• In Dubai, anyone with a positive PCR test for Covid-19 is a confirmed case. That means you have to isolate for 10 days, even if you do not have symptoms. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    In Dubai, anyone with a positive PCR test for Covid-19 is a confirmed case. That means you have to isolate for 10 days, even if you do not have symptoms. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A person with two positive tests is a confirmed case in Abu Dhabi. The isolation period is ten days and requires two negative PCR tests to end quarantine. This period can be cut short if two negative tests are returned 24 hours apart. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    A person with two positive tests is a confirmed case in Abu Dhabi. The isolation period is ten days and requires two negative PCR tests to end quarantine. This period can be cut short if two negative tests are returned 24 hours apart. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Al Wahda Mall security check the Al Hosn App of mall visitors at the entrance. Victor Besa / The National
    Al Wahda Mall security check the Al Hosn App of mall visitors at the entrance. Victor Besa / The National
  • Face masks must be worn in all indoor areas and venues, including shopping malls and schools. Victor Besa / The National
    Face masks must be worn in all indoor areas and venues, including shopping malls and schools. Victor Besa / The National
  • Al Hosn app allows the user to show proof of a coronavirus vaccine or a recent test, often to gain entry to public places in Abu Dhabi or as a requirement by their employer, such as in service industries and schools, by showing green status. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Al Hosn app allows the user to show proof of a coronavirus vaccine or a recent test, often to gain entry to public places in Abu Dhabi or as a requirement by their employer, such as in service industries and schools, by showing green status. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • A member of staff at The Royal NMC hospital in Sharjah prepares to take a sample to test for Covid-19. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A member of staff at The Royal NMC hospital in Sharjah prepares to take a sample to test for Covid-19. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • People wearing protective face mask at the bus station in Barsha Heights, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    People wearing protective face mask at the bus station in Barsha Heights, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • A member of staff at The Royal NMC hospital in Sharjah takes a sample to test for Covid-19. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A member of staff at The Royal NMC hospital in Sharjah takes a sample to test for Covid-19. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Covid testing carried out at Seha drive through screening centre in Rabdan, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Covid testing carried out at Seha drive through screening centre in Rabdan, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

UAE records 368 new coronavirus cases


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The UAE reported 368 new coronavirus cases on Saturday.

There were 412 recoveries and officials said one person died in the 24-hour reporting period from complications.

The country has recorded 1,025,213 cases and 2,343 deaths since the first Covid-19 case was detected in the Emirates on January 29, 2020.

There have been 1,004,581 recoveries to date.

Widespread testing and tracing, stringent safety measures and a high vaccination rate have been credited for bringing down daily infections.

Cases have dropped since reaching close to 4,000 a day in January, 2021.

An additional 221,085 tests were conducted over the 24-hour period, bringing the total number carried out since the beginning of the outbreak to almost 190 million.

Meanwhile, coronavirus infections in England and Wales have risen for the first time in two months, government figures show.

The increase means that, despite falling numbers in Scotland and Northern Ireland, the total number of infections in the UK has gone up.

Social distancing restrictions have largely been removed across the UK, and last month, data showed the number of Covid fatalities in the UK this summer were double the number of those for the same period in 2021.

The biog

Place of birth: Kalba

Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren

Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken

Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah

Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”

The specs: 2019 Cadillac XT4

Price, base: Dh145,000

Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged in-line four-cylinder engine

Transmission: Nine-speed automatic

Power: 237hp @ 5,000rpm

Torque: 350Nm @ 1,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km

Racecard

6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah Group Two (PA) US$55,000 (Dirt) 1,600m

7.05pm: Meydan Trophy (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,900m

7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (D) 1,200m

8.15pm: Balanchine Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m

8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,000m

9.25pm: Firebreak Stakes Group Three (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,600m

10pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m

The National selections: 6.30pm: RM Lam Tara, 7.05pm: Al Mukhtar Star, 7.40pm: Bochart, 8.15pm: Magic Lily, 8.50pm: Roulston Scar, 9.25pm: Quip, 10pm: Jalmoud

Tips for job-seekers
  • Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
  • Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.

David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East

The cost of Covid testing around the world

Egypt

Dh514 for citizens; Dh865 for tourists

Information can be found through VFS Global.

Jordan

Dh212

Centres include the Speciality Hospital, which now offers drive-through testing.

Cambodia

Dh478

Travel tests are managed by the Ministry of Health and National Institute of Public Health.

Zanzibar

AED 295

Zanzibar Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, located within the Lumumba Secondary School compound.

Abu Dhabi

Dh85

Abu Dhabi’s Seha has test centres throughout the UAE.

UK

From Dh400

Heathrow Airport now offers drive through and clinic-based testing, starting from Dh400 and up to Dh500 for the PCR test.

The essentials

What: Emirates Airline Festival of Literature

When: Friday until March 9

Where: All main sessions are held in the InterContinental Dubai Festival City

Price: Sessions range from free entry to Dh125 tickets, with the exception of special events.

Hot Tip: If waiting for your book to be signed looks like it will be timeconsuming, ask the festival’s bookstore if they have pre-signed copies of the book you’re looking for. They should have a bunch from some of the festival’s biggest guest authors.

Information: www.emirateslitfest.com
 

Another way to earn air miles

In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.

An Emirates Dubai-London round-trip ticket costs 180,000 miles on the Air Miles website. But customers earn these ‘miles’ at a much faster rate than airline miles. Adidas offers two air miles per Dh1 spent. Air Miles has partnerships with websites as well, so booking.com and agoda.com offer three miles per Dh1 spent.

“If you use your HSBC credit card when shopping at our partners, you are able to earn Air Miles twice which will mean you can get that flight reward faster and for less spend,” says Paul Lacey, the managing director for Europe, Middle East and India for Aimia, which owns and operates Air Miles Middle East.

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

A Prayer Before Dawn

Director: Jean-Stephane Sauvaire

Starring: Joe Cole, Somluck Kamsing, Panya Yimmumphai

Three stars

Updated: September 24, 2022, 10:24 AM