In pictures: Dubai’s roads empty as disinfection campaign begins

Roads across Dubai lay empty on Thursday night as the UAE began a country-wide sterilisation programme to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

The UAE announced on Thursday that it would be carrying out a ‘National Disinfection Programme‘ to clean all public utilities, public transport and metro services.

The programme, which commenced at 8pm on March 26 and will conclude at 6am on March 29, also extends to public and private facilities and streets.

Movement of traffic and people has been restricted while public transportation will be suspended between 8pm-6am from March 26 – March 29.

Roads across Dubai emptied out on Thursday night as Dubai Police patrolled the streets and Dubai Municipality started carrying out the disinfection programme.

I’ve been living in my apartment for two years, first time I see these roads calm and completely deserted- #dubai pic.twitter.com/OJRtVr4dB9

— Mohamad Ali Harissi (@aleeharissi) March 23, 2020

Roads also remained deserted on Friday morning.

The health ministry also encouraged the public to stay indoors during the disinfection period and avoid stepping out unless absolutely necessary to get essential supplies, such as food and medicine, or if working in vital sectors, including energy, telecommunications, health, education, security, law enforcement, military, postal service, shipping and logistics, medicines, water, food, civil aviation, airports, passports, banking and financial services, government media and the service sectors, including petrol stations and construction.

The workers’ personal or work identity will be checked and verified.

Pharmacies, and food retail outlets in the UAE, including cooperative societies, grocery stores, and supermarkets, will be allowed to operate 24 hours.

Read more: Update: UAE residents ordered to stay home during the disinfection programme this weekend

The UAE has so far reported 333 cases of Covid-19, including two deaths.