A fruit vendor with his watermelons at the Abu Dhabi Fruits and Vegetables Market during the Coronavirus epidemic. Victor Besa / The National
Abu Dhabi Civil Defence and Police sterilisation drive in Mussafah. Victor Besa / The National
A vegetable vendor fixes his gloves at the Abu Dhabi Fruits and Vegetables Market during the Coronavirus epidemic. Victor Besa / The National
A key worker wears a facemask as he walks passed a brightly coloured mural in Media City, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A deserted part of JBR, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A digger does some work on an empty Jumeirah beach, this is normally a very popular spot for beach goers, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Abu Dhabi Civil Defence and Police sterilisation drive in Mussafah. Victor Besa / The National
A poster on Sheikh Zayed Road shows a family wearing facemasks tell people to Stay at home, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A man walks past fishing boats in Ajman wearing a mask amid the coronavirus crisis. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A market worker boxes up fish at Ras Al Khaimah's dock. Antonie Robertson / The National
Empty streets in RAK as residents stay home for a third week. Antonie Robertson / The National
Residents of the Northern Emirates must stay home from 8pm to 6am, but can leave home to shop for essentials outside of those times. Antonie Robertson / The National
A sign outside Dubai Parks and Resorts offers support to frontline workers. Chris Whiteoak / The National
No entry signs at the closed Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
A street cleaner sanitises gutters at Marina Mall car park in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
The normally busy beaches of Abu Dhabi have been deserted in recent weeks. Victor Besa / The National
A shopper picks up essentials at Carrefour in Dubai's Ibn Battuta Mall. Dubai residents must apply for a permit to leave home. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The only vehicles on Dubai's roads are delivery trucks, bike couriers and minibuses taking essential personnel to and from work. Victor Besa / The National
The empty Al Maktoum Road near Deira Clock Tower in Dubai. It would normally be one of the city's busiest streets. Pawan Singh / The National
A 24-hour stay-home order and the disinfecting of streets has left Dubai streets mostly deserted. Pawan Singh / The National
The famous Deira Clock Tower at the heart of the city's old town. Pawan Singh / The National
The bridge to Meydan hotel and racecourse stands empty on Saturday evening. Reem Mohammed / The National
A shopkeeper waits outside his dress store in Al Ain. Chris Whiteoak / The National
An ambulance on a street in Al Ain. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A quiet street leads to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Grand mosque in Al Ain. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The empty bridge to Meydan during daytime. Reem Mohammed / The National
Dubai residents must remain indoors at all times, unless they have a permit for essential shopping. Reem Mohammed / The National
Residents queue outside a supermarket in the Muraqqabat area of Deira in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
A customer enters a pharmacy in Dubai. Pharmacies and supermarkets are the only stores allowed to remain open to the public. Pawan Singh / The National
A man rides his bike across the street in Al Ain. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A medical worker in a booth prepares to swab residents at a drive-through test centre in the Dubai suburb of Khawaneej. AFP
Dubai skyline during lockdown. Antonie Robertson / The National
A man takes a taxi after leaving the Business Bay Metro station, Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
An awareness board on Meydan road, Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
The empty Kite Beach area of Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
A healthcare worker crosses an empty street in Bur Dubai while wearing a mask amid the coronavirus outbreak. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A gentleman crosses an empty street in Oud Metha in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Men in face mask walking by nurseries in Warsan. Reem Mohammed / The National
The UAE is considering introducing quotas or employment clauses for workers from countries that have refused to repatriate their citizens during the coronavirus outbreak.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation told state news agency Wam that it may suspend agreements with countries that have not responded to repatriation requests from expats who have lost their jobs or were asked to take leave by their employers.
"Among the options being studied is ceasing labour agreements between the ministry and authorities in the non-co-operative countries, as well as setting strict restrictions on recruitment of workers from these countries, including application of a quota system," an official said.
The official did not say which countries, but the statement came after UAE Ambassador to India Dr Ahmed Al Banna said that the UAE had offered to repatriate citizens after they tested negative for Covid-19.
Dr Al Banna said the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation told embassies that it would help repatriate citizens after flights were grounded around the world.
Last week, Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre – a welfare group in Dubai – filed a high court petition urging the Indian government to permit charter flights to bring thousands of citizens home from the UAE.
India is under lockdown until April 14, and scheduled international commercial flights have been halted. Many countries have put similar anti-coronavirus measures in place.
V Muraleedharan, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, said repatriation of citizens would be considered from May and priority would be given to the elderly, pregnant women and those in urgent need of medical treatment.
Haris Beeran, a lawyer representing the petitioners in Dubai, said an estimated 10,000 people from India’s southern Kerala state wanted to return home.
"Many workers no longer have jobs [and] some people are on visit visas that have expired," he told The National.
"They don’t have any means to live in the UAE and would rather return to their family at this time.”
The petition specified categories of Indian citizens who have approached the organisation for help, including infirm elderly parents of UAE residents.
The application called on India’s federal government and the Civil Aviation Ministry to permit repatriation flights as the country’s national carrier Air India was allowed to fly German, British and Canadian citizens out during the lockdown.
“Many Indians are running out of money and facing shortages of food,” the petition said.
Officials said a lack of quarantine facilities in the South Asian nation was causing the delay.
Last week, hundreds of protestors gathered outside the Pakistan consulate in Dubai to demand answers.
Authorities in Islamabad said they were working hard to address the problem and hoped to confirm the start of flights soon.
“[We have] received and processed the registration of Pakistani nationals for repatriation from the UAE,” the consulate general said in a statement on Saturday.
“We are waiting permission from our government, which is expected soon."
FIXTURES
Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)
A lesson in simple, seasonal eating. Wedges of tomato, chunks of cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, coriander or parsley leaves, and perhaps some fresh dill are drizzled with a crushed walnut and garlic dressing. Do consider yourself warned: if you eat this salad in Georgia during the summer months, the tomatoes will be so ripe and flavourful that every tomato you eat from that day forth will taste lacklustre in comparison.
Badrijani nigvzit
A delicious vegetarian snack or starter. It consists of thinly sliced, fried then cooled aubergine smothered with a thick and creamy walnut sauce and folded or rolled. Take note, even though it seems like you should be able to pick these morsels up with your hands, they’re not as durable as they look. A knife and fork is the way to go.
Pkhali
This healthy little dish (a nice antidote to the khachapuri) is usually made with steamed then chopped cabbage, spinach, beetroot or green beans, combined with walnuts, garlic and herbs to make a vegetable pâté or paste. The mix is then often formed into rounds, chilled in the fridge and topped with pomegranate seeds before being served.
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
Second Test: July 14-18, Trent Bridge, Nottingham, 2pm
Third Test: The Oval, London, July 27-31, 2pm
Fourth Test: Old Trafford, Manchester, August 4-8
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
Brief scores:
Scotland 371-5, 50 overs (C MacLeod 140 no, K Coetzer 58, G Munsey 55)
England 365 all out, 48.5 overs (J Bairstow 105, A Hales 52; M Watt 3-55)
Result: Scotland won by six runs
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
UK Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.
