Scientists around the world are racing to develop a vaccine for the novel coronavirus. Reuters
Scientists around the world are racing to develop a vaccine for the novel coronavirus. Reuters
Scientists around the world are racing to develop a vaccine for the novel coronavirus. Reuters
Scientists around the world are racing to develop a vaccine for the novel coronavirus. Reuters

Coronavirus: UAE and China to join forces in new vaccine trial


Daniel Bardsley
  • English
  • Arabic

Trials of a coronavirus vaccine are set to take place in the UAE after an agreement was reached with a Chinese medical firm.

Organisers of the programme announced the new partnership at ceremonies in Abu Dhabi, Beijing and Wuhan earlier this week.

If successful, the Phase III trial could result in the vaccine going on to be produced on a large scale within the Emirates.

The initiative is a partnership between China National Biotec Group (CNBG) and Group 42 (G42), a UAE technology company. G42 will carry out the clinical work under the supervision of the Department of Health Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, said the partnership highlighted the UAE’s “broad multifaceted approach to combating the virus”, which also includes research into treatments and enhanced testing.

The UAE will spare no effort in contributing to solutions to the current pandemic

“The UAE will spare no effort in contributing to solutions to the current pandemic, solutions that will aid humanity’s ability to overcome the current pandemic,” he said.

Abdulrahman Al Owais, the UAE Minister of Health and Prevention, said “now more than ever”, nations needed to promote government and private sector partnerships to make progress.

“It is for this reason that the United Arab Emirates welcomes all contributions by countries of the world, innovative entities and creative individuals who are committed to creating opportunities for joint collaboration towards confronting the threat of Covid-19 and defeating this global pandemic,” he said.

The results of Phase I and Phase II trials of the vaccine in China showed patients had developed antibodies to the virus with no serious adverse reactions.

Officials have not announced when the first vaccinations will take place nor the number of patients involved.

G42 is already a key player in UAE efforts to combat the coronavirus, having built what is described as the second-largest testing laboratory in the world in Masdar City in Abu Dhabi.

Xi Jinping, President of China (R), greets Dr Ali Obaid Al Dhaheri, UAE Ambassador to China (L), during a reception at the Great Hall of the People. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
Xi Jinping, President of China (R), greets Dr Ali Obaid Al Dhaheri, UAE Ambassador to China (L), during a reception at the Great Hall of the People. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

The facility is capable of processing tens of thousands of tests per day, greatly enhancing the country’s ability to control the spread of the outbreak.

Given in two doses, the new vaccine has been developed by the Wuhan Institute of Biological Products, which is linked to CNBG’s parent firm, Sinopharm.

CNBG is said to have built a production facility in China with an annual capacity of 200 million doses of the vaccine, which could be used widely from late this year.

During the joint ceremonies, held on Tuesday, UAE officials issued approval certificates for the trials to Chinese government officials and senior CNBG figures.

Dr Ali Obaid Al Dhaheri, the UAE ambassador to China, said the partnership reflected the “spirit of cooperation envisioned by our respective leaderships”.

“This agreement comes during extraordinary times, with a significant global challenge to contend with, one of the greatest tests humanity has faced in the modern era,” he said.

“This partnership is a testament to the robust and deepening UAE-China comprehensive strategic partnership. Healthcare is an important and essential aspect of this co-operation.

"This significant project launch offers a fine example of the greater work our nations can achieve together in future.”

The earlier clinical trials of the vaccine began in April and took place in Henan province in central China, involving 1,120 volunteers aged 18 to 59.

China has a total of five coronavirus vaccine programmes in progress, understood to be more than any other country in the world. It is also organising Phase III clinical trials of other vaccines in Canada and Brazil.

Globally, more than 90 vaccines have been developed, although the scientific journal Nature has said that just "a handful" are likely to end up being used in large-scale vaccination programmes.

What is a Phase III trial?

Phase III clinical trials typically take place after a drug or vaccine has been shown to be effective on a small number of people.

The trial increases participants up to around 3,000, some of whom receive the medicine while others, part of a control group, do not.

To prevent bias, patients are assigned to each group randomly and are not told which category they fall into.

The reason is to prevent any possibility of their perception of their condition being affected.

Many researchers involved in a trial may also not be told who is in which group, again designed to stop their interpretation of the results being influenced.

The scenario is known as a double-blind.

Often in phase III trials, a new medicine is being compared against an existing one.

In the case of a coronavirus vaccine being developed by the University of Oxford in the UK, for example, some volunteers receive the coronavirus vaccine, while control group members are given a meningitis vaccine.

Phase III trials often take place in multiple countries to ensure that a drug or vaccine is trialled on people who are genetically diverse.

Highlighting this, Dr Jenniffer Mabuka-Maroa, programme manager for the African Academy of Sciences, said in April that responses to drugs or vaccines “are complicated and can be influenced by, among other things, human genetics”.

“Different people will respond differently to different drugs and vaccines,” she said.

With the coronavirus, it is also important for vaccine trials to happen in countries where there is a likelihood that people will be exposed to the pathogen.

This is because researchers are assessing, in part, if those given the medicine can go on to develop Covid-19. Any trial would be ineffective if conducted in a location where participants had zero risk of exposure to the virus.

In the case of the Oxford virus programme, clinical trials are taking place in the US, Brazil and the UK.

The US and Brazil have the two highest coronavirus case numbers in the world, making them especially valuable places to hold trials. Another Chinese coronavirus vaccine is also being trialled in Brazil.

Because of the urgent need for a vaccine, timetables for clinical trials are being compressed. Phase III clinical trials can sometimes take several years, but for coronavirus vaccines, this is being reduced to several months.

This means that the coronavirus vaccine being trialled in the UAE could potentially be used in large-scale inoculations by late 2020.

Phase III trials are the last stage before a drug or vaccine is licensed. Phase IV clinical trials typically determine how long immunity lasts or if there are longer-term side effects.

Ukraine%20exports
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Company%20profile%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EElggo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20August%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Luma%20Makari%20and%20Mirna%20Mneimneh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Education%20technology%20%2F%20health%20technology%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESize%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Four%20employees%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Pre-seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S

Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900

Engine: 937cc

Transmission: Six-speed gearbox

Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm

Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km

The figures behind the event

1) More than 300 in-house cleaning crew

2) 165 staff assigned to sanitise public areas throughout the show

3) 1,000 social distancing stickers

4) 809 hand sanitiser dispensers placed throughout the venue

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Bio

Born in Dibba, Sharjah in 1972.
He is the eldest among 11 brothers and sisters.
He was educated in Sharjah schools and is a graduate of UAE University in Al Ain.
He has written poetry for 30 years and has had work published in local newspapers.
He likes all kinds of adventure movies that relate to his work.
His dream is a safe and preserved environment for all humankind. 
His favourite book is The Quran, and 'Maze of Innovation and Creativity', written by his brother.

How to come clean about financial infidelity
  • Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
  • Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help. 
  • Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
  • Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
  • Work on a plan to resolve the problem together: If there is a lot of debt, for example, create a budget and financial plan together and ensure your partner is fully informed, involved and supported. 

Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction

Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.

Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.

Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.

Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.

Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.

What are the guidelines?

Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.

Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.

Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.

Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.

Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.

Source: American Paediatric Association
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Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Scoreline

Ireland 16 (Tries: Stockdale Cons: Sexton Pens: Sexton 3)

New Zealand 9 (Pens: Barrett 2 Drop Goal: Barrett)

RACE CARD

6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,200m

7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,900m

7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (D) 2,000m

8.15pm: Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,600m

8.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m

9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m

Teri%20Baaton%20Mein%20Aisa%20Uljha%20Jiya
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Manchester City (0) v Liverpool (3)

Uefa Champions League, quarter-final, second leg

Where: Etihad Stadium
When: Tuesday, 10.45pm
Live on beIN Sports HD

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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.5-litre%20V12%20and%20three%20electric%20motors%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C015hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C500Nm%20(estimate)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eight-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Early%202024%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh2%20million%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company profile

Date started: January, 2014

Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe

Based: Dubai

Sector: Education technology

Size: Five employees

Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.

Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)

Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi

“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”

The bio

Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district

Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school

Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family

His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people

Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned

Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates

Earth under attack: Cosmic impacts throughout history

4.5 billion years ago: Mars-sized object smashes into the newly-formed Earth, creating debris that coalesces to form the Moon

- 66 million years ago: 10km-wide asteroid crashes into the Gulf of Mexico, wiping out over 70 per cent of living species – including the dinosaurs.

50,000 years ago: 50m-wide iron meteor crashes in Arizona with the violence of 10 megatonne hydrogen bomb, creating the famous 1.2km-wide Barringer Crater

1490: Meteor storm over Shansi Province, north-east China when large stones “fell like rain”, reportedly leading to thousands of deaths.  

1908: 100-metre meteor from the Taurid Complex explodes near the Tunguska river in Siberia with the force of 1,000 Hiroshima-type bombs, devastating 2,000 square kilometres of forest.

1998: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 breaks apart and crashes into Jupiter in series of impacts that would have annihilated life on Earth.

-2013: 10,000-tonne meteor burns up over the southern Urals region of Russia, releasing a pressure blast and flash that left over 1600 people injured.

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

57%20Seconds
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rusty%20Cundieff%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJosh%20Hutcherson%2C%20Morgan%20Freeman%2C%20Greg%20Germann%2C%20Lovie%20Simone%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2%2F5%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
EA Sports FC 25
Gothia Cup 2025

4,872 matches 

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Power: 268bhp / 536bhp
Torque: 343Nm / 686Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
On sale: Later this year
Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

Formula%204%20Italian%20Championship%202023%20calendar
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Bio

Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity