Dubai’s non-oil economy edges up in February on rapid vaccination campaign


Fareed Rahman
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Dubai’s non-oil private sector economy grew in February as the emirate's rapid Covid-19 vaccine campaign fuelled optimism and boosted employment and output.

The seasonally adjusted IHS Markit Dubai Purchasing Managers' Index rose from 50.6 in January to 50.9 in February as operating conditions improved for the third consecutive month.

A reading above 50 indicates economic expansion while one below that points to a contraction.

There was output growth for key sectors such as construction, wholesale and retail, according to the survey.

However, travel and tourism bucked the trend with a further decline in activity as a result of coronavirus-induced restrictions.

IHS Markit economist David Owen said companies' hopes for growth in business activity over the coming 12 months received a boost from the successful distribution of Covid-19 vaccines in the emirate and around the UAE.

“However, the near-term outlook could be choppy as cases remain high and other parts of the world continue to restrict activity and travel,” he said.

The third successive monthly improvement in the business conditions was helped by the UAE's continued roll out of vaccines to control the spread of the pandemic.

More than 312 million vaccines have been administered in 116 countries at a daily rate of 8.08 million doses, according to Bloomberg's vaccine tracker.

The UAE was in third place after the Seychelles and Israel on Monday, with a daily rate of 58.5 doses administered for every 100 people.

Dubai, the commercial and the tourism hub of the Middle East, unveiled four stimulus packages worth Dh6.8 billion ($1.85bn) to soften the economic blow of the pandemic and support businesses and people.

The emirate's economy is forecast to expand 4 per cent in 2021 driven by its effective response to Covid-19, according to government projections released in December.

The latest PMI survey showed that sales in the non-oil sector fell for the first time since May as the government introduced new restrictions to control the pandemic.

However, the trend was softer compared with when the health crisis began last year.

Despite weaker sales, Dubai companies remain optimistic that the disruption will be temporary and expect the emirate's vaccine campaign to drive a sharp rebound in output later in the year.

Employment numbers picked up for the second consecutive month as the emirate’s economy continued to recover from the pandemic.

Dubai residents receive vaccine – in pictures

  • A Dubai ambulance worker is vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine in Dubai.
    A Dubai ambulance worker is vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine in Dubai.
  • An older resident receives her first shot at Zabeel Health Centre on December 27, 2020.
    An older resident receives her first shot at Zabeel Health Centre on December 27, 2020.
  • The vaccine is expected to be rolled out to all age groups once people in the essential categories have been vaccinated.
    The vaccine is expected to be rolled out to all age groups once people in the essential categories have been vaccinated.
  • A nurse holds a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which was approved for use by Dubai's emergency and crisis authority and the federal Ministry of Health.
    A nurse holds a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which was approved for use by Dubai's emergency and crisis authority and the federal Ministry of Health.
  • An employee from Roads and Transport Authority receives a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in Dubai.
    An employee from Roads and Transport Authority receives a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in Dubai.
  • A woman receives a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at Zabeel Health Centre in Dubai on 27 December, 2020.
    A woman receives a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at Zabeel Health Centre in Dubai on 27 December, 2020.
  • The city has six vaccine centres where the Pfizer-BioNTech shot is available.
    The city has six vaccine centres where the Pfizer-BioNTech shot is available.
  • A man waits to receive the first of two doses at Zabeel Health Centre in Dubai on 27 December, 2020.
    A man waits to receive the first of two doses at Zabeel Health Centre in Dubai on 27 December, 2020.
  • A nurse opens a freezer at Barsha Health Centre. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine must be kept at minus 70C when transported.
    A nurse opens a freezer at Barsha Health Centre. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine must be kept at minus 70C when transported.
  • A nurse opens a freezer at Barsha Health Centre. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine must be kept at minus 70C when transported.
    A nurse opens a freezer at Barsha Health Centre. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine must be kept at minus 70C when transported.
  • A vial of the vaccine is seen at Barsha Health Centre. AFP
    A vial of the vaccine is seen at Barsha Health Centre. AFP
  • A nurse prepares a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at al-Barsha Health Centre in Dubai. AFP
    A nurse prepares a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at al-Barsha Health Centre in Dubai. AFP
How to report a beggar

Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)

Dubai – Call 800243

Sharjah – Call 065632222

Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372

Ajman – Call 067401616

Umm Al Quwain – Call 999

Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411

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The specs

Price, base / as tested Dh1,100,000 (est)

Engine 5.2-litre V10

Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch

Power 630bhp @ 8,000rpm

Torque 600Nm @ 6,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined 15.7L / 100km (est) 

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Soldier F

“I was in complete disgust at the fact that only one person was to be charged for Bloody Sunday.

“Somebody later said to me, 'you just watch - they'll drop the charge against him'. And sure enough, the charges against Soldier F would go on to be dropped.

“It's pretty hard to think that 50 years on, the State is still covering up for what happened on Bloody Sunday.”

Jimmy Duddy, nephew of John Johnson

The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable
Amitav Ghosh, University of Chicago Press

Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

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