• Fireworks display on Burj Khalifa for the New Year 2020 celebration at Dubai Mall in Downtown Dubai in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Fireworks display on Burj Khalifa for the New Year 2020 celebration at Dubai Mall in Downtown Dubai in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Fireworks display on Burj Khalifa. Pawan Singh / The National
    Fireworks display on Burj Khalifa. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Fireworks display on Burj Khalifa. Pawan Singh / The National
    Fireworks display on Burj Khalifa. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Fireworks display on Burj Khalifa. Pawan Singh / The National
    Fireworks display on Burj Khalifa. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Fireworks illuminate the sky around Burj Khalifa. EPA
    Fireworks illuminate the sky around Burj Khalifa. EPA
  • Burj Khalifa is prepared for the fireworks of New Year 2020 celebrations. EPA
    Burj Khalifa is prepared for the fireworks of New Year 2020 celebrations. EPA
  • People have their photos taken at the Tim Hortons café outside the Dubai Mall. Pawan Singh / The National
    People have their photos taken at the Tim Hortons café outside the Dubai Mall. Pawan Singh / The National
  • People gather near to Burj Khalifa prior to the fireworks of New Year's eve. EPA
    People gather near to Burj Khalifa prior to the fireworks of New Year's eve. EPA
  • Sky divers with special lights flies over Burj Khalifa. EPA
    Sky divers with special lights flies over Burj Khalifa. EPA
  • Light decoration around Dubai Mall. Pawan Singh / The National
    Light decoration around Dubai Mall. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Bruno Mars kept it fun and slick at the du Arena in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy Flash Entertainment
    Bruno Mars kept it fun and slick at the du Arena in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy Flash Entertainment
  • NYE Fireworks at Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    NYE Fireworks at Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • NYE Fireworks at Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    NYE Fireworks at Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • NYE Fireworks at Al Maryah Island. Victor Besa / The National
    NYE Fireworks at Al Maryah Island. Victor Besa / The National
  • NYE Fireworks at Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    NYE Fireworks at Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • DJ Aboud Rogeh rocks the house down at the NYE celebrations at Galleria Mall, Al Maryah Island. Victor Besa / The National
    DJ Aboud Rogeh rocks the house down at the NYE celebrations at Galleria Mall, Al Maryah Island. Victor Besa / The National
  • NYE Fireworks at Al Maryah Island. Victor Besa / The National
    NYE Fireworks at Al Maryah Island. Victor Besa / The National
  • Ras Al Khaimah puts on a record-breaking fireworks display on New Year's Eve in Al Hamra, Ras Al Khaimah. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Ras Al Khaimah puts on a record-breaking fireworks display on New Year's Eve in Al Hamra, Ras Al Khaimah. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Ras Al Khaimah puts on a record-breaking fireworks display. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Ras Al Khaimah puts on a record-breaking fireworks display. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Ras Al Khaimah puts on a record-breaking fireworks display on New Year's Eve. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Ras Al Khaimah puts on a record-breaking fireworks display on New Year's Eve. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Ras Al Khaimah puts on a record-breaking fireworks display. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Ras Al Khaimah puts on a record-breaking fireworks display. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • People at the beach. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    People at the beach. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Street entertainers at the beach in Ras Al Khaimah. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Street entertainers at the beach in Ras Al Khaimah. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • People arrive at the beach in Al Hamra, Ras Al Khaimah. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    People arrive at the beach in Al Hamra, Ras Al Khaimah. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Burj Khalifa's New Year's eve fireworks taken from Shangri-La Hotel's roof top. Ruel Pableo for The National
    Burj Khalifa's New Year's eve fireworks taken from Shangri-La Hotel's roof top. Ruel Pableo for The National
  • Burj Khalifa's New Year's eve fireworks taken from Shangri-La Hotel's roof top. Ruel Pableo for The National
    Burj Khalifa's New Year's eve fireworks taken from Shangri-La Hotel's roof top. Ruel Pableo for The National
  • Burj Khalifa's New Year's eve fireworks taken from Shangri-La Hotel's roof top. Ruel Pableo for The National
    Burj Khalifa's New Year's eve fireworks taken from Shangri-La Hotel's roof top. Ruel Pableo for The National
  • New Year's fireworks celebrations are seen above the Dubai skyline. AFP
    New Year's fireworks celebrations are seen above the Dubai skyline. AFP
  • New Year's fireworks celebrations are seen above the Dubai skyline. AFP
    New Year's fireworks celebrations are seen above the Dubai skyline. AFP
  • New Year's fireworks celebrations are seen above the Dubai skyline. AFP
    New Year's fireworks celebrations are seen above the Dubai skyline. AFP

PCR tests within 96 hours and 80 per cent capacity at Christmas and New Year events in UAE


Chris Maxwell
  • English
  • Arabic

Live updates: follow the latest news on Covid-19 variant Omicron

The UAE has announced Covid-19 safety measures for Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Venues must limit capacity to 80 per cent. Those attending events must present their Al Hosn green pass if required as well as proof of a negative PCR test result from within 96 hours.

People will be prohibited from hugging or shaking hands at gatherings in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus under the protocols approved by the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority.

Temperature checks will take place at entry points and organisers are being asked to install barriers to manage crowds.

People must also continue to wear masks.

The measures were set out at the UAE's weekly coronavirus briefing on Wednesday.

The rules allow families to sit together without the need to follow physical distancing measures.

All other members of the public must maintain a distance of 1.5 metres from others.

Teams will be set up at events to ensure safety procedures are being followed.

Although Covid-19 safety rules differ from emirate to emirate — Dubai's are set by its own crisis committee — the wearing of masks in public places is mandatory.

Citizens and residents were praised during the briefing for their commitment to following coronavirus safety rules but were urged to continue playing their part in the UAE's steady recovery from the pandemic.

Booster shots central to controlling virus

A government spokesman said global studies had made clear the importance of receiving a booster dose of a Covid-19 vaccine to safeguard public health.

“Based on studies and research issued by the World Health Organisation, it indicates that people who received a supportive dose were less infected than those who did not receive the support dose even if they were exposed to infection with mild symptoms,” he said.

“Human health and safety is one of the most important priorities of the state, and therefore obtaining the booster and booster dose is considered an essential support for obtaining the antibodies necessary to prevent the mutations and genetic mutations of the coronavirus.”

The rules on fostering in the UAE

A foster couple or family must:

  • be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
  • not be younger than 25 years old
  • not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
  • be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
  • have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
  • undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
  • A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Raha%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Kuwait%2FSaudi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tech%20Logistics%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2414%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Soor%20Capital%2C%20eWTP%20Arabia%20Capital%2C%20Aujan%20Enterprises%2C%20Nox%20Management%2C%20Cedar%20Mundi%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20166%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

If you go...

Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).

If you go...

Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.

Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50

Super Rugby play-offs

Quarter-finals

  • Hurricanes 35, ACT 16
  • Crusaders 17, Highlanders 0
  • Lions 23, Sharks 21
  • Chiefs 17, Stormers 11

Semi-finals

Saturday, July 29

  • Crusaders v Chiefs, 12.35pm (UAE)
  • Lions v Hurricanes, 4.30pm
Hurricanes 31-31 Lions

Wellington Hurricanes: 
Tries: Gibbins, Laumape, Goosen, Fifita tries, Barrett
Conversions: Barrett (4)
Penalties: Barrett

British & Irish Lions:
Tries: Seymour (2), North
Conversions: Biggar (2)
Penalties: Biggar (4)

SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPAD%20(2022)
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2010.9-inch%20Liquid%20Retina%20IPS%20LCD%2C%202%2C360%20x%201%2C640%2C%20264ppi%2C%20wide%20colour%2C%20True%20Tone%2C%20Apple%20Pencil%201%20support%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EChip%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Apple%20A14%20Bionic%2C%206-core%20CPU%2C%204-core%20GPU%2C%2016-core%20Neural%20Engine%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStorage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2064GB%2F256GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPlatform%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20iPadOS%2016%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMain%20camera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2012-megapixel%20wide%2C%20f%2F1.8%2C%205x%20digital%2C%20Smart%20HDR%203%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EVideo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204K%20%40%2024%2F25%2F30%2F60fps%2C%20full%20HD%20%40%2025%2F30%2F60fps%2C%20slo-mo%20%40%20120%2F240fps%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFront%20camera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2012MP%20ultra-wide%2C%20f%2F2.4%2C%202x%2C%20Smart%20HDR%203%2C%20Centre%20Stage%3B%20full%20HD%20%40%2025%2F30%2F60fps%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAudio%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Stereo%20speakers%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBiometrics%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Touch%20ID%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EI%2FO%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20USB-C%2C%20smart%20connector%20(for%20folio%2Fkeyboard)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Up%20to%2010%20hours%20on%20Wi-Fi%3B%20up%20to%209%20hours%20on%20cellular%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFinish%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Blue%2C%20pink%2C%20silver%2C%20yellow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIn%20the%20box%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20iPad%2C%20USB-C-to-USB-C%20cable%2C%2020W%20power%20adapter%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wi-Fi%20%E2%80%94%20Dh1%2C849%20(64GB)%20%2F%20Dh2%2C449%20(256GB)%3B%20cellular%20%E2%80%94%20Dh2%2C449%20(64GB)%20%2F%20Dh3%2C049%20(256GB)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How to donate

Text the following numbers:

2289 - Dh10

6025 - Dh 20

2252 - Dh 50

2208 - Dh 100

6020 - Dh 200 

*numbers work for both Etisalat and du

Who is Ramon Tribulietx?

Born in Spain, Tribulietx took sole charge of Auckland in 2010 and has gone on to lead the club to 14 trophies, including seven successive Oceania Champions League crowns. Has been tipped for the vacant New Zealand national team job following Anthony Hudson's resignation last month. Had previously been considered for the role. 

Hotel Silence
Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
Pushkin Press

The specs

Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors

Power: 480kW

Torque: 850Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)

On sale: Now

%20Ramez%20Gab%20Min%20El%20Akher
%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
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000

Engine 3.6L V6

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm

Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km

UAE tour of Zimbabwe

All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

Updated: December 16, 2021, 1:30 PM