#News

Saudi Arabia

Covid-19: Saudi Arabia bans entry from 20 countries including UAE, UK and India

The temporary entry ban will go into effect from Wednesday, February 3, at 9pm

Central Bank of UAE

UAE’s Central Bank appoints Khaled Al Tameemi as Vice Governor

Al Tameemi has over 30 years of experience in various entities including being a board member in the Central Bank

BMW EGA CelestiAL aluminium

BMW Group becomes first customer for UAE’s solar-powered CelestiAL aluminium

Using this aluminium from EGA will reduce BMW Group’s emissions by 222,000 tonnes of CO2 per year

Eitan Na’eh, head of mission at the newly established Israeli embassy in Abu Dhabi

Israel wants to build land corridor with UAE for movement of goods

Israel is looking into the potential of trailers and lorries carrying goods from the UAE reaching Israel in three days, and vice versa

Dubai Financial market

Private utilities company Utico plans Dhs3bn listing on Dubai market in 2021

Utico is the UAE’s only private water and power company

Emirates to operate flights from UK to Dubai for stranded UAE citizens and residents

The UK banned all direct passenger flights to and from the UAE starting January 29

Oman extends closure of international land borders until February 8

As a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus, Oman’s land borders will remain closed until 6pm on February 8

Dubai Police

Dubai Police urges public to report violations of Covid-19 protocols

The public can establish contact either via its call centre at 901 or by using the Police Eye service

Covid-19

Dubai announces two dedicated Covid-19 treatment facilities

Al Khawaneej and Al Badaa health centres will be set aside exclusively for the treatment of Covid-19 patients

Dubai Vaccines Logistics Alliance

Dubai launches logistics alliance to distribute 2 billion Covid-19 vaccine shots in 2021

Members of the alliance include Emirates airline, DP World, Dubai Airports, and the International Humanitarian City, which will partner on the World Health Organisation’s COVAX initiative

Kuwait Oxford-AstraZeneca

Kuwait authorises emergency use of Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine

The first batch of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines are expected to arrive in the country within the next few days

SAUDI-HEALTH-VIRUS-TRAVEL

Saudi extends border closures, travel ban for citizens until May

The extension from the scheduled date of March 31 is due to vaccine delivery delays, officials said

Abu Dhabi UAE

Covid-19: Abu Dhabi updates testing rules for entry from within the UAE

A DPI test can no longer be used on two consecutive occasions to enter Abu Dhabi

Covid-19: Dubai’s DHA to commence administering Sinopharm vaccine

The vaccinations will be administered, starting January 31, 2021

UAE Dubai UK

Covid-19: UK indefinitely bans all passenger flights from UAE starting January 29

All non-British or Irish passengers, excluding third-country nationals who have residence rights in the UK, who have been in or transited through the UAE, Burundi and Rwanda in the last 10 days will no longer be granted entry to the UK

Emirates Skywards flydubai

Dubai carriers Emirates, flydubai offer free extension of Miles, Tier status

The validity of any Skywards Miles due to expire since April 2020 has been extended until June 30, 2021

UAE Covid-19 field hospital

UAE to open new field hospital in Sharjah for Covid-19 emergencies – reports

The field hospital will be set up in Sharjah’s Al Zahia area and is expected to be ready within a month

Dubai Covid-19

Dubai: By-appointment only visits to all private healthcare facilities

All staff and visitors must continue to wear masks at all times and strictly comply with physical distancing guidelines

Dubai airport

Covid-19: Dubai updates travel protocols for all inbound passengers

The validity period for PCR tests has been reduced from 96 hours to 72 hours

Bahrain

Covid-19: Bahrain shuts all schools, closes dine-in services at restaurants

All public and private schools, universities and kindergartens in the country will move to remote learning for three weeks

Noon Facility at EZDubai

Noon opens new customer fulfilment facility in EZDubai freezone

It has become the first e-commerce company to begin operating from EZDubai

UAE Covid-19

Covid-19: UAE denies inaccurate reporting of data, adds that vaccination may be required every year

On Tuesday, the UAE reported a total of 3,601 new infections, its highest ever daily rise

Two loud booms heard in Saudi capital Riyadh – witnesses

The kingdom had intercepted a hostile air target aimed at the city on Saturday

Abu Dhabi modifies ‘green list’ destinations, adds Australia and removes Kuwait

Passengers arriving from the green list are exempt from mandatory quarantine measures

Abu Dhabi updates entry procedures for truck drivers and vehicles transporting goods

Vaccinated drivers will be offered free PCR tests every seven days

Eggs UAE Uk Netherlands

UAE bans import of eggs, live birds from UK and Netherlands

The announcement was made by the UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment on Monday afternoon

Flydubai Dubai Europe

Flydubai adds four new flights to Europe; first UAE carrier to begin direct service between Dubai-Salzburg

Flydubai will have expanded the number of destinations it flies to from Dubai to over 65, of which 20 are located in Europe

US, UK condemn air attack on Riyadh which ‘targeted civilians’

Saudi Arabia said it had “intercepted and destroyed a hostile air target going towards Riyadh” on Saturday

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

UAE residency: Foreign students can now sponsor families

Foreign students in the UAE will now be permitted to sponsor their families, provided they have the financial means to do so

cryptocurrency

Central Bank of Bahrain licences Sharia-compliant cryptocurrency exchange CoinMENA

At launch, CoinMENA’s platform will be available to residents of Bahrain, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman