Coronavirus: UAE ranks among top countries in tackling the pandemic

Aggressive testing, tracing of carriers, and now an extensive vaccination programme has helped the government deal with the outbreak

Abu Dhabi resident Abdulaziz Karmastaji gets vaccinated at Seha's cruise ship terminal facility in January

Abu Dhabi resident Shaikha Al Dheiri waiting to get vaccinated.

A healthcare worker smiles for the cameras.

Nearly 20,000 people are vaccinated daily at the centre.

Mohamed Hawas Al Sadid, chief executive of Seha, said nearly 20,000 people are getting shots every day.

People in the waiting room.

An Emirati waits for her turn to get the vaccine.

A young Emirati at the vaccination centre at the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal area.

Aya, 24, and Jana, 18, after receiving the vaccine. The Sinopharm vaccine is available across the country without charge at dozens of hospitals, vaccination centres, majlis and clinics.

The Covid-19 vaccination drive is the country's largest to date. The health authorities aim to inoculate half the population by the end of the first quarter.

(L to R) - Emirati healthcare workers, Mouza Al Beshr, Khadija Al Nuaimi and Za,zam Al Naqbi at the Seha vaccination centre.

The UAE has ranked first on a number of global indices for its efforts to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.

Its emergency plan was immediately put into action when the first case was confirmed on January 29 last year.

Timely preparation, aggressive testing, tracing of carriers and now an extensive vaccination programme have helped the government deal with the outbreak in an organised way.

The country’s strategy has helped to keep the UAE’s mortality rate among the lowest in the world.

Distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine

The UAE has embarked on a major vaccination drive in recent weeks as it steps up its fight to overcome the pandemic.

The country ranked first globally in the distribution of daily doses of Covid-19 vaccines between January 12 and 18, 2021. This equates to a distribution rate of 1.16 doses for every 100 persons.

It also ranked fifth globally in terms of vaccine availability.

The Sinopharm vaccine was introduced across the Emirates on December 9, and the Pfizer-BioNTech shot approved for limited use in Dubai two weeks later. Russia’s Sputnik vaccine has since been approved for emergency use.

The phased introduction gave priority to key groups such as people aged over 60 and frontline workers.

Dedicated vaccine centres were set up across the country in support of the nationwide push.

Number of tests

The UAE was the first country in the world where the number of coronavirus tests surpassed the population.

By October 6, 2020, the UAE had conducted 10 million tests.

Close to 24 million tests have been conducted in the country to date as part of a mass screening strategy aimed at limiting the spread of the virus.

Detection of cases

In July 2020, the UAE became the first country to use sniffer dogs to identify infected people.

K9 sniffer dogs were stationed at airports across the country to help detect traces of the coronavirus from passenger samples.

“An area was dedicated to detect Covid-19 using K9 police dogs at Dubai International Airport,” Maj Salah Al Mazrooei from Dubai Police said on July 31, 2020.

“Samples were taken in collaboration with partners from Dubai Health Authority and results are out in less than one minute.”

Medical staff speak to drivers before they take a prick of blood from their finger that can rapidly be scanned for signs of the virus. All photos by Leslie Pableo for The National

Police direct a long line of vehicles waiting for the rapid test at the Dubai-Abu Dhabi border

Many commuters are expected to use the quick Dh50 to enter Abu Dhabi instead of undergoing a PCR nasal swab test, which costs about Dh150 in a private clinic

A medic takes a drop of blood from a commuter

A medic takes a drop of blood from a commuter

Medical staff use a laser scanning technique called DPI to look for signs that the body has generated antibodies to fight off a virus

Medical staff use a laser scanning technique called DPI to look for signs that the body has generated antibodies to fight off a virus

A medic takes a drop of blood from a commuter

Eighteen stations can handle 36 vehicles at any one time. The process takes several minutes to show a result

Although the DPI test does not specifically look for Covid-19, it quickly identifies whether someone may be ill

Drivers line up to be tested on Al Faya Road just off the E11 highway between Dubai and Abu Dhabi

The company that runs the service for the government said it should save drivers time and money

Drivers line up to be tested on Al Faya Road just off the E11 highway between Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Handling of the pandemic

The UAE ranked first in the Middle East in the list of countries that best addressed the coronavirus crisis, according to the Global Soft Power Index published by Brand Finance.

Public satisfaction

The public in the UAE was extremely satisfied with the government’s pandemic strategy. The Toluna Consumer Insights survey published in June 2020 ranked the Emirates first in the Middle East and third globally when it came to public opinion.

Drive-through tests

The UAE was the first country in the Middle East and fifth in the world to offer drive-through coronavirus screening. The tests take less than five minutes.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the UAE has adopted effective procedures to limit the spread of the virus.

The country launched the National Sterilisation Programme during the early months of the pandemic, started remote learning for pupils and home working for adults to keep the public safe.

The UAE also set up the largest coronavirus lab outside China.