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People from the UAE who want to visit England for the summer can now self-isolate at home after the UK added the country to its amber list.
From August 8, passengers do not have to complete paid mandatory hotel quarantine. Instead, they will be required to self-isolate for 10 days, taking pre-booked PCR tests on day two and day eight. This is compulsory.
There is also an option to escape part of the 10-day quarantine with a Covid-19 test on day five that comes back negative.
Travellers coming from countries with amber status who have been fully vaccinated with inoculations approved and administered in the UK, EU and US do not have to quarantine, but must provide a negative Covid-19 test within two days of arrival.
Any traveller inoculated in the UAE, therefore, will have to follow the 10-day self-isolation rules.
The UAE will move to the amber list at 4am UK time on August 8. If a passenger arrives in England before then, they must follow the red list rules. If UAE residents visited a red country in the ten days before arriving into England they must also enter hotel quarantine. Here is The National's guide to the new travel rules.
Amber list rules:
- If you have been in an amber list country in the 10 days before you arrive in England you must:
- Take a Covid-19 test in the three days before you travel to England; pre-book and pay for Covid-19 tests (in England) before you travel, to be taken on day two and day eight after arrival in England; and complete a passenger locator form.
Steps to follow after arrival in England:
- Quarantine at home or in the place you are staying for 10 days – the day of arrival is counted as day zero.
- Then take a Covid-19 test on or before day two and on or after day eight.
Option to 'test to release' early:
- Travellers entering England from the UAE can end quarantine early using the "test to release" scheme.
- Under this system, people can pay for a private Covid-19 test on day five. If the result is negative (and the result of your day two test was negative or inconclusive), you can end your quarantine.
- However, you must still book and take your mandatory day two and day eight travel tests, even if your "test to release" result is negative.
Rules for fully UK vaccinated and people under the age of 18:
- You do not need to quarantine or take a day eight test after you arrive in England if you are either: fully vaccinated in the UK or under the UK vaccine programme overseas; under 18 on the day you arrive in England and resident in the UK or in a country with a vaccination programme approved by the UK; or part of a UK-approved vaccine trial.
- You still need to book and take a day two test.
Amber list rules if fully vaccinated in Europe or the USA:
- If you have been fully vaccinated in the United States or many European countries, you will not need to quarantine when you arrive in England or take a day eight test.
- However, you still need to book and take a day two test
Where can I quarantine?
- You must quarantine at the address you provided on the passenger locator form.
- This can include staying in your own home with friends or family or in a standard hotel or other temporary accommodation.
- You should stay in a well ventilated room with an outside window that can be opened, separate from other people in your home.
How to self-isolate
As per NHS UK rules, you must not leave your home if you're self-isolating.
- Do not go to work, school or public places – work from home if you can
- Do not go on public transport or use taxis
- Do not go out to get food and medicine – order it online or by phone, or ask someone to bring it to your home
- Do not have visitors in your home, including friends and family – except for people providing essential care
- Do not go out to exercise – exercise at home or in your garden, if you have one
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
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Race card:
6.30pm: Maiden; Dh165,000; 2,000m
7.05pm: Handicap; Dh165,000; 2,200m
7.40pm: Conditions; Dh240,000; 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap; Dh190,000; 2,000m
8.50pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed; Dh265,000; 1,200m
9.25pm: Handicap; Dh170,000; 1,600m
10pm: Handicap; Dh190,000; 1,400m
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”.
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THE LOWDOWN
Photograph
Rating: 4/5
Produced by: Poetic License Motion Pictures; RSVP Movies
Director: Ritesh Batra
Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malhotra, Farrukh Jaffar, Deepak Chauhan, Vijay Raaz