The director general of the National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, Obaid Al Shamsi, taking the vaccine. Wam
The director general of the National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, Obaid Al Shamsi, taking the vaccine. Wam
The director general of the National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, Obaid Al Shamsi, taking the vaccine. Wam
The director general of the National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, Obaid Al Shamsi, taking the vaccine. Wam

Coronavirus: UAE's highest priority is Covid-19 vaccine


  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE's top priority is to develop and disseminate a safe vaccine to protect the population against Covid-19.

On Monday, Dr Omar Al Hammadi, official spokesman for the country's regular Covid-19 media briefing, said a campaign to vaccinate frontline workers, people with chronic illnesses and the elderly was still under way. That group was prioritised "because they are more vulnerable to infection than others".

He said the vaccine would not be given to children or pregnant women until its safety could be assured. Once it is, the scope of the vaccination programme will be expanded to include other groups.

"Wearing a mask and maintaining physical distancing is paramount to protect ourselves from the virus but the vaccine will be our weapon to fight it head on," he said.

Precautionary measures will continue in conjunction with a vaccination drive to ensure its success.

The benefits of mass vaccination are far reaching and the more people immunised against Covid-19, the fewer people it will spread to.

Dr Al Hammadi said the aim was to gradually decrease the spread of the virus over the coming months and years until it is stamped out completely.

A significant proportion of the population will need to be immunised against the virus to achieve herd immunity.

"This means that whenever the disease appears, it will find an immune system ready to face it and so it will recede."

As the country approaches its 49th National Day, Dr Al Hammadi reminded the public to celebrate at home alone.

He said the occasion was being held under exceptional circumstances and that each individual was responsible for protecting themselves and others.

"We call upon all citizens and residents to adhere to all precautionary measures as we do not want our National Day to be marred by violations and laxity in prevention, the results of which lead to dire consequences."

On Monday, the UAE reported 1,107 new cases of Covid-19, raising the country's total infections to 168,860.

Another 714 patients were given the all-clear, taking the recovery tally to 154,899.

Authorities said two patients died, taking the death toll to 572.

There are 13,389 active cases of Covid-19 across the country – a rise of about 12,000 since November 4, when fewer than 2,000 people had the virus.

The new cases were detected after another 87,514 tests were carried out.

The UAE has conducted more than 16.7 million tests since the outbreak began as part of a mass-screening strategy to limit the spread of the virus.

Match info

Athletic Bilbao 0

Real Madrid 1 (Ramos 73' pen)

Our legal consultants

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

South and West: From a Notebook
Joan Didion
Fourth Estate 

The biog

Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus

Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India

Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes

Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island

The biog

Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia

Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins

Favourite dish: Grilled fish

Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20DarDoc%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Samer%20Masri%2C%20Keswin%20Suresh%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%24800%2C000%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Flat6Labs%2C%20angel%20investors%20%2B%20Incubated%20by%20Hub71%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi's%20Department%20of%20Health%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%2010%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Bundesliga fixtures

Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)

Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm) 

RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm) 

Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm) 

Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn  (4.30pm) 

Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm) 

Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)

Sunday, May 17

Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),

Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)

Monday, May 18

Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder

Started: October 2021

Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Industry: technology, logistics

Investors: A15 and self-funded 

While you're here
Martin Sabbagh profile

Job: CEO JCDecaux Middle East

In the role: Since January 2015

Lives: In the UAE

Background: M&A, investment banking

Studied: Corporate finance

Suggested picnic spots

Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
 
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes 

How to volunteer

The UAE volunteers campaign can be reached at www.volunteers.ae , or by calling 800-VOLAE (80086523), or emailing info@volunteers.ae.

How to help

Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:

2289 - Dh10

2252 - Dh50

6025 - Dh20

6027 - Dh100

6026 - Dh200

The specs: 2019 Audi A7 Sportback

Price, base: Dh315,000

Engine: 3.0-litre V6

Transmission: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 335hp @ 5,000rpm

Torque: 500Nm @ 1,370rpm

Fuel economy 5.9L / 100km

The%20Super%20Mario%20Bros%20Movie
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Aaron%20Horvath%20and%20Michael%20Jelenic%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Chris%20Pratt%2C%20Anya%20Taylor-Joy%2C%20Charlie%20Day%2C%20Jack%20Black%2C%20Seth%20Rogen%20and%20Keegan-Michael%20Key%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog

Born: Kuwait in 1986
Family: She is the youngest of seven siblings
Time in the UAE: 10 years
Hobbies: audiobooks and fitness: she works out every day, enjoying kickboxing and basketball

Recent winners

2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)

2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)

2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)

2007 Grace Bijjani  (Mexico)

2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)

2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)

2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)

2011 Maria Farah (Canada)

2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)

2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)              

2014 Lia Saad  (UAE)

2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)

2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)

2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)

2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)

Padmaavat

Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh

3.5/5