• Al Hosn app, advertised here at Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    Al Hosn app, advertised here at Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • Mandatory entrance procedures carried out at Khalidiyah Mall. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Mandatory entrance procedures carried out at Khalidiyah Mall. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • A man shows his green pass status in order to enter Boroughs cafe, at Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    A man shows his green pass status in order to enter Boroughs cafe, at Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Keith O'Donnell gives green pass proof from Al Hosn application at Vogue Fitness, Yas Marina. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Keith O'Donnell gives green pass proof from Al Hosn application at Vogue Fitness, Yas Marina. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa follows the green pass requirement on Al Hosn for entering the hotel. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa follows the green pass requirement on Al Hosn for entering the hotel. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Al Hosn green pass awareness signs at Al Wahda Mall. Victor Besa / The National
    Al Hosn green pass awareness signs at Al Wahda Mall. Victor Besa / The National

UAE eases coronavirus rules to allow 60 people at home parties and gatherings


Salam Al Amir
  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE has further eased its coronavirus restrictions to allow more people to attend weddings, gatherings and parties at home.

Under the new rules, occupancy at parties has been capped at a maximum of 60 guests and 10 catering and hospitality staff.

The National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) set out the latest nationwide changes on Tuesday during its weekly Covid-19 briefing.

But several precautionary measures still remain in place.

Guests should be fully vaccinated and the second dose should have been taken at least two weeks before the event. They will be required to show a green pass on Al Hosn app.

A negative PCR test taken no more than 48 hours before the event is also a must. Guests will be checked for temperature on arrival and they must wear face masks at all times. The premises should be regularly sanitised.

  • Prescila Akl and Fady Younes exchange wedding vows at a small service on August 10, 2020, in St Therese Church in Abu Dhabi.
    Prescila Akl and Fady Younes exchange wedding vows at a small service on August 10, 2020, in St Therese Church in Abu Dhabi.
  • Bridesmaids Anastasia, Katia and Yasmine Daher at the wedding of Laura Daher and Elie Abi Daher in Abu Dhabi. Laura Daher and Elie Abi Daher
    Bridesmaids Anastasia, Katia and Yasmine Daher at the wedding of Laura Daher and Elie Abi Daher in Abu Dhabi. Laura Daher and Elie Abi Daher
  • Laura Daher walks into the church with her sister and maid of honour Linda and brother George for her wedding a small service at St Therese Church in Abu Dhabi on August 17, 2020.
    Laura Daher walks into the church with her sister and maid of honour Linda and brother George for her wedding a small service at St Therese Church in Abu Dhabi on August 17, 2020.
  • Laura Daher walks down the aisle with her brother George. She married Elie Abi Daher in a quiet ceremony with only eight guests at the St Therese Church in Abu Dhabi. Laura Daher and Elie Abi Daher
    Laura Daher walks down the aisle with her brother George. She married Elie Abi Daher in a quiet ceremony with only eight guests at the St Therese Church in Abu Dhabi. Laura Daher and Elie Abi Daher
  • Laura Daher walks down the aisle with her brother George. The pandemic meant there was a limit on how many people could attend her wedding. Laura Daher and Elie Abi Daher
    Laura Daher walks down the aisle with her brother George. The pandemic meant there was a limit on how many people could attend her wedding. Laura Daher and Elie Abi Daher
  • Guests at a wedding in Abu Dhabi in August 2020. The number of people permitted to attend weddings has since been increased.
    Guests at a wedding in Abu Dhabi in August 2020. The number of people permitted to attend weddings has since been increased.

"People should not greet with handshakes or hugs," Dr Taher Al Amiri, spokesperson of NCEMA, said.

"There should be a physical distancing of one and a half metres at all times and only a maximum of 10 people can sit at one table.

"There should be separate entry and exit points to avoid crowding.

"Hosts should warn the invitees against attending the event when feeling any respiratory symptoms or fever."

Business travel rules updated

Updated rules for business travel were also announced.

Residents and visiting businessmen must register on the ICA website (Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship) and get approval before they fly into UAE.

They should also present copies of their vaccination cards, a negative PCR test result with a QR code issued within 48 hours before the flight.

Passengers should also take a PCR test conducted at the departure airport six hours before their flight and another PCR test on arrival. They should also take a PCR test on day 4 and 8.

The UAE reported 122 new cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday, bringing the total number of infections to 738,812.

Cases have been falling in recent weeks as mass testing and one of the world's fastest vaccination drives have helped the UAE to curb the virus.

More than 89.5 million PCR tests have been conducted since the beginning of the pandemic.

As of Tuesday, 20,766,132 vaccines had been administered. Officials said 96.45 per cent of the population has received one dose, while 86.45 per cent is fully vaccinated.

Results

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m, Winner: ES Rubban, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ibrahim Aseel (trainer)

5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 (T) 1,200m, Winner: Al Mobher, Sczcepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m, Winner: Jabalini, Tadhg O’Shea, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m, Winner: AF Abahe, Tadgh O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: AF Makerah, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

7.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Law Of Peace, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar

Essentials

The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes. 
 

Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes. 


In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes. 
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENadeera%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERabih%20El%20Chaar%20and%20Reem%20Khattar%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECleanTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20About%20%241%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHope%20Ventures%2C%20Rasameel%20Investments%20and%20support%20from%20accelerator%20programmes%20%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2012%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
New Zealand squad

Tim Southee (capt), Trent Boult (games 4 and 5), Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson (games 1-3), Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStreaming%20on%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMBC%20Shahid%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Pad Man

Dir: R Balki

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte

Three-and-a-half stars

Updated: October 20, 2021, 7:43 AM