All public sector workers in the UAE will return to their offices by Sunday, July 5, authorities announced on Monday.
Capacity limits at government workplaces across all emirates but Dubai were set at 50 per cent from June 7, after months of employees working from home to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
All government workers in Dubai returned to their offices in late May.
On Monday, the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources said exceptions would be made for employees who have chronic illnesses. These employees must submit a certified medical report to continue working from home.
No other category of worker will be exempt from returning to the office, the authority said.
The Authority said the move represented "an important step that contributes to achieving the UAE strategy for a post-Covid-19 situation."
Safety measures will also be in place to ensure staff are protected, including social distancing and flexible working hours to avoid gatherings.
A remote work system, approved by the federal government, will also be used to ensure productivity and uninterrupted workflow.
Some of the measures in place to protect staff in offices include the mandatory use of face masks and gloves, and a ban on handshakes.
Prayer rooms and shared areas will be closed. Video conferences should replace meetings and everyone should wash or sanitise their hands regularly.
Glass barriers should be installed to separate employees and customers, and people should always remain two metres apart.
Before leaving home, Abu Dhabi government employees should check their temperature and travel in their own car, avoiding public transport where possible.
When they arrive at work they will have their temperature taken and a QR code scanned on their phone.
No more than two people will be allowed to use a lift at a time.
Everyone will be encouraged to download the government's AlHosn app, which helps trace people who have been in contact with a coronavirus carrier.
On Monday, Ajman separately announced that 75 per cent of its government employees would return to offices from Wednesday, July 1.
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Coronavirus: what restrictions are still in place in the UAE?
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Graduated from the American University of Sharjah
She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters
Has helped solve 15 cases of electric shocks
Enjoys travelling, reading and horse riding
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
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Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi
From: Dara
To: Team@
Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT
Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East
Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.
Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.
I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.
This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.
It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.
Uber on,
Dara
