Dubai to resume business activities from May 27, cinemas, gyms to reopen

Business activities in Dubai will gradually reopen from Wednesday, May 27, with no restrictions on movement between 6am and 11pm.

The announcement was made on Monday by Dubai Crown Prince and chairman of the Executive Council Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Sheikh Hamdan said the decision was made following a “comprehensive assessment” of the reports prepared by Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, various health and socio-economic aspects and a thorough review of the Covid-19 situation.

Under the directives of @HHShkMohd, @HamdanMohammed announces the gradual reopening of business activities in #Dubai from Wednesday, 27 May. There will be no restrictions on movement between 6.00 am and 11.00 pm. pic.twitter.com/7ZeMKpyKUY

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) May 25, 2020

“International guidelines for co-existing with Covid-19 were also taken into consideration before making the decision,” a statement said.

Some of the businesses set to reopen include cinemas and gyms, as well as entertainment outlets such as the Dubai ice rink and Dolphinarium.

The new measures are aimed at adapting to the situation “without disrupting activity in vital sectors” while strictly observing precautionary measures including wearing of face masks, observing minimum physical distancing of two metres, use of sanitisers and regular hand-washing, the statement said.

“We are aware of the pressures many sectors are facing because of the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Sheikh Hamdan.

“The UAE society has high levels of resilience to any crises and challenges. We have been following the severe impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on countries around the world. What makes us different is our ability to deal positively with changes and our agility. We have all the elements necessary to adapt to these challenging circumstances. I am confident that all members of the society will come together to overcome this crisis as soon as possible,” he said.

To support sectors most affected by the pandemic, the Dubai government has also launched urgent economic measures including a Dhs1.5bn stimulus package introduced in March to ease the crisis’s financial impact on small and medium enterprises.

We understand the pressure experienced by numerous sectors due to the COVID-19 crisis, but the UAE community remains strong. We are able to positively adapt to the current changes, due to the flexibility that characterizes many of our sectors.

— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) May 25, 2020

The healthcare sector in Dubai is prepared to deal with any scenario in the upcoming period, the statement said.

The emirate has enhanced its hospital capacity and set up a fully equipped field hospital in Dubai World Trade Centre, which can accommodate up to 3,000 beds. A 29,000 square metre field hospital at Dubai Parks and Resorts set up by the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) can also accommodate up to 1,200 patients.

Dubai has also deployed equipment to support medical staff in conducting widespread tests. These have included tests for critical segments like people of determination and the elderly.

The emirate has also increased the monitoring of various entities to ensure compliance with precautionary measures and imposed fines on individuals and entities violating guidelines.

Sheikh Hamdan stressed on the need for Dubai authorities to further raise community awareness about safety measures.

Fully adhering to guidelines is key to restoring normal life, he added.