As part of the new #AskDXBOfficial initiative launched by @DXBMediaOffice, you can use the hashtag #AskDXBOfficial to address your questions to Dr. Abdulla Al Karam, chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of the Knowledge & Human Development Authority (@KHDA). pic.twitter.com/BPFH2zmCt7
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) August 24, 2020

“The initiative is part of GDMO’s objective of creating platforms that allow the community to clarify issues and concerns with government officials,” a statement from Dubai Media Office says.
In the first instalment of the initiative, questions surrounding immigration, travel procedures and COVID-19 protocols were answered by Major General Mohammed Al Marri, the Director-General of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).
He took the opportunity to further clarify the current rules in place for UAE residents returning to Dubai. He said that “all residents holding a valid resident visa are allowed to return to Dubai. Once they receive a return permit from GDRFA-Dubai and obtain a negative PCR test result, they can return to Dubai through any UAE airport.”
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Travel restrictions on entering the emirate of Abu Dhabi have been in place since June.
In the latest update from the Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee, it has been announced that to enter the UAE capital a negative COVID-19 test completed via a PCR nasal-swab test is required.

Previously UAE citizens and residents were permitted with a negative rapid DPI laser test, but this is no longer the case.
Per the Abu Dhabi Media Office official Twitter page, “Entry will be allowed within 48 hrs of receiving a negative PCR test result, or with a negative DPI laser test result accompanied by a negative PCR test result received within 6 days. The Committee states that the same type of test cannot be taken twice in a row within six days.”

The Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee, in cooperation with @DoHSocial, approves two tests to enter the emirate effective 27 August 2020, enhancing precautionary measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/TclavviPUi
— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@admediaoffice) August 25, 2020

However, there are exemptions for this. It was confirmed that those who volunteered to take part in the COVID-19 vaccine trials would be “exempt from these entry measures and are authorised to use emergency vehicle lanes for a smooth journey”.

Volunteers in the COVID-19 vaccine trials are exempt from these entry measures and are authorised to use emergency vehicle lanes for a smooth journey. Meanwhile, violating these procedures will result in penalties and fines as outlined by the Attorney General.
— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@admediaoffice) August 25, 2020

As of late, COVID-19 cases in the UAE have been on the rise and the question of overnight curfews making a comeback in some areas has been raised.
Last week, a spokesperson for the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) Saif Al Dhahri said: “The UAE might re-enforce the national sterilization program, which had included a night-time curfew. This would be possible in certain areas where we observe high infection cases.”
According to health officials across the country, the number of coronavirus cases have been on a steady decline since July 9, but the recent surge has been a concern.
On August 18 Dr Omar Al Hammadi, the UAE government spokesperson, said the average number of cases had increased by 136.
“The UAE government has done a commendable job with more than six million tests, which is more than 50 per cent of the total population,” Dr Adel Al Sisi, the Chief Medical Officer, Consultant of ICU and Chair of Intensive Care at Prime Hospital, told Gulf News. “The higher the tests, the more are the possibilities of detecting asymptomatic cases in the community. That is why we see a surge. However, there is cause for alarm when we see a rise in number of cases.”
To date, the total number of cases in the UAE stands at 67,621 – with 58,754 recoveries and 377 deaths.
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It’s official: this year’s Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has been confirmed after months of speculation.

However, it will be a very different experience than many fans are used to.
While the closing date has been set for the annual motorsport race on December 13, the atmosphere will be very different as this year it will take place without spectators.
The event will take place in a “bio-sphere”, which will create a safe-zone for all F1 staff, drivers and teams, sans the hoards of fans the F1 normally sees.
Speaking on the confirmation of the event, Chase Carey, CEO of the Formula One Group said: “We are delighted that we will be upholding our traditional end of season race with our valued and special partners at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.”
“While this season has been challenging for everyone, we can think of no better place to bring the 2020 season to an end and look forward to completing our seventeen-race calendar,” he added.
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As many pupils prepare to return to school, a “new normal” awaits them amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
While online learning was the norm from mid-March onwards due to the pandemic, many students in the UAE will return to in-class learning with a hybrid of e-learning.

Ahead of the school year officially beginning, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai wished pupils a “safe start” to the academic year.
“I heard from the Minister of Education about the latest preparations for the start of the next academic year,” His Highness wrote to his 10.3 million Twitter followers.

اطلعت من وزراء التربية والتعليم على آخر الاستعدادات لانطلاق العام الدراسي القادم .. نتطلع لانطلاقة آمنة ووفق أفضل معايير السلامة لأكثر من مليون طالب وطالبة ضمن منظومة التعليم في الإمارات .. pic.twitter.com/ERlcn7LIzB
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) August 25, 2020

“We look forward to a safe start and in accordance with the best safety standards for more than a million students within the education system in the Emirates.”
As pupils prepare to head back to school, there are regulations to be mindful of which differ from emirate to emirate.
It’s been clarified that pupils in Dubai do not need to get tested, but teachers are due to undergo COVID-19 tests this week.
“As we look forward to many students returning to school next week, we would like to confirm that Covid-19 PCR testing is not mandatory for students,” the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) said in a statement on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, in Abu Dhabi, students who are over 12 will need to be tested. However, under a staggered return plan high school students are not set to return to classrooms until the end of September. Like Dubai, all teachers in the UAE capital must be tested for COVID-19.
Across the UAE, it is mandatory for students to wear face masks throughout the school day.
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Now she’s no longer officially a royal, Meghan Markle is free to express political views, something you need to refrain from whilst a part of the British Royal Family.
The Duchess of Sussex recently took part in a virtual When All Women Vote #CouchParty, an event to celebrate the 100-year anniversary since women were legally allowed to vote in the USA.

The former royal encouraged people to vote and also admitted she hoped to see “change” happen come November when the US presidential election take place, however, she did not express any specific views.
“If we aren’t part of the solution, we are part of the problem,” she said.

Despite not expressing specific allegiance to a party, the 38-year-old received some backlash over the appearance with the likes of The Sun’s executive editor Dan Wootton and Piers Morgan stating it was inappropriate for Meghan to remain as a royal whilst discussing foreign elections.

The Queen must strip the Sussexes of their titles. They can’t remain as royals & spout off about foreign elections in such a brazenly partisan way. https://t.co/6uZ3FTbjHW
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) August 21, 2020

However, actress Jameela Jamil came to the defence of Meghan stating that the royal family should be embarrassed over the Prince Andrew scandal rather than “an American supporting women voting in her own country, and loosely referencing the importance of general democracy which is being threatened here currently”.
Further defending the former Suits star, Jamil replied to a fan’s question about the vitriol and hate the Duchess of Sussex receives.
“Because she’s not white,” she responded. “And because she’s smart, strong, opinionated, rebellious, beautiful, happy and has everything they never will. She’s a terrifying threat to patriarchy because she doesn’t fit the stereotype for women.”
The Duchess of Sussex is now residing in Los Angeles with husband Prince Harry and their son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor after stepping down from royal life earlier this year.
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