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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
_______________
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
_______________
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
_______________
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
'Nightmare Alley'
Director:Guillermo del Toro
Stars:Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara
Rating: 3/5
Venom
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed
Rating: 1.5/5
Infobox
Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the next stage of qualifying, in Malaysia in August
Results
UAE beat Iran by 10 wickets
Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by eight wickets
Oman beat Bahrain by nine wickets
Qatar beat Maldives by 106 runs
Monday fixtures
UAE v Kuwait, Iran v Saudi Arabia, Oman v Qatar, Maldives v Bahrain
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
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.”
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England v South Africa Test series:
First Test: at Lord's, England won by 211 runs
Second Test: at Trent Bridge, South Africa won by 340 runs
Third Test: at The Oval, July 27-31
Fourth Test: at Old Trafford, August 4-8
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
