Emirati musician Hussain Al Jassmi and the UAE Team Emirates cycling team are the latest public figures to receive the vaccine against Covid-19.
Professional cyclists and support staff from the 2020 Tour de France winning team posed for photographs receiving the Sinopharm jabs to encourage others to follow their lead to encourage wider community protection against the virus.
Thank God I have received the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine
Hussain Al Jassmi
A total of 27 riders from the UAE cycling team took the Chinese-made vaccine, including Tour de France winner, Tadej Pogacar, from Slovenia.
A further 32 members of staff also received the vaccine.
“As a UAE team we are enormously proud of the efforts the nation and its leadership have taken at every level to both, combat the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and to be a leader in the efforts to bring life back to normal,” said UAE Team Emirates Principal Mauro Gianetti.
The UAE is due to begin producing the Sinopharm vaccine under licence from the Chinese drug maker later this year in anticipation of huge global demand.
Millions of shots have already been allocated for the UAE.
On Thursday, the UAE recorded 2,988 new cases of Covid-19, the largest daily tally since the outbreak began, surpassing the previous high of 2,067 infections on Wednesday.
While five patients dies, taking the death toll to 694, a further 3,658 patients overcame the virus, pushing the recovery total to 199,178.
Meanwhile, Mr Al Jassmi a pianist, compositor, musician and singer who is well known in the Middle East was also photographed taking the Pfizer vaccine in the hope of encouraging others to get vaccinated.
Mr Al Jassmi, who was the first Arabic artist to sing at the Vatican, shared the photograph on his Twitter page, where he has 6.9 million followers.
“Thank God, today I have received the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine,” he said.
“Thank God for the blessing of the UAE, thank God for the presence a leadership thats first concern is the human.”
UAE leaders and senior officials who have received the Covid-19 vaccine - in pictures
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid receives the Sinopharm vaccine to protect against Covid-19 on November 3, 2020. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak receives the first of two shots of a vaccine that was trialled in the UAE. Wam
Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed, chairman of Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, receives the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Sheikh Mansoor
Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, gets the Sinopharm jab.
Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, receives the Covid-19 Sinopharm vaccine on Saturday, October 31. Courtesy: UAE Government Twitter
Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, receives his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine on Wednesday. Wam
Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, takes the Sinopharm vaccine. Courtesy: Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Twitter
Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah, UAE Fatwa Council, is vaccinated with the Sinopharm innoculation on January 4, 2021. Wam
Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed, chair of Abu Dhabi's Executive Office, takes the first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Media Office
The UAE's health minister, Abdulrahman Al Owais, receives the Sinopharm vaccine.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, gives a thumbs up as he is vaccinated against Covid-19.
Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, president of the UAE Football Association, receives the Covid-19 vaccine.
Khalifa bin Dary, executive director of Dubai Ambulance Services Corporation, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
Lt Col Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan, director of special patrols at Abu Dhabi Police, receives the Covid-19 vaccine. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Police
Maj Gen Mohammed Al Marri, director general of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
Maj Gen Talal Al Falasi, director general of Dubai's State Security Department, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
Abdullah Al Falasi, director general of Dubai Government Human Resources Department, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
Amer Sharif, head of Dubai's Covid-10 Command and Control Centre, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
Obaid Al Shamsi, director general of the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, takes the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine