Live updates: follow the latest news on Covid-19 variant Omicron
Demand for PCR testing surged as pupils returned to schools and workplaces after the winter break.
Demand was greatest at clinics that offer more affordable testing rates, starting at Dh50. All clinics run by Abu Dhabi's Seha group have tests for Dh50.
Many testing centres are offering free PCR screening with the purchase of a ticket to Expo 2020 Dubai, which means it could cost you as little as Dh45.
Be advised that some screening centres now said results can take up to 48 hours, up from less than 12 hours a month ago.
Many companies have implemented stricter workplace regulations after the New Year celebrations, requesting staff working in offices to test more regularly to help curb the spread of Covid-19.
Here is a list of some clinics offering affordable PCR testing in the UAE.
Dubai
Seha Covid-19 screening centre, City Walk, Dubai
Price: Dh50 for PCR test (results within 48 hours)
Appointment: Drive through (book via mobile application)
Opening times: 10am to 8pm
Location: City Walk and Dubai Parks and Resorts, Dubai
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General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, Jafiliya, Dubai
Price: Dh80 for labourers (results within 48 hours)
Appointment: Walk-in
Opening times: 7am to 11pm
Location: Jafiliya, Dubai
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Rizek mobile application, Dubai
Price: Dh99 for home PCR test (results within 48 hours)
Appointment: Home visit (book via mobile application and use code RR99)
Opening times: 7am to 11pm
Location: Dubai
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Mena Labs drive-through Covid-19 screening tent, Umm Suqeim Road
Price: Dh110 for PCR test (results within 24 hours)
Appointment: Drive through (no appointment necessary)
Opening times: 7am to midnight
Location: Umm Suqeim Road, Dubai
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Abu Dhabi
Mediclinic Airport Road Hospital, Abu Dhabi
Price: Dh50 (results within 24 hours)
Appointment: PCR testing centre is available at building F (appointments not necessary but preferred)
Opening times: 8am to 5pm
Location: Airport Road, Abu Dhabi
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Mediclinic Al Noor Hospital
Price: Dh50 (results within 24 hours)
Appointment: Walk-in on first floor
Opening times: 10am to 9pm, Saturday to Thursday; 9am to 5pm, Friday
Location: Khalifa Street, next to First Abu Dhabi Bank
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Medeor Hospital, Abu Dhabi
Price: Dh50 (results within 24 to 48 hours)
Appointment: Walk-in on first floor
Opening times: 9am to 9pm
Location: Muroor Road
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NMC Bareen International Hospital, Abu Dhabi
Price: Dh50 (results within 24 hours)
Appointment: Walk-in or drive-through (no appointment required)
Opening times: Walk-in is 10am to 10pm; drive-through is 24/7
Location: Mohammad bin Zayed City, Zone 15
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Sharjah
Seha Covid-19 screening centre, Al Bait Metwahhed, Sharjah
Price: Dh50 for PCR test (results within 48 hours)
Appointment: Drive through (book via mobile application)
Opening times: 10am to 8pm
Location: Al Bait Metwahhed, Sharjah
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NMC Medical Centre, Buhairah Corniche, Sharjah
Price: Dh100 for PCR test (results within 72 hours)
Appointment: Walk in
Opening times: 8am to 8pm
Location: Buhairah Corniche, Sharjah
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Thumbay Hospital Sharjah
Price: Dh100 for PCR test (results within 48 hours)
Appointment: Walk in
Opening times: 9am to midnight
Location: Thumbay Hospital Daycare, University City Road, Muweila, Sharjah
Company profile
Name: Dukkantek
Started: January 2021
Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani
Based: UAE
Number of employees: 140
Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service)
Investment: $5.2 million
Funding stage: Seed round
Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
'Munich: The Edge of War'
Director: Christian Schwochow
Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons
Rating: 3/5
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
The Indoor Cricket World Cup
When: September 16-23
Where: Insportz, Dubai
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
Countdown to Zero exhibition will show how disease can be beaten
Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease, an international multimedia exhibition created by the American Museum of National History in collaboration with The Carter Center, will open in Abu Dhabi a month before Reaching the Last Mile.
Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Monster
Directed by: Anthony Mandler
Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington
3/5
England World Cup squad
Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wkt), Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
