• A sanitising station at Mall of the Emirates. Reem Mohammed / The National
    A sanitising station at Mall of the Emirates. Reem Mohammed / The National
  • A view of Mall of the Emirates. Reem Mohammed / The National
    A view of Mall of the Emirates. Reem Mohammed / The National
  • People try to maintain social distance as they queue to use ATMs at Emirates NBD bank at Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    People try to maintain social distance as they queue to use ATMs at Emirates NBD bank at Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Shoppers wearing protective face masks inside the Carrefour hypermarket at Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Shoppers wearing protective face masks inside the Carrefour hypermarket at Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Shoppers wearing protective face masks inside the Carrefour hypermarket at Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Shoppers wearing protective face masks inside the Carrefour hypermarket at Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • People visit a cafe that reopened after restrictions were eased in Baghdad, Iraq. Reuters
    People visit a cafe that reopened after restrictions were eased in Baghdad, Iraq. Reuters
  • Men sit inside a reopened cafe in Baghdad, Iraq. Reuters
    Men sit inside a reopened cafe in Baghdad, Iraq. Reuters
  • Pupils attend a lesson on their first day back at school in Homs, Syria. AP
    Pupils attend a lesson on their first day back at school in Homs, Syria. AP
  • Schoolchildren salute the Syrian national anthem before entering their classes in Damascus, Syria. EPA
    Schoolchildren salute the Syrian national anthem before entering their classes in Damascus, Syria. EPA
  • Syrian pupils, some wearing protective face masks, disinfect their hands in class in the capital Damascus. AFP
    Syrian pupils, some wearing protective face masks, disinfect their hands in class in the capital Damascus. AFP
  • A nurse in a protective suit attends to a patient in Misrata, Libya. Reuters
    A nurse in a protective suit attends to a patient in Misrata, Libya. Reuters
  • Hamza Abdulrahman Jelwal, a supervising nurse, and his teammate Aisha Milad Belhassna help each other to wear protective suits at a quarantine centre in Misrata, Libya. Reuters
    Hamza Abdulrahman Jelwal, a supervising nurse, and his teammate Aisha Milad Belhassna help each other to wear protective suits at a quarantine centre in Misrata, Libya. Reuters

Coronavirus: UAE authorises emergency use of vaccine for frontline workers


Chris Maxwell
  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE Health Minister, Abdulrahman Al Owais, has approved the use of a Covid-19 vaccine for frontline workers after successful clinical trials in Abu Dhabi.

Mr Al Owais said the inactive vaccine could be used in "cases of emergency" involving healthcare staff.

He  said extensive tests involving 31,000 volunteers had shown the vaccine to be safe.

Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chairwoman of the National Clinical Committee for Covid-19, said volunteers felt only minor symptoms, such as a sore throat, during the trial.

"The emergency use of the vaccine is fully and completely compatible with the laws and regulations," Mr Al Owais said.

"And our goal is to provide all safety means for the first line of defence to protect them from any dangers they may face due to the nature of their work.

"The results of studies during the final stages of the third phase showed that the vaccine is effective and resulted in a strong response and the generation of antibodies to the virus.

"Studies on the safety of the vaccination have been reviewed and showed that it is safe for use."

Mr Al Owais said the move to make the vaccine available, on a limited basis initially, was a significant step forward in efforts to protect lives.

The vaccine was developed by Sinopharm, based in China, where Phases 1 and 2 of the trials were successfully conducted.

The UAE is involved through an agreement with technology company Group 42 and was chosen for Phase 3.

The World Health Organisation-recognised trial began on July 16.

A clinic was set up at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre to manage the trial and another was later established in Sharjah.

Hundreds of medical staff also came forward to lend their support to the project.

Dr Al Kaabi said the results of the clinical trials were "very positive".

She thanked the volunteers, representing 125 nationalities, for playing a key role in the fight to contain the pandemic.

"The initial results are encouraging in terms of the presence of antibodies in the body," Dr Al Kaabi said.

She said that studies were continuing.

"The side-effects that were detected are simple and expected, like any other vaccine," Dr Al Kaabi said.

"There were very normal symptoms, like feeling some pain in the throat.

"There were no serious side effects that required medical intervention. The preliminary results are positive.

"The vaccine was tried on 1,000 volunteers suffering from chronic diseases and no complications occurred to them."

Dr Al Kaabi said health authorities had taken every precaution to ensure the quality and safety of the vaccine trial.

The major breakthrough was announced as the UAE recorded 777 new coronavirus cases, bringing the country's total to 80,266.

A further 530 patients recovered as the overall tally climbed to 69,981.

No patients died during the 24-hour reporting period. The toll remained at 399.

The latest infections were detected after 64,084 more tests were conducted.

The UAE has conducted almost 8.2 million tests since the start of the outbreak.

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Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

Key products and UAE prices

iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229

iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649

iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179

Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.