• People wait to get vaccinated at Barsha Hall in Barsha, a suburb of Dubai.
    People wait to get vaccinated at Barsha Hall in Barsha, a suburb of Dubai.
  • Irum Fatima Tapal gets vaccinated against Covid-19 at Barsha Hall in Dubai
    Irum Fatima Tapal gets vaccinated against Covid-19 at Barsha Hall in Dubai
  • Lateef Painat receives the Pfizer BioNTech shot
    Lateef Painat receives the Pfizer BioNTech shot
  • It was a busy first week at Barsha Hall, where 4,000 people can be vaccinated in a day
    It was a busy first week at Barsha Hall, where 4,000 people can be vaccinated in a day
  • Barsha Hall has 20 check-in counters, 50 vaccination booths and five observation rooms
    Barsha Hall has 20 check-in counters, 50 vaccination booths and five observation rooms
  • About 80 healthcare staff work at the site
    About 80 healthcare staff work at the site
  • Lateef Painat, a Dubai resident, gets ready to be vaccinated at the newly opened Barsha Hall
    Lateef Painat, a Dubai resident, gets ready to be vaccinated at the newly opened Barsha Hall

UAE sets new Covid-19 rules for visitors to government buildings


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Follow the latest updates on the Covid-19 pandemic here

Visitors to government buildings across the country will, from August 1, have to present a negative PCR test received within 48 hours or be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to be allowed entry, authorities have said.

The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources said on Thursday the directive would cover the headquarters of ministries and federal bodies, as well as their customer service centres.

The ruling is in line with efforts to safeguard public health amid the pandemic.

"As of Sunday, August 1, customers, visitors, employees of outsourcing or service companies, or any person other than employees of the entity will not be allowed to enter the headquarters of ministries, federal entities and their customer service centres," the authority said.

Those who present a negative PCR test or have received both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine will be exempt from the safety measures, as will those under the age of 16.

Authorities are stepping up efforts to limit the spread of the virus by encouraging people to get vaccinated.

From August 20, only those who have had both doses of a vaccine will be allowed to enter some public places in Abu Dhabi.

These include shopping centres, restaurants, cafes and all other retail outlets, including those not within a shopping centre, "except supermarkets and pharmacies", the Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee said.

Also included are gyms, recreational facilities and sporting activities, health clubs, resorts, museums, cultural centres and theme parks, as well as universities, institutes, public and private schools and nurseries.

Health officials in Abu Dhabi also approved the use of special scanners to detect Covid-19.

The move follows a trial of the technology in Ghantoot, Yas Island and Mussaffah.

The Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee began to install them at specific shopping malls, some residential areas and all land and air entry points from June 28.

Almost 75 per cent of the public have received at least one dose of a vaccine, while about 65 per cent are fully vaccinated.












The specs

Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 582bhp

Torque: 730Nm

Price: Dh649,000

On sale: now  

Profile

Company: Justmop.com

Date started: December 2015

Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan

Sector: Technology and home services

Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai

Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month

Funding:  The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups. 

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Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes. 
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com

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Tamkeen's offering
  • Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
  • Option 2: 50% across three years
  • Option 3: 30% across five years 
Company%20Profile
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Most%20polluted%20cities%20in%20the%20Middle%20East
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COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Xpanceo

Started: 2018

Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov

Based: Dubai, UAE

Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality

Funding: $40 million

Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)

Updated: July 08, 2021, 11:04 AM