Kuwait is hoping to boost confidence in air travel by using a sophisticated web application that collects and confirms passengers’ Covid-19 test results, vaccination records and quarantine arrangements.
Like many countries, Kuwait is searching for ways to safely ramp up air travel amid the pandemic, during which this small nation of 4.7 million people has suffered more than 300,000 infections.
For more than a year, Kuwait has greatly restricted who’s allowed to cross its borders in a bid to contain Covid-19, but is now seeking to facilitate freer movement in and out of the country. To achieve this safely, it has rolled out the KuwaitMosafer app, which is mandatory for all international travellers to Kuwait, and helps to collate and share key medical documents related to the coronavirus.
Anyone travelling in or out of the country must register on KuwaitMosafer – pioneered by Kuwait's National Aviation Services (NAS) – which confirms their vaccination record, Covid-19 test results and quarantine accommodation in the Gulf country.
Kuwait began its national rollout of vaccinations in December and has so far administered more than 1.8 million doses to its citizens and residents.
It is not accepting tourists yet and, unless they have been fully vaccinated, all returning Kuwait citizens and accredited workers must provide a negative PCR test and then complete either a seven or 14-day quarantine on arrival.
KuwaitMosafer is also being used to share Kuwait’s official vaccine records with other countries and airlines via the Common Trust Network, created by the World Economic Forum. This network allows the secure sharing of verifiable Covid-19 vaccinations and test results.
It does this by using a global network of certified laboratory and vaccination sources, standardised formats for all medical records, as well as standardised tools for digital access to all this information. NAS Group chief executive Hassan El Houry says KuwaitMosafer was the first app of its kind rolled out by any country, and that more than 700,000 passengers have so far used the service.
“KuwaitMosafer has helped reassure passengers they can travel safely with complete personal data confidentiality,” El Houry tells The National.
“In terms of development, the platform has quickly adapted and keeps evolving to keep up with the regulations put in place by the local authorities. Overall, the effectiveness of KuwaitMosafer can be seen with the growing number of passengers travelling from and to Kuwait.”
We discovered that the number of positive cases entering the country were three times higher before the Medical Utility Network Accreditor was introduced
Hassan El Houry,
chief executive, NAS Group
El Houry says the app has also helped tackle the problem of forged Covid-19 vaccine certificates and test results, by introducing the Medical Utility Network Accreditor. This patented blockchain technology connects Covid-19 test labs in different countries to verify certificates and test results for cross-border travel.
KuwaitMosafer is linked to this MUNA network, allowing authorities to share authenticated PCR test results from 100 audited labs. This co-ordination has already had a significant impact on the health security of Kuwait’s borders, according to El Houry.
“We discovered that the number of positive cases entering the country was three times higher before MUNA was introduced,” he says. “This suggests a significant reduction in infected cases entering the country with forged certificates or fake results.”
The issue of such counterfeit documents came to light in February when an Indian lab technician working in Kuwait was arrested for selling fake Covid-19 test results. The technician was allegedly charging about $99 to issue his clients with negative Covid-19 results, despite not doing a PCR test.
Kuwait isn’t only placing tough restrictions on incoming travellers. It is also taking a hardline approach with Kuwaiti citizens who wish to fly out of the country. On May 22, the government placed a foreign travel ban on any of its citizens who have not received a Covid-19 vaccination.
The nation is aiming to get its population fully vaccinated so it can reopen its borders and El Houry believes KuwaitMosafer can play a key role in helping the country open back up to the world.
“As people start looking towards resumption of air travel, health is a priority and the digitisation of testing and vaccine data have a leading role to play,” he says. “KuwaitMosafer checks all the boxes and is now preparing for the country to open its door for the return of expats and visitors in the near future.”
The team
Videographer: Jear Velasquez
Photography: Romeo Perez
Fashion director: Sarah Maisey
Make-up: Gulum Erzincan at Art Factory
Models: Meti and Clinton at MMG
Video assistant: Zanong Maget
Social media: Fatima Al Mahmoud
Brief scores:
Day 1
Toss: India, chose to bat
India (1st innings): 215-2 (89 ov)
Agarwal 76, Pujara 68 not out; Cummins 2-40
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
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Wednesday April 24: Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, 11am-6pm
Thursday April 25: Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, 11am-5pm
Friday April 26: Finals, 3-6pm
Saturday April 27: Awards ceremony, 4pm and 8pm
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6.05pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,400m
6.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (T) 1,200m
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8.25pm: Zabeel Trophy – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (T) 1,600m
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9.35pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 2,000m
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Day 3, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage, the Sri Lanka pace bowler, has had to play a lot of cricket to earn a shot at the top level. The 29-year-old debutant first played a first-class game 11 years ago. His first Test wicket was one to savour, bowling Pakistan opener Shan Masood through the gate. It set the rot in motion for Pakistan’s batting.
Stat of the day – 73 Haris Sohail took 73 balls to hit a boundary. Which is a peculiar quirk, given the aggressive intent he showed from the off. Pakistan’s batsmen were implored to attack Rangana Herath after their implosion against his left-arm spin in Abu Dhabi. Haris did his best to oblige, smacking the second ball he faced for a huge straight six.
The verdict One year ago, when Pakistan played their first day-night Test at this ground, they held a 222-run lead over West Indies on first innings. The away side still pushed their hosts relatively close on the final night. With the opposite almost exactly the case this time around, Pakistan still have to hope they can salvage a win from somewhere.
Intercontinental Cup
Namibia v UAE Saturday Sep 16-Tuesday Sep 19
Table 1 Ireland, 89 points; 2 Afghanistan, 81; 3 Netherlands, 52; 4 Papua New Guinea, 40; 5 Hong Kong, 39; 6 Scotland, 37; 7 UAE, 27; 8 Namibia, 27
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh960,000
Engine 3.9L twin-turbo V8
Transmission Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Power 661hp @8,000rpm
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Fuel economy, combined 11.4L / 100k
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115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
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Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
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Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
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Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.
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Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.
Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.
Juvenile arthritis
Along with doctors, families and teachers can help pick up cases of arthritis in children.
Most types of childhood arthritis are known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis. JIA causes pain and inflammation in one or more joints for at least six weeks.
Dr Betina Rogalski said "The younger the child the more difficult it into pick up the symptoms. If the child is small, it may just be a bit grumpy or pull its leg a way or not feel like walking,” she said.
According to The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases in US, the most common symptoms of juvenile arthritis are joint swelling, pain, and stiffness that doesn’t go away. Usually it affects the knees, hands, and feet, and it’s worse in the morning or after a nap.
Limping in the morning because of a stiff knee, excessive clumsiness, having a high fever and skin rash are other symptoms. Children may also have swelling in lymph nodes in the neck and other parts of the body.
Arthritis in children can cause eye inflammation and growth problems and can cause bones and joints to grow unevenly.
In the UK, about 15,000 children and young people are affected by arthritis.
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