In Iraq, more than 60 per cent of healthcare workers have been partially vaccinated though only about 40 per cent have been fully vaccinated. EPA
In Iraq, more than 60 per cent of healthcare workers have been partially vaccinated though only about 40 per cent have been fully vaccinated. EPA
In Iraq, more than 60 per cent of healthcare workers have been partially vaccinated though only about 40 per cent have been fully vaccinated. EPA
In Iraq, more than 60 per cent of healthcare workers have been partially vaccinated though only about 40 per cent have been fully vaccinated. EPA

Large numbers of Middle East healthcare workers remain unvaccinated, says WHO


Nick Webster
  • English
  • Arabic

Large numbers of healthcare workers in the Middle East and North Africa remain unvaccinated against Covid-19, the World Health Organisation has warned.

Of the 12 countries that shared vaccination data, only four — Pakistan, Jordan, Iran and Saudi Arabia — reported that close to 100 per cent of healthcare workers had been vaccinated.

Some nations have struggled to deliver doses, with Afghanistan, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Libya, Yemen and Djibouti all administering significantly fewer doses than had been received, mainly due to storage or supply chain issues.

In Iraq, while more than 60 per cent of healthcare workers have been partially vaccinated, less than 40 per cent are fully vaccinated. The WHO said that only 19 per cent of the population has been fully vaccinated.

Unfortunately, in a few countries, we saw that health workers were resisting the Covid vaccines
Dr Mohammed Osama Mere,
Covid-19 vaccination regional co-ordinator

And in Yemen, less than 70 per cent of healthcare workers have been partially vaccinated, while a little more than 20 per cent are fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, only 2 per cent of the general population has been fully vaccinated.

Health experts said Covid vaccines should be incorporated into national vaccination programmes on a regular basis to ensure widespread coverage, similar to annual flu vaccines.

Dr Mohammed Osama Mere, the WHO's Covid-19 vaccination regional co-ordinator, said reduced risk perception is likely to make delivering vaccines harder in the years ahead.

“Unfortunately, in a few countries, we saw that health workers were resisting the Covid vaccines,” he said at a briefing in Cairo on Monday.

“The WHO issued guidelines and at regional levels developed baseline plans to help countries increase coverage among healthcare workers.”

Doctors, NGOS and community leaders can influence the decision to take a vaccine, he added.

Less than 40 per cent of healthcare workers are fully vaccinated in Iraq. EPA
Less than 40 per cent of healthcare workers are fully vaccinated in Iraq. EPA

“We would like to see a list of health workers who are vaccinated or not and to make a reward like a certificate [or incentive] for those who are vaccinated,” he continued.

“The most important thing is to monitor this and it needs a focus on the local context in each country.

“We need to continue with the vaccination as we do not know how this Covid virus will behave in the future.”

In a targeted campaign to boost vaccination rates, the WHO will launch a three-month strategy aimed at 21.7 million people in Sudan, Somalia and Yemen.

Many international experts have only recommended boosters for vulnerable groups, social workers and health workers.

After the second dose four to six months after the first, there is no recommendation from the WHO for further vaccines, Dr Mere said.

“The pandemic is not over, even though cases are much less — thousands are still dying each day,” he said.

“People must know about the disease and its impact.

“When people see the effects of Covid, it makes them want to take a vaccine.”

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League, last-16 second leg
Paris Saint-Germain (1) v Borussia Dortmund (2)
Kick-off: Midnight, Thursday, March 12
Stadium: Parc des Princes
Live: On beIN Sports HD

Fight card

Bantamweight

Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK) v Rey Nacionales (PHI)

Lightweight

Alexandru Chitoran (ROM) v Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR)

Catch 74kg

Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) v Omar Hussein (JOR)

Strawweight (Female)

Weronika Zygmunt (POL) v Seo Ye-dam (KOR)

Featherweight

Kaan Ofli (TUR) v Walid Laidi (ALG)

Lightweight

Leandro Martins (BRA) v Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW)

Welterweight

Ahmad Labban (LEB) v Sofiane Benchohra (ALG)

Bantamweight

Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR)

Lightweight

Mohammed Yahya (UAE) v Glen Ranillo (PHI)

Lightweight

Alan Omer (GER) v Aidan Aguilera (AUS)

Welterweight

Mounir Lazzez (TUN) Sasha Palatnikov (HKG)

Featherweight title bout

Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR)

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Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Director: Venkat Prabhu
Rating: 2/5
Updated: October 25, 2022, 6:28 AM